Canada Sets 2027 Immigration Targets

Ottawa's 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan sets targets for temporary workers, international students and permanent residents.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a deep red parliamentary-style building silhouette above a thin charcoal threshold line on a cream field. — Ottawa released its 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan, setting targets of 220,000 temporary workers, 150,000 international students and 380,000 permanent residents for 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Canada admit fewer immigrants and temporary workers than its current plan?

Canada released its 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan, setting a target of 220,000 new temporary workers and 150,000 international student arrivals for 2027. The plan also sets a target of 380,000 new permanent residents.

Why it matters

The government framed the plan around reducing demographic pressures, attracting top-tier talent and rebuilding public confidence in the immigration system. The 2027 targets are consistent with the previous year's plan.

The plan's 2027 figures set 220,000 new temporary workers and 150,000 international students as targets, consistent with the prior year's plan. The extraction does not detail how these targets will be allocated or met in practice.

The players

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

The federal department responsible for setting and administering Canada's immigration programs, which released the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan.

The details

Temporary worker applicants outside Canada must first secure a job offer from a Canadian employer, while student applicants must first obtain a letter of acceptance from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution. The plan covers the years 2027 through 2029 and was released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

2027: Targets of 220,000 temporary workers and 150,000 international students apply.
2027-2029: Three-year Immigration Levels Plan period.

Political Context

The 2027 targets are consistent with the previous year's Immigration Levels Plan, signalling continuity in federal immigration policy. The plan is designed to complement Canada's workforce rather than simply expand the population.

Temporary worker applicants outside Canada must first secure a job offer from a Canadian employer. Student applicants must first obtain a letter of acceptance from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution before applying.

The takeaway

Prospective temporary workers and students should first secure a Canadian job offer or a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution, as these are the required first steps under the plan's application process.