Canada is tightening its doors for new temporary arrivals while creating a faster route to permanent residency for selected workers already in the country.
Canada will cut new international student and temporary worker arrivals through 2028 while fast-tracking permanent residency for up to 33,000 workers already in the country under its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The government aims to bring the temporary resident population below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027, easing pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services.
Student and Worker Targets Fall
New student arrivals are set at 155,000 in 2026 and 150,000 in both 2027 and 2028. The 2026 figure is half the 305,900 target in last year’s plan, as reported.
New temporary worker arrivals drop to 230,000 in 2026 and 220,000 in each of the next two years. The 2025 allowance was nearly 368,000, as News reported. Arrivals under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program fall to 60,000 in 2026, down from 82,000 in last year’s plan.
Faster PR Route for Temporary Workers
Up to 33,000 temporary workers will move to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. The initiative targets workers who have roots in their communities, pay taxes and contribute to the economy. It is not an automatic pathway for every temporary worker or overseas applicant, and eligibility criteria apply.
Permanent resident admissions stay at 380,000 a year, and permanent economic immigration will make up 64% of all admissions in 2027 and 2028, the highest share in decades, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
