November 7, 2026

Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan: PR Targets and the 200,000-Person Measure

IRCC’s 2027–2029 plan targets 380,000 permanent residents annually and announces a separate time-limited measure for up to 200,000 people already in Canada. Learn what it does—and does not—mean.

Updated November 7, 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan on November 5, 2026. The plan sets annual admission targets and introduces additional, time-limited permanent residence processing space for certain people already in Canada. Here is what applicants, employers and families should know.

Canada’s immigration targets for 2027, 2028 and 2029

Permanent residents: 380,000 planned admissions annually.
New temporary resident arrivals: 370,000 annually, comprising 220,000 workers and 150,000 international students.
Economic immigration: approximately 64.4% of planned permanent resident admissions.
Provincial Nominee Program: 95,000 planned permanent resident admissions annually.
French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec: targets of 9.5% in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029.

These figures are planning targets, not guarantees of approval. Temporary resident arrival targets do not represent every visitor, permit extension or in-Canada permit application. IRCC notes that the 2028 and 2029 figures are subject to subsequent confirmation or adjustment.

What does the additional 200,000-person measure mean?

Separately from the regular immigration levels plan, IRCC announced a time-limited measure providing additional space in 2027 to support the transition of up to 200,000 people already living in Canada to permanent residence. It consists of two cohorts:

Workers cohort — up to 100,000 people: workers already in Canada and their families, with provinces and territories helping identify people who meet regional workforce needs. This may involve additional provincial nomination spaces and certain existing federal applications.
Humanitarian cohort — up to 100,000 people: individuals already in Canada, including some applicants who have waited many years under humanitarian or other identified pathways.

IRCC specifically refers to existing applications under certain programs, including the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, some humanitarian and compassionate cases, and in-Canada family sponsorship applications. The announcement also discusses selected economic-program inventories.

Important: This announcement does not mean that every work permit holder, student or visitor automatically qualifies for permanent residence. Nor does it create a general new application stream open to everyone. Eligibility and selection will depend on the specific pathway and further implementation details.

What this means for applicants in British Columbia

For workers and employers in British Columbia, the increased emphasis on regional workforce needs and provincial nominations makes it important to monitor BC PNP criteria, invitations and allocations. An existing job or work permit alone does not establish eligibility for nomination or permanent residence.

Applicants with pending permanent residence applications should continue to maintain lawful temporary status where required, keep contact information current and respond promptly to requests from IRCC. Do not withdraw or replace an existing application solely because of the new announcement without assessing the consequences.

How CanLink can help

CanLink Consulting Inc., based in Richmond, British Columbia, assists clients with Canadian immigration eligibility assessments, work permits, provincial nominee programs and permanent residence applications. We can review how an announced measure may affect your circumstances once the applicable requirements are confirmed.

Explore our Provincial Nominee Programs, BC PNP and Work Permits & LMIA resources, or contact CanLink for a consultation.

Official government sources

This article provides general information as of November 7, 2026 and is not individualized immigration or legal advice. Government policies and program instructions may change.