Canada’s Immigration Outlook for 2026-2028

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is yet to unveil its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, a report that was legally due by November 1 as per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Expected on November 4, the report will detail the number of new permanent residents Canada plans to welcome over the next three years and how these spots will be distributed among economic, family, and humanitarian streams.

The previous plan aimed for 485,000 admissions in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025, with projected figures of 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. Analysts anticipate a shift towards lower targets overall, with a stronger emphasis on Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and Francophone immigration streams as part of Ottawa’s strategy to alleviate housing and labor market challenges.