Canada targets 380,000 new permanent residents annually through 2028

07:41

By: Azzat Manal

Canada targets 380,000 new permanent residents annually through 2028

Canada is planning to welcome approximately 380,000 new permanent residents each year between 2026 and 2028 as the federal government seeks to establish more sustainable immigration levels while placing greater emphasis on economic migration.

According to figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, around 155,800 people obtained permanent resident status during the first half of 2026. The government says its broader immigration strategy aims to balance the country’s economic needs with the capacity of communities and public services.

At the same time, Ottawa plans to reduce the number of temporary residents, particularly international students and temporary foreign workers. The government wants their share of the total Canadian population to fall below 5% by the end of 2027.

Economic immigration remains a central element of the strategy. It is expected to account for approximately 63% of permanent resident admissions in 2026, rising to 64% in both 2027 and 2028. Such proportions would represent some of the highest levels recorded in more than a decade.

The government’s approach reflects Canada’s continued reliance on immigration to support the labor market and address shortages in key sectors, while also responding to growing pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services.

In addition to the regular permanent immigration targets, two exceptional initiatives planned for 2026 and 2027 are expected to provide pathways to permanent residence for certain people who are already living in Canada.

The measures are designed to facilitate the transition of eligible temporary residents and other individuals already established in the country, while maintaining tighter control over the overall scale of temporary migration.

Canada’s immigration policy is therefore entering a period of adjustment, combining relatively stable permanent resident targets with efforts to reduce temporary migration and increase the proportion of newcomers selected for economic reasons.