Canada PR Approvals Fall 9.7%, but Several Countries See Gains

Canada granted permanent residence to fewer people during the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year. However, newly reported immigration figures reveal that citizens of several countries received more approvals despite the overall decline.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 222,625 people received permanent resident status between January and July 2026, compared with 246,580 during the corresponding period in 2025.

This represents a decrease of 23,955 approvals, or 9.7 per cent.

Turkey, Iran and Nigeria Record Strong Increases

Turkey recorded the largest numerical increase, with permanent residence approvals rising from 1,050 in 2025 to 2,995 in 2026, an increase of 185.2 per cent.

Iran followed with 5,495 approvals, up from 4,175, representing 31.6 per cent growth.

Nigeria also recorded an increase, reaching 11,565 approvals compared with 10,450 last year. This moved Nigeria into fourth place among countries of citizenship receiving Canadian permanent residence.

Sudan recorded 3,640 approvals, while Syria reached 3,260. Both countries experienced substantial year-over-year increases.

Other countries reporting growth included Mexico, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Ghana, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Uganda experienced particularly strong percentage growth, with approvals increasing 178.5 per cent from 395 to 1,100.

India Accounts for Largest Decline

India experienced the largest numerical reduction in Canadian permanent residence approvals.

The number of Indian citizens receiving permanent residence dropped from 68,690 during January–July 2025 to 53,285 in the same period of 2026.

The decline of 15,405 approvals represents approximately 64.3 per cent of Canada's overall reduction.

Despite this decrease, India remained the largest country of citizenship among new Canadian permanent residents.

Its share of total approvals declined from approximately 27.9 per cent to 23.9 per cent.

France, China and Other Countries Report Declines

France recorded a significant decline of 41.8 per cent, with approvals falling from 7,385 to 4,295.

Eritrea experienced a 36.9 per cent reduction, while Cameroon recorded a 13.5 per cent decrease.

China's approvals declined 12 per cent to 11,870.

Morocco, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo also experienced notable reductions.

Meanwhile, the Philippines recorded a comparatively small decrease of two per cent, retaining its position as the second-largest country of citizenship for permanent residence approvals.

Canada's Immigration Targets Remain in Focus

Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 permanent residents in 2026.

Two additional one-time permanent residence initiatives operate outside this annual target.

IRCC reported 188,800 approvals under the regular plan through July, alongside approximately 33,900 through those separate initiatives.

Importantly, country-level approval figures do not represent new arrivals or nationality-specific immigration quotas.

Many recipients may already have been living in Canada before receiving permanent residence.

The figures also do not establish which immigration programs caused the increases or decreases.