Between now and November 1, IRCC is going to table the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan. The plan sets a target for the number of permanent residents that will be admitted to Canada in the coming year, with nominal targets for the two years after that, spanning a total of three years. In addition, the plan suspects more than Canada’s immigration objectives. It determines how the nation’s population will increase, which in turn affects social systems, housing prices, taxation, and labor market growth. So, here’s what to know about the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan.

Well, it is important to note that this year will be different. Immigration Minister Marc Miller declared last March that temporary residents will be included in the Plan for the first time. 

In 2023, Canada had over 2,500,000 temporary residents, accounting for 6.2% of the population. 

Miller also stated that the upcoming plan will target a reduction in the volume of temporary residents welcomed over the coming years, bringing that number down to 5% of Canada’s population over the next three years. 

The exact number of temporary residents Canada will welcome in coming years has not yet been determined, but looking back at announcements throughout the year, it might be possible to see some of IRCC’s plans for the years ahead and how they might impact the upcoming Plan. 

Study Permits 

The first thing to know about the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan is the number of study permits IRCC will process. 

Well, in January this year, IRCC declared a cap on the number of study permits it would process for international students. The department said it expected to process over 606,000 study permit applications and anticipated an approval rate of 360,00. This marks a 35% reduction in the number of permits processed in 2023.  

The declaration came as something of a surprise, given that the minister had previously stated that he wasn’t in favor of setting caps or targets, specifically regarding Canada’s international student program. 

According to the minister, international students accounted for 42% of Canada’s temporary residents in 2023. 

Moreover, in September, the minister announced that the department will be further reducing the number of permits processed in 2023 to 437,000 and that master’s and PhD students, previously exempt, would now be included in the cap. 

Open Work Permits 

In addition to the cap on study permits, IRCC has also indicated an intent to cut the number of Post-Graduation Work Permits (OGWPs) issued and Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs) over the next three years. 

The department has introduced several new eligibility requirements for PGWP applicants. Namely, they should be able to demonstrate a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of a minimum of 7 if they are university graduates or CLB 5 if they are college graduates. 

Moreover, the minister stated that he expects the changes to PGWP eligibility to result in 175,000 fewer permits being issued. 

Changes to the SOWP are expected to account for an additional reduction of approximately 50,000 temporary residents. Spouses of international master’s students might now only be eligible for SOWP if their spouse’s master’s program is 16 months or longer or if they are enrolled in a program IRCC has flagged as critical or in-demand. 

Spouses of highly skilled and specialized workers will also remain eligible for SOWPs. However, the minister states that this new criterion could further reduce the 100,000 open work permits issued over the next three years. 

Overall, this means that IRCC expects to issue 325,000 fewer open work permits in the next three years.   

Closed Work Permits 

Another thing to know about the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan is closed work permits. There have also been announcements regarding how employers might use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. 

Recently, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, made several changes to employer eligibility for the TFWP. 

Notably, employers are no longer allowed to hire more than 10% of their total workforce through the TFWP. Furthermore, the duration of employment for workers hired through the Low-Wage stream has been reduced to one year. 

Also, although exceptions exist, IRCC will not process low-wage Labor Market Impact Assessments from employers in Census Metropolitan Areas with an unemployment rate higher than 6%. The Minister did not provide an estimate of how these changes would reduce the number of TFW in Canada. 

Minister Boissonnault has spoken at length about Canadian employers ‘addiction’ to the TFWP. However, he says that the program was only ever meant to be used as a last resort. 

Permanent Residents 

The Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 set a target of welcoming 500,000 permanent residents to Canada in 2025. This target will also be continued in 2026. 

Permanent residents can be admitted through economic immigration, family class sponsorship, refugee and protected persons, and humanitarian lines of business. 

Recently, Minister Miller stated that all options regarding the number of permanent residents will admit in coming years. Moreover, he also said that those changes would be ‘significant.’ 

He has indicated that he is considering a change in the ‘type of immigration Canada is supporting.’ 

Over 60% of immigration to Canada focuses on economic immigrants. Moreover, it also includes those who are considered skilled workers who will integrate into the national workforce. The minister stated that this level is ‘unprecedented’ in comparison to many other nations. 

Where Is This Coming From?  

The last thing to know about the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan is where it is all coming from. 

Well, as the population continues to reach new milestones, Canadians have voiced concern regarding the number of newcomers and the pressure they apply to a low stock of affordable housing, as well as additional strain on an already overstretched healthcare system. 

Two key issues will influence the next federal election. They were flagged in the 2023 Environics Institute Report on Canadian support for immigration. 

Moreover, the report noted a significant drop in the level of support for immigration among Canadians. Canadians were unsure about the projected high level of immigration to come in the following years. Very few were found to have an issue with immigrants themselves. 

Minister Miller has also noted that the number of temporary residents, specifically international students, needs to be ‘reined in’ to prevent bad actors from taking advantage of vulnerable newcomers who are often victims of scams or do not obtain adequate support to thrive once they arrive in Canada. 

Despite these concerns, both Miller and Boissonnault consistently note the cultural advantages of immigration. Well, immigration is responsible for almost all of Canada’s labor force growth, and the government should not ‘overreact’.  

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490. You can drop us an email at [email protected].