What to Expect from Canada’s 2026: 2028 Immigration Levels Plan

Canada is preparing to unveil its next Immigration Levels Plan (2026–2028)  a key roadmap outlining how many newcomers the country aims to welcome as permanent residents and temporary residents over the coming years.

This highly anticipated announcement, expected on or before November 1, 2025, will reveal updated targets and policy directions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Each year’s plan sets firm goals for the upcoming year and projected numbers for the next two.

So, what can we expect from this new plan?
Here’s a breakdown based on recent government trends, public statements, and policy directions.

1. Permanent Resident Levels: Stabilization Expected

The federal government has previously promised to stabilize immigration targets at a sustainable level — keeping new permanent residents to under 1% of Canada’s total population each year.

Given that Canada’s population is approximately 41.65 million (as of July 2025), the expected upper limit for 2026 would be around 416,500 permanent residents.

This aligns with recent reductions: the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan lowered admissions by about 20% compared to the previous plan.

These totals include economic immigration, family sponsorship, and refugee/humanitarian categories.

2. Express Entry: Category-Based Focus Continues

Despite overall cuts to PR numbers last year, Express Entry actually saw an increase in its share of admissions — especially through new categories like:

• Federal Economic Priorities (targeting key occupations and French speakers)
• In-Canada Focus (for temporary residents already in Canada transitioning to PR)

This shows a shift toward retaining skilled workers and students already in Canada, while still drawing international talent through targeted Express Entry draws.

3. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Possible Rebound Ahead

Last year, the PNP targets were dramatically cut from 120,000 to 55,000 — a move that surprised many provinces. However, since then, several provinces (including B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and New Brunswick) have negotiated increased nomination allocations for 2025.

Given renewed provincial lobbying and recent ministerial meetings, it’s reasonable to expect a slight increase in the 2026–2028 PNP targets.

4. Temporary Residents: Continued Tightening Expected

For the first time last year, IRCC included temporary resident targets in the Immigration Levels Plan — covering international students and temporary foreign workers.

IRCC aims to reduce Canada’s non-permanent resident population to below 5% of the total by 2027.

5. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): Targeted Reform Coming

Prime Minister Mark Carney has hinted at reforms to make the TFWP more focused — emphasizing specific industries and regions.

Recent changes include:

• A moratorium on low-wage LMIA processing in areas with high unemployment (6%+).
• Higher wage thresholds for high-wage LMIA applications.
• Lower employer caps for hiring through the TFWP.
• Restricted spousal open work permits to higher-skilled occupations.

While the target remains 82,000, future adjustments could follow Carney’s promise of a more strategic, regional approach to the TFWP.

6. Francophone Immigration: A Clear Growth Priority

The federal government remains committed to increasing the proportion of French-speaking immigrants settling outside Quebec.

Expect continued French-language category-based draws, new pilot programs, and increased settlement funding to support francophone communities.

7. International Student Caps: Status Unclear

The current cap on international student arrivals remains 305,900 per year through 2027.
These numbers are managed through the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) system, which limits how many new study permit applications are accepted annually.

Whether the upcoming Plan will modify these caps is yet to be seen, but tighter oversight is likely to continue.

What This Means for You

The upcoming Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 will likely emphasize stability, domestic transitions to PR, and targeted growth in strategic sectors.

If you are already in Canada on a work permit or study permit, these trends could benefit you — as the government continues to prioritize those who are already contributing to Canada’s economy and communities.

Plato Immigration can guide you through every step of the process, helping you understand the latest PR targets, Express Entry draws, and provincial nomination options to maximize your chances of success.