IRCC released details on the government of Canada's Immigration Levels Plan for 2026-2028. Canada aims to welcome 380,000 new permanent residents each year for the next three years, while increasing the share of economic migrants from 59% to 64%. The plan also aims to reduce the admission of new temporary residents to 385,000 in 2026; and 370,000 in 2027 and 2028. The objective of these targets is to recalibrate Canada’s immigration policy, and the impacts are already reflected in recent immigration trends, including the following: 

• Significantly decreasing how many applicants are being selected to apply for permanent residence under various categories, with priority being given to applicants who are currently in Canada, those who are working in select targeted occupations, and those who have French-language skills.
• Creating new pathways for permanent residence to individuals who work in essential occupations and to recent graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions who have secured a permanent, full-time job offer from eligible Canadian employers.
• Transitioning application processes that were previously applicant-driven to new employer-driven systems, which will help facilitate the application process for employers and ensure that only employer-supported applicants can enter candidate pools.