Canada’s Immigration Reduction Strategy for 2025-2027

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Immigration Announcement: A Sustainable Approach

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has introduced the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. This plan aims to temporarily pause population growth to ensure sustainable and well-managed growth over time. For the first time, it sets regulated targets for both temporary and permanent residents.

October 24, 2024—Ottawa— Minister Marc Miller announced a strategic plan to moderate population growth in the short term, ensuring sustainable expansion in the future. This plan uniquely incorporates targeted controls for temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers, along with permanent residents.

Immigration plays a pivotal role in Canada’s economic prosperity. Following the pandemic, Canada needed to attract skilled individuals to meet business demands, facilitating swift economic recovery and preventing a recession.

Strategic Immigration Adjustments

Addressing Economic and Social Needs

This transitional plan addresses housing, infrastructure, and social service pressures, paving the way for economic and social prosperity through immigration. It ensures newcomers thrive within the Canadian system while maintaining program integrity.

The plan forecasts a slight population decrease of 0.2% in 2025 and 2026, with growth resuming at 0.8% in 2027. These figures reflect reduced immigration targets, expected temporary resident outflows, and natural population changes.

Revised Permanent Resident Targets

• Targeting 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, down from 500,000.
• Reducing to 380,000 in 2026.
• Setting a 365,000 goal for 2027.

The plan also aims to lower temporary resident numbers to 5% of Canada’s population by 2026, reducing temporary residents over the next few years.

• 445,901 fewer temporary residents expected in 2025.
• A reduction of 445,662 in 2026.
• A slight increase of 17,439 projected for 2027.

These changes result from policies limiting international students and tightening foreign worker criteria, focusing on long-term economic goals.

Additional Measures and Future Growth

Enhancing Economic Opportunities

• Transitioning Existing Residents: Over 40% of permanent resident admissions in 2025 will be from skilled and integrated temporary residents.
• Economic and Labor Focus: By 2027, 61.7% of admissions will be in the economic class, targeting key sectors like health and trades.
• Supporting Francophone Communities: Francophone immigration targets are 8.5% for 2025, 9.5% for 2026, and 10% for 2027.

This plan leverages existing programs, ensuring newcomers access quality jobs, affordable housing, and essential services.

Key Insights and Statistics

• Canada’s population reached 41 million in April 2024, with immigration driving nearly 98% of this growth in 2023.
• The revised growth plan aims to bolster GDP growth, housing affordability, and lower unemployment from 2025 to 2027.
• Reducing immigration volume will ease housing market pressure, potentially reducing the housing supply gap by 670,000 units by 2027’s end.
• Temporary resident targets do not include short-term visitors or seasonal workers.
• Immigrants are vital across all Canadian sectors, notably construction and healthcare, comprising 23% of contractors and builders.

Contact Information

Contacts for media only:

Aïssa Diop
Director of Communications
Minister’s Office
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Aissa.Diop@cic.gc.ca

Media Relations
Communications Sector
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-952-1650
media@cic.gc.ca

FAQs

What is the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan?

This plan outlines controlled immigration targets to ensure sustainable population growth while supporting Canada’s economic and social needs.

How does the plan affect temporary residents?

Temporary resident numbers will decrease significantly by 2026, with new policies limiting arrivals and transitioning more to permanent status.

Why is Francophone immigration emphasized?

The plan aims to strengthen Francophone communities outside Quebec, supporting their economic prosperity and cultural heritage.

For more details, Read our immigration guide.