2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan: The Full Targets, and 8 Changes to Flag
IRCC's supplementary information, published November 5, 2026, keeps total admissions at 380,000 permanent residents and 370,000 new temporary residents a year for 2027–2029. Under the surface there are real shifts: Express Entry's federal high-skilled target drops from 111,000 to 100,000 in 2027, the Provincial Nominee Program rises to 95,000, the Rural Community Immigration Program gets its own line, and the Atlantic Immigration Program rises to 6,000. The 200,000 temporary-to-permanent figure reported from the budget doesn't appear in IRCC's tables.
8 changes to flag
- Fewer Express Entry (Federal High Skilled) spaces. 100,000 a year, down from 111,000 for 2027 and 2028 in last year's plan. Expect fewer invitations per year, though categories and CEC draws will continue.
- More provincial nominees. PNP rises to 95,000 a year, from 92,500. A provincial nomination becomes relatively more important.
- RCIP has its own target. 5,500 in 2027, 6,000 in 2028 and 6,500 in 2029, now that it's a permanent program.
- Atlantic Immigration Program up 50%. 6,000 a year, from 4,000.
- More business immigrants. Federal Business rises to 1,500 in 2027 and 2,725 in 2028, from 500.
- Refugee mix shifts. Government-assisted refugees fall to 11,750 from 13,250; privately sponsored refugees rise to 17,550 from 16,000. The total stays at 49,300.
- Higher Francophone targets. 9.5% in 2027 and 10.5% in 2028 (unchanged), with a new 12% target for 2029.
- A 2027 time-limited measure without a number. IRCC describes moving in-Canada workers and their families, and long-waiting humanitarian cases, to permanent residence in 2027, but its tables give no figure. The "up to 200,000" reported from the budget isn't in IRCC's supplementary information.
Permanent resident targets
| Category | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | Last plan (2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
| Federal High Skilled (Express Entry) | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 111,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 95,000 | 95,000 | 95,000 | 92,500 |
| Rural Community Immigration Program | 5,500 | 6,000 | 6,500 | (in pilots) |
| Federal Economic Pilots | 7,900 | 6,175 | 7,400 | 8,775 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 4,000 |
| Federal Business | 1,500 | 2,725 | 1,000 | 500 |
| Quebec Skilled Workers and Business | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| Total economic | 244,700 | 244,700 | 244,700 | 244,700 |
| Spouses, partners and children | 66,000 | 66,000 | 66,000 | 66,000 |
| Parents and grandparents | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Total family | 81,000 | 81,000 | 81,000 | 81,000 |
| Protected persons in Canada | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Government-assisted refugees | 11,750 | 11,750 | 11,750 | 13,250 |
| Privately sponsored refugees | 17,550 | 17,550 | 17,550 | 16,000 |
| Total refugees and protected persons | 49,300 | 49,300 | 49,300 | 49,300 |
| Humanitarian, compassionate and other | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
Targets are the mid-point of each range. The overall range is 352,500 to 422,000. The "Federal Economic Pilots" row covers home care workers, the Agri-Food Pilot, the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot and the Francophone pilots; last year's pilots row also included the rural pilot, so the two aren't directly comparable.
Temporary resident targets (new arrivals)
| Category | 2027–2029 (each year) |
|---|---|
| Total | 370,000 (range 355,000–385,000) |
| Workers | 220,000 |
| International Mobility Program | 170,000 |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | 50,000 |
| Students | 150,000 |
These are unchanged from last year's plan for 2027 and 2028. They count new arrivals only: not extensions, Post-Graduation Work Permits, visitors or asylum claimants.
Francophone targets outside Quebec
| Year | Target | Admissions |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 9.5% | 31,825 |
| 2028 | 10.5% | 35,175 |
| 2029 | 12% | 40,200 |
What this means for you
- Express Entry candidates: fewer federal spaces makes a provincial nomination, French, or a category match more valuable.
- Workers in Canada: watch for details of the 2027 measure for in-Canada workers, to be developed with provinces and territories.
- Rural and Atlantic job seekers: both programs have more room in 2027.
- Family sponsors: targets are unchanged.
The 2028 and 2029 figures are notional and will be confirmed or adjusted by November 1 of the year before.
Every situation is different. GLC Immigration Consulting can help in three ways:
- Consultation: a one-on-one session with Osaro Ezomo, RCIC, to review your situation and your options.
- Full representation: we prepare and submit your application and act as your authorized representative with IRCC, from start to finish.
- Pre-submission review: you prepare your own application, and we review it for errors, gaps and risks before you submit.
To request full representation or a pre-submission review, or for any other question, email us at hello@gradlifecanada.ca.
Frequently asked questions
What are Canada's immigration targets for 2027?
380,000 permanent residents and 370,000 new temporary residents, according to IRCC's 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan.
How many Express Entry immigrants will Canada admit in 2027?
IRCC's Federal High Skilled target is 100,000 for 2027, down from 111,000 in last year's plan.
Is the PNP target increasing?
Yes. The Provincial Nominee Program target rises to 95,000 a year for 2027–2029, from 92,500.
Is the 200,000 temporary-to-permanent initiative in the levels plan?
IRCC's supplementary information describes a time-limited 2027 measure for in-Canada workers and long-waiting humanitarian cases, but gives no number. The 200,000 figure comes from budget reporting.
What is the Francophone immigration target for 2029?
12% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec, or about 40,200 people.
Fact-checked: Based on IRCC's Supplementary Information for the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan (November 5, 2026), compared with the 2026–2028 plan. Budget figures as reported by The Canadian Press. Verified November 6, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules change often. For advice on your situation, speak with a licensed immigration professional.
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), licence #R711785. Osaro is the principal consultant at GLC Immigration Consulting in Calgary, Alberta, helping clients with Express Entry, provincial nomination, work and study permits and family sponsorship.
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