How many permanent residents will Canada admit each year under the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028?

380,000 permanent residents in 2026, 380,000 in 2027, and 380,000 in 2028.

How many temporary residents can arrive each year in 2026–2028?

385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028 (new student and worker arrivals only).

Are PGWP and spousal open work permits included in the worker totals?

No. Post-Graduation Work Permits and spousal open work permits are treated as status extensions/changes, not new arrivals, so they are excluded from the worker targets.

What are the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) targets in 2026–2028?

15,000 admissions per year in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

How large is the Federal Business quota (Start-Up Visa & Self-Employed)?

Only 500 admissions per year nationwide (range 250–1,000), which explains multi-year processing backlogs.

What are the main Economic class targets (Express Entry & PNP)?

Federal High Skilled (Express Entry: FSW/CEC/FST): 109,000 in 2026 and 111,000 in both 2027 and 2028. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 91,500 in 2026 and 92,500 in both 2027 and 2028.

What are the Family class totals each year?

84,000 in 2026, then 81,000 in 2027 and 81,000 in 2028 (including Spouses/Partners/Children and PGP).

How many Refugees and Protected Persons will be admitted?

49,300 per year in 2026, 2027, and 2028 (including Protected Persons, Government-Assisted, Privately Sponsored, and BVOR refugees).

What is the quota for Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other (public-policy programs like Hong Kong Stream A/B and Ukraine)?

6,900 in 2026 and 5,000 in both 2027 and 2028 for all such programs combined, which contributes to longer processing times.

Are there any one-time measures that add to the PR totals?

Yes. Approximately 115,000 Protected Persons will transition to PR over 2026–2027, and up to 33,000 temporary workers will transition to PR in 2026–2027. These are in addition to the planned annual targets.

What are the Francophone immigration targets outside Quebec?

9% in 2026 (≈30,267 admissions), 9.5% in 2027 (≈31,825), and 10.5% in 2028 (≈35,175), with a broader goal of 12% by 2029.

When are the notional 2027–2028 targets confirmed or adjusted?

Typically by November 1 each year, when IRCC tables the updated Immigration Levels Plan.

Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026 – 2028: Detailed Targets, Family Quotas & Hidden Backlogs

Tiffany Chia
2 hours ago
5 min read

Updated: 1 hour ago

Published: November 5, 2025 | By: Tiffany Chia

If you want to understand how Canada decides who gets in and how fast, the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026 is your roadmap. IRCC has confirmed 380,000 permanent resident admissions each year, fewer temporary arrivals, and smaller quotas for families, entrepreneurs, and public-policy programs.

This blog takes you inside the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028, revealing the real numbers, hidden backlogs, and what they mean for your study permit, work permit, PR or family sponsorship strategy.

1️⃣ Overview of the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028

Category	2026	2027	2028
Permanent Residents (Total)	380 000	380 000	380 000
Temporary Residents (New Arrivals)	385 000	370 000	370 000
• Workers (Total)	230 000	220 000	220 000
– International Mobility Program (IMP)	170 000	170 000	170 000
– Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW)	60 000	50 000	50 000
• Students (New Permits)	155 000	150 000	150 000

Post-Graduation Work Permits and spousal open work permits are status extensions, not new arrivals, and are therefore excluded from the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026 totals.

2️⃣ Permanent-Resident Targets under the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028

Immigration Class	2026	2027	2028
Economic Total	239 800	244 700	244 700
• Federal High Skilled (FSW / CEC / FST)	109 000	111 000	111 000
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)	91 500	92 500	92 500
• Economic Pilots (Caregiver, Agri-Food, Community Immigration Pilots, Economic Mobility Pathway Pilot)	8 175	8 775	8 775
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)	4 000	4 000	4 000
• Federal Business (Start-Up Visa / Self-Employed)	500	500	500
Family Total	84 000	81 000	81 000
• Spouses / Partners / Children	69 000	66 000	66 000
• Parents & Grandparents (PGP)	15 000	15 000	15 000
Refugees & Protected Persons	49 300	49 300	49 300
Humanitarian & Other (Public-Policy Programs)	6 900	5 000	5 000
Total PR Admissions	380 000	380 000	380 000

3️⃣ Family Sponsorship — Smaller Parent Quota

Family-class admissions remain around 80 000–84 000 per year, but Parents & Grandparents (PGP) drop sharply from 24 500 in 2025 to 15 000 a year from 2026 onward. That’s nearly a 40 % cut.

🟢 Spousal files remain prioritized.

🟠 Families should prepare Notice Of Assessments early and consider the Super Visa for long-stay parents.

4️⃣ Economic Immigration — Main Driver

With about 240 000 economic immigrants each year, this is the engine of the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026.

Express Entry + PNP account for 200 000 + spots combined.
Federal Business (Start-Up Visa / Self-Employed): only 500 PR spots per year nationwide (< 0.2 % of total PRs), explaining multi-year processing times.
Category-based Express Entry draws will continue for STEM, health care and skilled trades.

5️⃣ Temporary Residents — Reduced Arrivals

New temporary resident intake falls from 385 000 (2026) to 370 000 (2027–28):

Workers: 230 000 (2026) → 220 000 (2027) → 220 000 (2028)

• International Mobility Program (IMP) : 170 000 a year covers LMIA-exempt permits under trade agreements and public policies.

• Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW): 60 000 (2026) → 50 000 (2027-2028) remains for LMIA-based roles when no Canadians are available.
Students: 155 000 (2026 to 2028)

IRCC is shifting toward quality Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and better alignment between education and labour market needs.

6️⃣ Humanitarian & Public-Policy Programs — Tiny Quota, Super Long Waits

Stream	2026	2027	2028
Humanitarian & Other	6 900	5 000	5 000

These numbers must cover all public-policy programs, including Hong Kong Stream A & B, the Ukraine pathway, and measures for Sudan and Afghanistan.

➡ With fewer than 7 000 spots a year, processing often takes at least 5 years to process.

7️⃣ One-Time Add-Ons

115 000 Protected Persons to gain PR in 2026–27
33 000 Temporary Workers to transition to PR

Both are above and beyond the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026 targets and intended to clear existing backlogs. We will get more updates on these programs in the coming weeks

8️⃣ Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec

Year	Target %	Approx. Admissions
2026	9 %	30 267
2027	9.5 %	31 825
2028	10.5 %	35 175

Goal: 12 % by 2029 to support French-speaking communities across Canada.

9️⃣ Five Expert Tips for the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026

Know the numbers. Economic ≈ 240 000; Family ≈ 80 000; Refugee/Humanitarian ≈ 55 000 each year.
If sponsoring parents, act early — Parent Grandparents Program (PGP) is only 15 000 spots per year from 2026 to 2028.
Entrepreneurs & self-employed: expect super long processing time — Federal Business quota = 500 per year. Provincial Nominee Programs for Entrepreneurs are not included in the Federal Business quota. Start up Visa applicants are also most likely at risk of having their applications returned.
Students & workers in Canada: keep status valid to qualify for in-Canada PR transitions.
Stay updated. IRCC will release further policy details through 2026; follow us on our social media channels or be a member on our website. ( Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • Threads • Pinterest • Twitter/X)

FAQs — Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026

How many PRs will Canada admit each year?
380 000 (2026–2028).
Which class is largest?
Economic — ≈ 240 000 per year.
Are PGWP and spousal open work permits counted as workers?
No, they are not new arrivals.
What is the Parents & Grandparents quota in 2026?
15 000 spots.
How many temporary residents (Workers and students) can arrive each year?
385 000 (2026) → 370 000 (2027) → 370 000 (2028).
Why are Hong Kong and Ukraine cases slow?
They share the tiny Humanitarian quota (6 900 → 5 000 spots total).

How small is the Federal Business quota?
Only 500 spots nationwide per year, creating multi-year backlogs.
How many workers will transition to PR under one-time measures?
33 000 in 2026–27.
How many Protected Persons will get PR?
About 115 000 over two years.
When will IRCC update targets again? Every November 1.

Join our FREE Live Webinar — Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026 to 2028: What It Means for You

Thursday, Nov 6 2025 | 7 PM PST (Vancouver Time) / 10 PM EST (Toronto Time)

Join our free Zoom webinar on Thursday, Nov 6 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Pacific Time) for a deep dive into the new plan and live Q&A on how it affects you.

You’ll learn:

How the 2026–2028 targets impact study, work and PR applications.
Realistic timelines and planning tips for students and workers.
Live Q&A

👉 Register for the Free Webinar Here

👉 Register for the Free Webinar in Chinese Here on Nov 13, 2025 (Thursday) at 7pm PST(Vancouver Time)/ 10 PM EST (Toronto Time)

Seats are limited — register early to receive the Zoom link.

Prefer personal guidance?

Book a 30-min Zoom consultation for CAD $150.

About the Author

Tiffany Chia, RCIC #R512971, founder of 1to1 Immigration Inc. in Vancouver, Canada. An immigrant from Singapore, Tiffany founded 1to1 Immigration in 2015 to make the process simpler and more personal. She has helped hundreds of families and professionals achieve success through Express Entry, family sponsorship, and study-to-PR pathways.

Disclaimer

Information is based on IRCC’s official Supplementary Information for the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 released on Nov 5, 2025 and current as of publication. Processing times and policies may change at any time. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.