Canada’s recent Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026, announced by IRCC on November 1, shows consistent growth in the admissions targets in its two major economic immigration pathways. Putting it simply, Canada sets higher admission targets for Express Entry and PNP in its latest immigration plan for the coming three years. 

The plan is released by the department every year and specifies the total number of permanent residents Canada plans to admit over the next three years. These immigration targets are further divided across all immigration classes, including economic, family, and refugee or humanitarian classes. 

In this year’s immigration plan, IRCC has emphasized that economic immigration programs will remain the leading pathway in Canada’s permanent resident growth initiatives. 

This is primarily driven by Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) available in Canada’s provinces and territories except for Quebec and Nunavut. 

Higher Admission Targets for Express Entry and PNP: Which will lead the PR admissions from 2024-2026 

Last year, in November 2022, Canada announced its immigration level plan for 2023-2025, which highlighted that the targets for PNP had surpassed the targets for Express Entry as the main economic immigration pathway of the country. 

In 2022, Canada admitted about 83,500 new permanent residents via PNP throughout the country. The immigration plan 2023-2025 also demonstrated that in 2023, the PNP targets of IRCC were expected to rise to 105,000. Also, the 2024 and 2025 immigration targets were projected at 110,000 and 117,500, respectively. 

As per the newly released Immigration Levels plan 2024-2026, Express Entry has regained its top position among Canada’s economic immigration pathways. However, this is true only for the 2024. As per the current plan for 2025 and 2025, PNP admission targets are set to be higher among Canada’s all economic immigration pathways. 

Note that Canada’s immigration targets may alter over time, and these targets are as per the latest immigration level plan 2024-2026 announced by IRCC. 

An Overview of Express Entry and PNP Targets from Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026  

The following is the year-wise breakdown of the projected targets per the Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 that Canada expects to admit under the Express Entry and PNP. 

2024 

Express Entry (Federal High Skilled): 110,770 

PNPs: 110,000 

2025 

Express Entry (Federal High Skilled): 117,500 

PNPs: 120,000 

2026 

Express Entry (Federal High Skilled): 117,500 

PNPs: 120,000 

Canada’s popular Pathways Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Programs  

Express Entry (EE) and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are the leading economic immigration pathways of Canada through which it admits potential candidates, which allows it to strengthen its economy and address labor market shortages. 

Express Entry 

Express Entry is the immigration system that the Canadian government employs to manage the immigration application of candidates accepted under the following three popular economic-class programs for permanent residents: 

  • The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), 
  • The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and 
  • The Canadian Experience Class (CEC). 

Canada conducts two types of Expres entry draws, i.e., Standard and Category-based selections draws, starting this June. 

The standard Express Entry draws majorly focuses on assessing candidates on the basis of their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and ranking them against other candidates. IRCC then issues a specific number of ITAs to potential candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence in each draw. 

Candidates who had a CRS score higher than the cut-off score for that specific draw are sent ITAs by the IRCC. 

A Canadian immigration candidate who desires to obtain permanent residency in the country can only apply for it if they have an Invitation to Apply (ITA). 

This year, IRCC started operating category-based draws beginning on June 28 in order to admit an increased number of candidates to the country with work experience in specific fields or proficiencies in the French language. These draws were initiated to manage the specific labor market challenges throughout the country. 

The following are the six selected categories for 2023 that IRCC decided to prioritize through the category-based selection draws: 

  • French-language proficiency 
  • work experience in the Healthcare sector 
  • Work experience in the STEM sector 
  • Work experience in the Trade sector 
  • Work experience in the Transport sector 
  • Work experience in the Agriculture and Agri-Food sector 

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) 

PNPs or Provincial Nominee programs are special programs managed by the provincial and territorial government, which provide them the authority to choose potential immigration candidates who they believe can help address the regional labor market demands as well as the economic challenges. 

PNP is an effective immigration pathway, enabling the Canadian government to spread the benefits of immigration across the nation, specifically economic, social, and cultural benefits. This helps in attracting an increased number of immigrants across Canada, particularly outside the major cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.