Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released new details of Canada’s Immigration Plan for 2026–2028. The document calls for a stable intake of permanent residents, a sharp reduction in new temporary entries, and new priorities for economic immigration.
According to official IRCC information, Canada plans to maintain the total intake of permanent residents at 380,000 people annually from 2026 to 2028. At the same time, economic immigration will continue to account for the largest share: its share is expected to rise to 64% in 2027 and 2028.
One of the main changes concerns temporary residents. The Canadian government states that it aims to reduce the total temporary presence in the country to less than 5% of the population by the end of 2027. That is why the target for new temporary arrivals—specifically international students and temporary workers—has been set at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027 and 2028. The Departmental Plan also explicitly states that this represents a decrease from 673,650 in 2025.
IRCC also confirms its intention to accelerate the transition to permanent residency for those already in Canada. In 2026–2027, the agency plans to facilitate the transition to PR for up to 33,000 temporary workers who are already integrated into communities, paying taxes, and contributing to the Canadian economy.
Special emphasis is placed on provincial programs. The supplementary information to the plan states that Canada is increasing intake under the Federal High-Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to better meet labor market needs in the provinces and territories and support major economic projects. The Departmental Plan further specifies that IRCC will work with the provinces and territories to better align nomination quotas with annual immigration targets.
Another priority is French-speaking immigration outside Quebec. In the new plan, IRCC raises the target for French-speaking permanent residents heading outside Quebec to 10.5% by 2028, and the Departmental Plan separately mentions an interim target of 9% by 2026 and a long-term benchmark of 12% by 2029.
The IRCC document also outlines upcoming changes to Express Entry. Specifically, the agency plans to update the category selection in 2026, as well as develop a broader package of reforms that may include adding points for job offers, Canadian work experience in high-paying professions, and approaches to rewarding candidates who are certified to work in regulated professions.
However, there is an important clarification here: this is not yet an active rule, but an intention set forth in a planning document. As of now, the official IRCC page for Express Entry states that as of March 25, 2025, points for a job offer in the CRS have been abolished for current and future candidates in the pool. The same is reflected in the current ministerial instructions, where the section on awarding points for a qualifying offer of arranged employment is marked as repealed.
Ultimately, Canada’s new approach appears to be an attempt to balance the needs of the economy with the country’s actual capacity regarding housing, infrastructure, and social services. The government is not abandoning large-scale immigration, but is making it more selective: fewer new temporary entries, greater emphasis on economic selection, provincial needs, and a transition to permanent residency for those already living and working in Canada.