In 2022, Canada received 438 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status), 8% more than in 2021. This figure comprises 31% labour migrants, 50% family members (including accompanying family) and 17% humanitarian migrants. Around 275 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 155 000 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants.
India, China and Afghanistan were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2022. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Afghanistan registered the strongest increase (15 000) and India the largest decrease (‑9 700) in flows to Canada compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 55%, to reach around 147 000. The majority of applicants came from Mexico (24 000), India (12 000) and Nigeria (9 300). The largest increase since 2022 concerned nationals of Mexico (7 500) and the largest decrease nationals of Haiti (‑5 600). Of the 66 000 decisions taken in 2023, 60% were positive.
Emigration of Canadian citizens to OECD countries increased by 19% in 2022, to 41 000. Approximately 47% of this group migrated to the United States, 7% to Mexico and 7% to the United Kingdom.
Canada’s 2024‑26 Immigration Levels Plan follows the trajectory outlined in 2023‑25, aiming to admit 485 000 permanent residents in 2024, and 500 000 in both 2025 and 2026. The focus remains on immigration’s contribution to economic growth, with 60% of permanent admissions in 2025 allocated to the economic class, and to support Francophone communities outside of Quebec.
To address pressures on welcoming capacity (including housing) and ensure sustainability, Canada will, for the first time in the 2025‑27 Levels Plan, integrate targets for temporary residents, aiming to reduce their proportion of the population from 6.2% in 2023 to 5% over three years. International students and temporary foreign workers are directly affected.
A temporary cap on new study permit applications is being implemented to stabilise growth of the international student population. For 2024, ~550 000 study permit application spaces were split among provinces and territories, which distributed spaces among designated learning institutions. Financial requirements for new study permit applications have increased (e.g. CAD 20 635 for a single applicant) and will be updated annually. Open work permits for spouses are now limited to those accompanying students in master’s and doctorate programmes, certain professional programmes at universities, and select projects. Off-campus working hours have been limited to 24 hours per week.
Study programmes part of curriculum licensing arrangements (private colleges licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college), which had expanded the intake of international students, are no longer Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligible. Graduates of master’s degree programmes shorter than two years are now eligible for three‑year PGWPs.
From May 2024, the firm-level limit of Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) workers under the low-wage stream for most firms will be reduced from 30% to 20%, except in the construction and healthcare sectors. Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be valid for 6 months instead of 12 months. Canada is also reviewing the International Mobility Program to strengthen alignment with federal priorities, international commitments, and labour market objectives.
Measures to attract more French-speaking migrants into Francophone communities outside of Quebec include a new Francophone immigration policy, an expanded Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative, and implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages. Regional programmes also have targeted streams to attract French-speaking candidates. Building on achieving a 4.4% target of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec in 2022, the Levels Plan sets new annual targets: 6% in 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% in 2026. In addition, a Rural Community Immigration Pilot and a Francophone Community Immigration Pilot will launch in late 2024.
Canada had new measures in response to migration challenges. In the Americas, Canada will welcome up to 11 000 new permanent residents through a family-based humanitarian programme for Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans. A new family-based permanent humanitarian pathway was created for Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals who resided in Sudan when the conflict began in April 2023. In addition, Canada announced a new temporary resident pathway for extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Gaza.
For further information: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html
