Canada to Reduce Immigration Numbers Under the Sustainable Development Plan 2025-2027

Starting in 2025, Canada will reduce immigration numbers while focusing on improving settlement processes for temporary residents. The new immigration plan offers significant opportunities in priority sectors like Healthcare and Trades.

Changes in immigration numbers under the plan

Faced with population growth pressures and the need to balance economic development with community support, Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced key adjustments to Canada’s immigration plan for 2025-2027 during a press conference on October 24, 2024, in Ottawa.

For the first time, the "Immigration Levels Plan" includes specific goals to manage the number of temporary residents, such as international students and workers, rather than focusing solely on long-term residents as in previous plans. This approach aims to stabilize immigration numbers to support sustainable long-term development.

Compared to the plan announced at the end of 2023, the new targets reveal a significant reduction in the number of permanent residents:

• 2025: From 500,000 to 395,000.
• 2026: From 500,000 to 380,000.
• 2027: Reduced further to 365,000.

Measures to reduce temporary residents

To ensure effective migration management, the government aims to reduce the proportion of temporary residents to 5% of the total population by the end of 2026. Several measures introduced over the past year support this goal:

• Limiting the number of study permits for most student visa applications.
• Revising living cost requirements for international students.
• Changing eligibility criteria for post-graduate work permits.
• Adjusting work permits for spouses of international students and foreign workers under both the International Mobility Program (IMP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
• Additional measures for the low-wage stream of the TFWP to better align with current labor market conditions.

Opportunities for temporary residents in Canada

Despite the overall reduction in immigration targets, Canada remains focused on transitioning temporary residents to permanent residency (PR). Notably, the proportion of immigrants settling through economic programs is expected to increase compared to other categories.

According to CIC News, even with the adjustments, the 2025 immigration target remains higher than pre-COVID-19 levels.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized that 40% of the 2025 immigration target will be allocated to temporary residents, including international students and workers—although this figure is 20% lower than the previous year’s plan. Miller highlighted that these individuals are young, skilled, and already integrated into Canadian society, which reduces pressure on housing, healthcare, and social services compared to new immigrants arriving directly from abroad.

Pathways for temporary residents in Canada

Under the new direction, the Canadian government is expected to prioritize PR invitations for international students and workers already residing in the country during 2025-2027. This focus will emphasize strategic occupations and existing economic immigration programs.

This shift underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging young, skilled, and semi-integrated labor to drive sustainable economic growth without overburdening public services.

Keynotes:

• Trades and Healthcare Sectors: These are critical focus areas identified by Canada, offering abundant PR opportunities for candidates in these fields.
• French Language Skills: Proficiency in French provides a significant competitive edge for international students. As policies increasingly prioritize French-speaking communities, mastering the language will become a vital factor in PR applications.

Canada’s focus on sustainable development

By managing resident numbers and efficiently allocating resources, Canada aims to maintain a sustainable immigration system. Despite new restrictions, opportunities remain open for those already in Canada, especially international students and workers who are well-prepared.

Learn more: Canada study abroad news update 2024