Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan keeps major 2027 admission targets close to previous projections, but adds a one-time measure to move up to 200,000 permanent residence applications through the system outside the standard annual plan.

Permanent and temporary targets remain steady

The Canadian government has published its 2026 Federal Budget together with the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, setting out updated objectives for both permanent and temporary migration. The plan also includes measures aimed at easing application backlogs and supporting Canada’s economic needs.

For 2027, the main targets are largely unchanged from the figures Canada had previously projected. The government continues to aim for 380,000 permanent residents, alongside 220,000 temporary foreign workers and 150,000 international students.

The broad stability of the targets signals continuity in Canada’s immigration planning, even as the government adds new tools to address existing files already waiting for decisions.

Provincial nominee allocation edges higher

The Provincial Nominee Program will receive a small increase under the new plan. Its allocation is set to rise from 92,500 admissions to 95,000, underscoring the role provincial selection continues to play in addressing labour market needs across different regions.

For employers, the change indicates that PNP routes will remain an important option for keeping foreign workers in Canada when those workers are already contributing to local workforces and may qualify for permanent residence.

An immigration application folder with passports and Canadian-themed travel documents on a table
Canada’s new immigration plan pairs stable admissions targets with a one-time effort to reduce permanent residence inventories.

One-time permanent residence measure targets backlogs

The most significant addition is a temporary initiative allowing the government to process up to 200,000 extra permanent residence applications beyond the regular Immigration Levels Plan targets. The measure is designed to reduce inventories and move forward applications from people who are already in the system.

The initiative covers several categories of applicants outside Quebec or already approved under humanitarian streams, depending on the pathway involved. Eligible groups include:

  • Applicants outside Quebec who filed under closed or no-longer-accepting programs, including the Start-Up Visa, the Self-Employed Persons Program, the permanent residence pathway for Ukrainian nationals with family in Canada, and permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents.
  • Workers outside Quebec who already qualify for permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program.
  • Spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents with family sponsorship applications already being processed.
  • Applicants who have received approval in principle through humanitarian programs.

For applicants who have faced long waits, the additional processing capacity could help some cases advance more quickly, though the initiative is limited to specific groups and existing files.

Temporary worker rules may face further review

The federal budget also indicates that Canada is reviewing parts of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. That review includes possible changes connected to the Labour Market Impact Assessment system, though no detailed policy revisions have yet been released.

The signals point to continued government examination of labour market-based immigration programs, with an emphasis on keeping temporary immigration routes aligned with workforce demand. Employers using TFWP-supported hiring may need to watch for future announcements, as reforms could affect recruitment timelines, LMIA eligibility and compliance duties.

For travellers, workers and employers, the plan reinforces Canada’s focus on economic immigration, provincial pathways and the transition of existing temporary residents to permanent status. Applicants already in eligible permanent residence streams may see the clearest near-term benefit from the additional processing spaces.