Canada's New Immigration Plan 2025-2027: Strategic Shifts and Opportunities
A comprehensive guide to Canada's updated immigration targets and priority pathways.
A turning point in Canada's immigration policy. On October 24, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a new immigration plan for 2025-2027. This plan differs significantly from previous ones, primarily because the government has reduced immigration targets and introduced limits on work and study permits. There were other changes as well.
Overall Immigration Targets
Canada releases an immigration plan for the next three years and adjusts it annually. The previous plan was for 2024-2026, with the following targets:
- 2024 — 485,000 immigrants
- 2025 — 500,000 immigrants
- 2026 — 500,000 immigrants
According to the new targets, Canada will accept significantly fewer newcomers:
- 2025 — 395,000 immigrants
- 2026 — 380,000 immigrants
- 2027 — 365,000 immigrants
The new plan also sets specific targets for French-speaking immigrants. In 2025, at least 8.5% of newcomers should be French speakers. By 2027, this is planned to increase to 10%. This once again indicates that learning French can improve one's chances of immigration.
Work and Study Permits
In 2025, there will be targets for accepting foreign workers and students, with a noticeable decrease in the number of visas. In 2023, Canada issued over 600,000 work permits and even more study permits. The new plan has reduced these numbers.
For the next three years, Canada plans to accept 305,900 international students each year. The targets for workers are much more modest:
- 2025 — 367,750 work permits
- 2026 — 210,700 work permits
- 2027 — 237,700 work permits
Most work permits are planned to be issued under the International Mobility Program. In 2025, this will be nearly 285,750 people, while only 82,000 are allocated for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
What is the International Mobility Program?
This is a special program that allows employers to hire foreigners through a simplified process. The program includes:
- Visas based on Canada's agreements with other countries (e.g., Mexico)
- Intra-company transfers
- Open work permits (issued based on special programs, as well as to graduates of Canadian universities and spouses of those coming to work or study)
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Most people don't fall under this category and must obtain a visa through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Due to the limit, it will become even more difficult for those abroad to find work in Canada. Therefore, moving to Canada through education seems much more realistic than through job search, even despite recent restrictions. If you enroll in a Canadian university, your spouse can get an open work permit, and after graduation, you can obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Detailed Immigration Plan
The plan is divided into several categories: economic immigration, family immigration, refugees, and humanitarian immigration.
Economic Immigration
232,150 spots are allocated for the main category: economic immigration. This includes regular immigration programs with requirements for age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. There are over 100 such programs, each with its own conditions. If you meet the requirements of a program, you can apply.
The 2024 plan had many permanent residencies through federal immigration programs — 110,770. In the new plan, federal programs are divided into two categories, with even more immigrants:
- Economic Priorities — 41,700 PR. This category includes candidates from federal programs with priority for those with in-demand occupations or who speak French.
- Focus on In-Canada Candidates — 82,980 PR. This category also relates to federal programs but prioritizes candidates already in Canada and working. This mainly includes the federal Canadian Experience Class program.
Candidates from abroad will also be invited, but Canada primarily needs people with in-demand skills or those already working in the country.
In addition to federal programs, each region has its own Provincial Nominee Program, usually with lower requirements. Compared to the 2024 plan, the number of spots has halved — from 110,000 to 55,000. Canadian provinces are also trending towards inviting those with in-demand professions and who are already working in the province.
The Atlantic Immigration Program has changed little: 5,000 PR instead of 6,000. Pilot programs also remain similar: 10,920 PR instead of 10,850.
Pilot programs include the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. The last two pilots are currently closed and will likely process previously submitted applications.
Bad news for entrepreneurs. In 2025, instead of 5,000 immigrants through business programs, there will be only 2,000. This category includes the Start-up Visa program, which allows candidates with innovative business ideas to move, and the Self-Employed Persons Program, which is currently not operational.
The plan also allocates spots for the Quebec Immigration Program — 34,500. Quebec is a special province with a separate immigration system.
There's a final category in economic immigration that wasn't in previous plans. This is PR based on a special initiative to legalize undocumented migrants working in high-demand sectors — 50 spots are allocated for this.
Family Immigration
This category includes family reunification programs. They allow those already living in Canada with PR or citizenship to sponsor their relatives' immigration. 94,500 spots are allocated for this category (compared to 114,000 in 2024):
- Spouse and child sponsorship program — 70,000 permanent residencies;
- Parents and grandparents program — 24,500 permanent residencies.
Other relatives cannot be sponsored. They need to apply through economic immigration programs, but they can get extra points for having family ties in Canada.
Refugee and humanitarian program
Many were pleased with the reduction in the refugee admission plan. In 2024, 76,115 spots were allocated for refugees, but the new plan reduced it to 58,350. The humanitarian program was reduced from 13,750 to 10,000.
It's not advisable to count on getting permanent residency through refugee status. To apply for this program, you need to either come to Canada first or be registered with the UN refugee agency. You'll have to prove that you're in danger in your home country, which is difficult and often expensive. For example, Canada doesn't consider war alone as grounds for refugee status — the danger must be personal to you.
Currently, many of those who came through the program for Ukrainian citizens, CUAET, are hoping for the humanitarian program. Each case is considered individually, and again, you need to prove that it's absolutely necessary for you to stay in Canada. Almost 300,000 people came through CUAET, but there are only 10,000 spots for the humanitarian program, so it's important to consider regular immigration paths.
How to immigrate in 2025
The plan clearly shows that Canada prioritizes those already in the country and those with in-demand professions. They will also actively invite those who know French. Knowledge of this language helps people, even at a mature age or without years of work experience, to score enough points for an invitation.
As before, the path through education remains reliable. Despite restrictions on student visas, students are priority candidates because after graduation they receive work permits and apply for permanent residency while already in Canada. But it's important to choose the right program and institution, considering the restrictions.
This year, officials made many changes without warning and easily reduced the immigration plan, so it's uncertain what will happen with immigration in the future. Everything can change for better or worse.
It's not advisable to delay immigration. From our clients' experiences, we've seen how those who started the relocation process on time managed to get their visas just before new restrictions were implemented, and they weren't affected. Those who postponed had to change their plans at the last moment, either adapting to the changes or giving up on immigration.
Now it's important to keep track of updates, carefully plan your relocation strategy, and if possible, have a backup plan. Of course, it's safer to do all this with a specialist. We help with immigration to Canada, including through study and business. We select the most suitable path for you and develop a strategy taking into account all the changes.
Book a consultation to discuss your prospects and relocation strategy.
