“IRCC unveil Canada 2025-2026 Immigration plans and priorities”

What’s the News About?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced new immigration plans for 2025–2026, aiming to balance economic needs with domestic challenges like housing shortages and pressure on public services.

The new plan focuses on reducing the number of temporary residents, controlling permanent residency admissions, and strengthening immigration systems — including for international students, workers, and refugees.

📉 Key Goals of the New Plan:

1. Reduce temporary residents to 5% of Canada’s total population by end of 2026.
2. Lower permanent resident admissions to ensure sustainability:
   • 395,000 in 2025
   • 380,000 in 2026
   • 365,000 in 2027
3. Move more temporary residents (students/workers) into permanent residency instead of increasing new immigration.

🎓 International Students & Temporary Workers:

• IRCC will cap new international student arrivals at 305,900 per year (2025–2027).
• Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program: 82,000 workers per year.
• International Mobility Program (IMP):
  • 285,750 workers in 2025
  • 128,700 in 2026
  • 155,700 in 2027

🔑 Other Key Points:

• Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA): Now available to travellers from 67 countries, reducing visa needs.
• Work Permit Rules for spouses of students and workers will be revised to support sectors like healthcare and construction.
• Fraud Prevention: New rules to regulate immigration consultants and prevent fake or unlicensed advisors.

🧑‍🎓 Express Entry & Permanent Residency:

• Express Entry will target skilled individuals already in Canada or with expertise in:
  • French language
  • Healthcare
  • Trades
  • Education
• Over 40% of new permanent residents in 2025 will be people already in Canada (former students/workers).

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Refugees:

• Canada will resettle:
  • 12,000 refugees from each of Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific
  • 4,000 refugees from the Americas
• Aimed for completion by 2028 under Government-Assisted Refugee programs.

🛂 Passport & Citizenship Services:

• Canada will improve online adult passport renewal in 2025.
• Expand online systems for minors and families, making it easier to apply for citizenship.

✅ Summary:

Canada is taking a sustainable and selective approach to immigration for 2025–2026. The focus is on:

• Reducing temporary and permanent immigration levels
• Shifting existing temporary residents to permanent status
• Supporting labour market needs, especially in key sectors
• Enhancing fraud protection, and improving online services like passport and visa applications.

This shift aims to ease pressures on housing, infrastructure, and public services while still using immigration to support the Canadian economy.