Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan Maintains Targets and Adds Temporary Processing Measure
On November 5, 2026, the federal government tabled its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan alongside Budget 2026, maintaining the annual targets announced in last year’s budget: 380,000 permanent residents and 370,000 new temporary residents, including workers and students. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also announced a separate, one-year measure to process up to 200,000 additional permanent residence applications in 2027 from people already in Canada whose applications are already in the queue. The plan also outlines the development of a new startup pilot to attract entrepreneurs and innovators.
Key Points
- Annual Immigration Targets: The plan maintains targets of 380,000 permanent resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary workers and students annually in 2027, 2028 and 2029. These targets are unchanged from last year’s budget.
- Additional Permanent Residence Processing: A one-year measure provides space outside the regular targets for up to 200,000 additional permanent residents in 2027. This includes up to 100,000 workers and up to 100,000 people in specified humanitarian and family groups.
- Existing Applications Only: The temporary measure is intended to accelerate applications from people who are already in Canada and already in the processing queue. It does not establish a new immigration pathway.
- Economic Immigration: Canada plans to admit 244,700 economic permanent residents in 2027, representing approximately 64.39% of the regular annual permanent resident target. This proportion is consistent with the government’s previously announced plans. The economic immigration targets are set out below:
| Immigration Category | 2027 Target | 2008 Target | 2029 Target |
| Federal High Skilled | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Federal Business | 1,500 | 2,725 | 1,000 |
| Federal Economic Pilots | 7,900 | 6,175 | 7,400 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Rural Community Program (new) | 5,500 | 6,000 | 6,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 95,000 | 95,000 | 95,000 |
| Quebec Skilled Worker and Business | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total Economic | 244,700 | 244,700 | 244,70 |
| Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
What Employers Need to Know
- Workforce Planning: Stable annual immigration targets provide a basis for employers’ recruitment and workforce planning through 2029. Economic immigration remains a substantial component of planned permanent resident admissions.
- Workers Already in Canada: The temporary measure could accelerate permanent residence processing for eligible workers with applications already in the queue. Employers should distinguish this measure from a new opportunity to submit applications under a separate pathway.
- Federal and Provincial Programs: Federal High Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program targets remain at 100,000 and 95,000 admissions annually, respectively. These allocations provide context for employers assessing federal and provincial immigration options.
- Entrepreneurs and Innovation: The government plans to develop a new high-impact startup pilot to attract entrepreneurs and innovators. Its stated purpose is to support job creation and the commercialization of innovation in Canada.
Looking Ahead
- Potential Record Admissions: If the additional processing space is fully used, permanent resident admissions could reach 580,000 in 2027. This could make 2027 the largest year for new permanent residents in Canadian history.
- Changing Program Allocations: Although the total economic immigration target remains at 244,700 annually, allocations among individual programs vary over the three-year period. The new Rural Community Program increases from 5,500 places in 2027 to 6,500 in 2029, while Federal Business and Federal Economic Pilots targets fluctuate.
- Quebec Targets: Quebec’s Skilled Worker and Business targets remain to be determined for all three years. Those figures will provide further detail on the economic immigration breakdown.
- Citizenship Processing: The plan does not address citizenship processing. IRCC’s estimated processing time for proof of citizenship remains approximately 34 months.
Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan combines stable annual targets with a temporary effort to process existing permanent residence applications from people already in Canada. For employers, the main considerations are the continued emphasis on economic immigration, the potential for faster processing for eligible workers already in the queue, and the planned startup pilot aimed at supporting innovation and job creation.