Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued the Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 on November 1, raising admissions targets in Canada’s two major economic immigration streams. This annual plan details how many economic, family, and refugee/humanitarian permanent residents Canada will admit over the next three years.
The IRCC emphasized in this year’s plan that economic immigration programs will lead to Canada’s permanent residence growth. Express Entry and Canada’s 11 provincial nominee programs will lead this push.
Which program will lead to 2024–2026 permanent resident admissions?
When Canada issued its 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan in November 2022, PNP immigration targets exceeded Express Entry as the main economic immigration option. Canadian PNPs “invited 83,500 new permanent residents (PRs) to Canada.” The 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan predicted 105,000 IRCC PNP in 2023. The 2024 and 2025 goals were 110,000 and 117,500.
The IRCC’s 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan expects that Express Entry will top Canada’s economic immigration options again in 2024. Canada’s PNPs will lead economic immigration in 2025 and 2026 under current admissions projections.
Breaking down 2024–2026 Immigration Levels, Plan Express Entry, and PNP Goals
The 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan lists the Express Entry and PNP admissions Canada is targeting:
Express Entry: Canada uses Express Entry to jointly manage permanent resident immigration applications from three economic-class immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class. Canada currently has “standard” and category-based Express Entry draws as of late June 2023.
In 2023, IRCC will prioritize six categories through category-based draws:
- Fluency in French
- Experience in Healthcare
- Professional STEM Experience
- Trade Work Experience
- Transportation Work Experience
- Work in Agriculture and Agri-food
PNPs
PNPs allow provincial and territorial governments to choose immigration applicants to address local labor market and economic issues. PNPs across Canada promote the economic, social, and cultural benefits of immigration to encourage increased immigration outside of Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
Fill out our free online assessment form to learn more about your choices if you want to move to Canada as a foreign national.
Contact Mr. Usman Khalil who is a IRCC licensed Immigration Advisor and Chartered Professional Accountant who can simplify your journey to Canada. Visit www.makimmigration.ca or email Mr. Usman at usman@makimmigration.ca
