Canada's Immigration Plan 2024-2026

On November 1, 2023, Government of Canada released its Immigration Levels Plan for the next three years, from 2024 to 2026. The country is going to keep the bar set and continue to accept half a million newcomers per year.

Overall plan for 2024-2026

Under the previous plan for 2023-2025, the goal for 2024 was more than 485,000 immigrants, and for 2025 it was 500,000. The new plan maintains those numbers, and further assumes a half-million plateau:

• 2024 — 485,000 immigrants;
• 2025 — 500,000 immigrants;
• 2026 — 500,000 immigrants.

Over a three-year period, Canada will welcome a total of 1.485 million immigrants. This plan prioritizes economic growth and support for family reunification, as well as responding to humanitarian crises.

Economic migration

The ministry's priority continues to be the admission of economic immigrants, that is, the working population. Those wishing to move to Canada under this category must choose one of the many federal or provincial programs. To qualify for these programs, applicants must meet a variety of requirements ranging from age and language proficiency to work experience in certain fields.

If you don't know how Canada's immigration system works, read our article on the subject.

In total, under economic immigration in 2024, Canada is going to admit 281,135 people under the following programs:

• Federal Immigration Programs — 110,770 people;
• Immigration Public Policies (temporary programs for those who work and study in Canada) — up to 3,000 people;
• Business Immigration Programs — 5,000 people:
  • Start-up Visa;
  • Self-Employed Persons Program;

• Immigration Pilots — 10,875 people:
  • Caregivers Pilots;
  • Agri-Food Immigration Pilot;
  • Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot;
  • Economic Mobility Pathway;
• Atlantic Immigration Program — 6,500 people;
• Provincial Immigration Programs — 110,000 people.

In 2024, expected economic immigration rates increased for all items (except the Public Policies), but the strongest increase was in expected immigration under federal programs, by nearly 30,000 people.

Family immigration

Canada has Family Reunification Programs, or Family Sponsorship Programs. They allow Canadian residents with citizenship or permanent resident status to sponsor the relocation of their relatives: spouses, partners, children, parents and grandparents. In doing so, the sponsor makes a commitment to financially support those they have invited to Canada.

In 2024, there are 114,000 slots available for those moving to Canada under such programs:

• Spouses, partners and children — 82,000 people;
• parents and grandparents — 32,000 people.

Refugee and humanitarian immigration

In 2024, Canada will keep the admission bar roughly the same for those seeking asylum in Canada and slightly lower it for those accepted on compassionate grounds:

• Refugee Programs — 76,115 people;
• Humanitarian Immigration Program — 13,750 people.

Immigration to Quebec

The province of Quebec is in a special position — including in immigration matters. Its government sets its own goals for admitting newcomers.

The estimated admission targets for Quebec's economic programs used to calculate the overall economic targets in the federal plan are:

• 37,990 people in 2024;
• 34,500 people in 2025;
• and 35,500 people in 2026.

Features of the immigration plan for 2024, 2025 and 2026

The plan, unveiled on November 1, 2023 by Minister Mark Miller, is designed to support economic growth while balancing pressures in areas such as housing, health care and infrastructure. It charts a course for sustainable and stable population growth.

Highlights of the 2024-2026 immigration levels plan include:

• maintaining a long-term focus on economic growth — by 2025, more than 60% of immigrants will come from federal and provincial economic programs;
• a commitment to support efforts to respond to humanitarian and geopolitical crises around the world;
• new ambitious francophone immigration targets to support francophone communities outside Quebec: 6% of total immigration in 2024, 7% in 2025 and 8% in 2026;

Immigration to Canada in 2024

The most reliable ways to move remain entry into Canadian universities and employment in Canada. Provincial immigration programs have a combined 110,000 places available. Many of these programs have lower pass rates than federal programs, but require a job offer — or a degree from a Canadian institution.

Our immigration company provides legal immigration services. How we can help you:

• assess your chances of immigration;
• choose a suitable program;
• develop an immigration strategy;
• prepare a Canadian-format CV;
• choose a Canadian university or college and program of study based on your education, work experience and budget;
• register you with a Canadian language school to study English online or live in Toronto and Vancouver;
• help with developing a strategy for business in Canada;
• apply for a visa or residence permit.

If you are confident and want to try your luck on your own, our immigration and job search training courses and helpful books will make your move easier. For a full list of our services, please see here.