Dear future neighbour,
Canada has announced it wants to welcome up to 622,000 new permanent residents in 2027. That’s a big number, and it left a lot of people asking the same thing: “Does this change my chances?”
Let’s break it down in plain English.
On November 5, 2026, the government released Budget 2026 and its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan on the same day. The two documents together explain where that 622,000 comes from.
First, the regular plan. Canada set its top-of-range target for new permanent residents at 422,000 for 2027. Its overall target stays at 380,000, with a range of 352,500 to 422,000.
Second, a special push. Budget 2026 announced measures to move up to 200,000 temporary residents already living in Canada onto permanent residence by the end of 2027. Of those spaces, 100,000 are set aside for skilled workers through Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program, in partnership with the provinces and territories.
Add the 422,000 and the 200,000 and you get 622,000.
There is one more group. The government also plans to keep admitting people under two one-time programs announced last year, which promised permanent residence to up to 115,000 protected persons and 33,000 workers already in Canada. That adds up to 148,000 people. From January to August 2026, 46,330 people were admitted under these programs. The new plan doesn’t say how many of the remaining spaces are left to fill before the end of 2027.
What Canada plans for 2027 to 2029
The target stays the same for all three years:
| 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected PR admissions | 380,000 (352,500–422,000) | 380,000 (352,500–422,000) | 380,000 (352,500–422,000) |
Each year, the 380,000 target is split like this:
- 244,700 for economic immigration
- 81,000 for family reunification
- 49,300 for refugees and protected persons
- 5,000 for humanitarian and compassionate cases and others
Canada also wants more French-speaking newcomers settling outside Quebec. The goal is 9.5% of all permanent resident admissions in 2027, then 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029. If you speak French, that’s worth paying attention to.
And for people coming temporarily?
The plan sets 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals for 2027, made up of:
- 220,000 temporary foreign workers
- 150,000 international students
Of the 220,000 worker spaces, 50,000 are for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, where employers need a Labour Market Impact Assessment to show no qualified Canadian or permanent resident could take the job. The other 170,000 are for the International Mobility Program, which doesn’t need one.
The same temporary targets apply to 2028 and 2029. They’re also identical to the 2027 numbers Canada set in November 2025, so nothing changed here.
So what does this mean for you?
It’s good news, with one important catch. A national target tells you how many people Canada plans to admit. It doesn’t tell you whether you will be one of them. Eligibility still depends on the rules of the program you apply under, and the levels plan doesn’t promise anyone an Express Entry invitation or a particular score.
What it does show is that permanent residence remains a priority, especially for skilled workers already in Canada, and that the right strategy matters more than ever.
Your next step starts with one conversation
Canada plans to admit hundreds of thousands of new permanent residents in 2027, including up to 200,000 people already living here on temporary status. The spaces exist, but the people who land them will be the ones with the right pathway, the right paperwork and the right timing.
Not sure which route fits you? Whether it’s provincial nomination, Express Entry, a work permit, a postgraduate work permit, spousal sponsorship, a visitor visa, a super visa, a citizenship application or school admission, we can look at your situation and point you in the right direction.
Book your consultation today:
Let’s find your best route to Canada, together.