Canada’s 2026-2028 plan to grant permanent residency to temporary residents

Canada will open a new path to permanent residency for up to 33,000 temporary workers between 2026 and 2027. The measure forms part of the upcoming 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, revealed in the 2025 federal budget.

Officials said this move will help experienced workers already in Canada settle permanently. The government wants to balance labour market needs with population growth while keeping immigration targets steady.

Reduced Temporary Resident Targets for 2026

The new plan introduces sharp cuts to temporary resident admissions next year. The target for all temporary residents will drop to 385,000 in 2026 — a 43% fall from the 2025 goal of 673,650.

For international students, the government plans to admit 155,000, almost half the previous year’s target of 305,900. The temporary foreign worker target will fall to 230,000, a 37% cut from 2025’s figure but slightly higher than last year’s 2026 forecast of 210,700.

Officials believe these reductions will help manage housing and service pressures while keeping essential industries staffed.

Focus on Economic Immigration and Key Sectors

The plan keeps the total number of permanent resident admissions steady at 380,000 for 2026. However, 64% of these spots will go to economic immigration — up from 59% previously.

The government said it will “consider industries and sectors impacted by tariffs and the unique needs of rural and remote communities.” This means certain regions and industries could see tailored immigration streams based on local needs.

Over the next two years, the government also plans to grant permanent resident status to eligible Protected Persons already in Canada.

Carney Outlines Changes to the Foreign Worker Program

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government continues to adjust the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Carney said in September that the program “must have a focused approach that targets specific, strategic sectors, and needs in specific regions.”

Budget 2025 did not detail how many workers would come through the TFWP versus the International Mobility Program (IMP). Historically, most work permits come through the IMP, which had a 2025 target of 285,750 workers. The TFWP target was only 82,000.

In 2026, the total target for both programs will be 230,000, up from last year’s combined 210,700.

Permanent Resident Admissions by Category

The 2026 target for permanent residents remains unchanged at 380,000. Within this, economic immigration will rise slightly to 239,800, while family reunification will drop to 84,000. The Refugee and Humanitarian category will fall to 56,200, reflecting a modest tightening of admissions.

Canada’s Immigration Plan at a Glance

The Immigration Levels Plan guides both temporary and permanent resident admissions over three years. Targets for the first year are fixed, while those for later years may change.

The upcoming plan marks another major shift in Canada’s immigration approach — focusing more on permanent settlement and less on temporary streams.