Canada Announces Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026
On November 1st, Canada released its Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026.
Canada’s immigration levels will remain unchanged from its current targets. In 2024, the country will target the admission of 485,000 new immigrants, whereas in 2025 and 2026, Canada admit 500,000 new immigrants in each of those years. The targets are the same as those announced under the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025.
Breakdown of Immigration Targets by Class
In 2024, Canada will look to welcome about 281,135 immigrants under the economic class, or 58% of the annual target. By 2026, this will rise to 301,250 immigrants, or 60% of the annual target. This is due to the labour shortages faced by many Canadian employers, which seek to be filled. The family class target, in 2024, will be 114,000 immigrants, or 24% of all admissions. This will rise to 118,000 immigrants by 2026, which will also be 24% of all admissions.
Humanitarian admission targets will be 89,865 immigrants in 2024, or about 19% of all admissions. These totals include refugees, protected persons, and those admitted for humanitarian, compassionate, or other reasons. By 2026, the target will be 80,832 immigrants, or 16% of admissions.
Note that figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Express Entry and Pnp Targets To Rise
Under the Express Entry program, the target will reach 110,700 permanent resident admissions in 2024, followed by 117,500 immigrants in years 2025 and 2026.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) target will be 110,000 immigrants in 2024, and rise to 120,000 in 2025, and another 120,000 in 2026.
Family based sponsorship has a target of 82,000 admissions in 2024, and this will rise to 84,000 in each of 2025 and 2026. Meanwhile, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) target will be 32,000 immigrants in 2024, followed by 34,000 immigrants in each of 2025 and 2026.
Canadian Government Looking To Stabilize Immigration Levels and Improve Immigration System
Addressing why it is keeping its targets unchanged, the Canadian government explains: “This plan is tailored to support economic growth while balancing with the pressures in areas like housing, healthcare and infrastructure. It charts a responsible course for sustainable and stable population growth…Starting in 2026, the government will stabilize permanent resident levels at 500,000, allowing time for successful integration, while continuing to augment Canada’s labour market. The government also plans to take action over the next year to recalibrate the number of temporary resident admissions to ensure this aspect of our immigration system also remains sustainable.”
The target for permanent resident admissions in 2023 is 465,000, which is higher than the number in 2022.
Canada Pursuing New Strategy To Improve Immigration System
At the same time of announcing new immigration levels, the Canadian government has unveiled a new approach to modernize the system.
The new strategy, entitled An Immigration System for Canada’s Future, provides the following major goals:
- Create a more welcoming experience for newcomers
- Align immigration with labour market needs
- Develop a comprehensive and coordinated growth plan
- IRCC is seeking to deliver a more pleasant and user-friendly experience to its clients.
- In addition, IRCC would like to better align Canada’s immigration policies with its skills and labour strategy.
- Third, IRCC would like to develop an integrated plan among all three of Canada’s levels of government to ensure the country can offer adequate housing, health care, and infrastructure to its growing newcomer population.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at info@poonahimmigrationlaw.com for further information.
