Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2027-2029 Due in November: What to Expect for Work Permits
Canada must table its 2027-2029 immigration plan around 1 November. The minister has hinted levels could rise, after foreign worker arrivals in 2025 fell far below target.
CanadaIn brief
- Canada's immigration minister must table the annual report to Parliament, which includes the levels plan, on or before 1 November, or within 30 sitting days if Parliament is not sitting.
- As of 21 October 2026, the 2027-2029 plan had not been released; Minister Lena Diab said it would come in November.
- The current plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents a year from 2026 to 2028.
- It targets 230,000 temporary worker arrivals in 2026 and 220,000 in each of 2027 and 2028.
- IRCC data shows temporary worker arrivals in 2025 fell 47% from 2024, leaving them well below the 2025 target of 367,750.
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Organization | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) |
| Official source | Canada.ca – Supplementary information for the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan ✓ canada.ca |
Canada is about to announce its Immigration Levels Plan for 2027 to 2029. The plan sets how many permanent residents, foreign workers and students the country will admit. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the minister must table it with the annual report to Parliament on or before 1 November, or within 30 sitting days after that if Parliament is not sitting. Last year's plan came out on 4 November 2025.
As of 21 October 2026, the new plan had not been released. Immigration Minister Lena Diab said in mid-October that it will come in November, and she hinted that some levels could go up.
Current targets (2026-2028 plan)
| Category | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New permanent residents | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
| All temporary resident arrivals | 385,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| Temporary workers | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| – International Mobility Program | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 |
| – Temporary Foreign Worker Program | 60,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| Students | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
The 2027 and 2028 numbers are notional and will be updated in the new plan. TFWP targets exclude seasonal workers.
Fewer foreign workers are arriving
The target for temporary worker arrivals in 2025 was 367,750. IRCC told a parliamentary committee in March 2026 that worker arrivals in 2025 fell 47%, or 184,340, compared with 2024. By our calculation, that leaves 2025 arrivals well over 100,000 below the target. In early 2026, worker arrivals were down 74% on the same period of 2024.
What it means for job seekers
- Wait for the plan before paying for anything. The numbers for 2027 will decide how many work permits are available.
- Employer-backed routes matter most. The TFWP needs an LMIA, so start with an employer offer.
- Express Entry is changing too. From 3 November 2026, high-wage jobs can earn extra points.
Official sources
- Canada.ca: 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan supplementary information
- Canada.ca: IRCC briefing on temporary resident targets (March 2026)
- Justice Laws: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 94
Read next: Express Entry changes from 3 November 2026 and how the LMIA process works.
Frequently asked questions
When will Canada's 2027-2029 immigration levels plan be released?
The law requires it on or before 1 November, or within 30 sitting days after that if Parliament is not sitting. The immigration minister said in October 2026 that it will be released in November.
How many work permits will Canada issue in 2027?
Under the current plan, the notional target is 220,000 temporary worker arrivals in 2027: 170,000 under the International Mobility Program and 50,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The new plan may change this.
Is Canada reducing foreign workers?
Yes, so far. Temporary worker arrivals fell 47% in 2025 compared with 2024, and targets for 2026 to 2028 are lower than for 2025. The minister has hinted that some levels could go up in the new plan.
How many permanent residents will Canada admit?
The current plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028.
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