Upcoming 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan to Include Temporary Residents

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is set to release the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan by November 1, outlining targets for permanent and temporary residents over the next three years. This year's plan will differ from previous iterations by including temporary residents on work and study permits.

Impact on Canada

The Immigration Levels Plan affects more than immigration numbers—it influences population growth, social systems, taxation, housing, healthcare, and the labor market. In 2023, temporary residents made up 6.2% of Canada’s population. IRCC aims to lower this figure to 5% over three years.

Changes to Temporary Resident Programs

Study Permits

• 2023 Cap: IRCC processed 606,000 study permit applications, approving around 360,000 (35% reduction).
• 2025 Changes: The number of processed permits will drop to 437,000. Master's and Ph.D. students will now be subject to the cap.

Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs)

• New Requirements: PGWP applicants must meet a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 7 for university graduates and 5 for college graduates.
• Reduction Targets: IRCC expects to issue 175,000 fewer PGWPs and 50,000 fewer SOWPs in the next three years.
• Additional Criteria: Spouses of master's students are only eligible for a SOWP if the master's program lasts 16 months or more, or if the program is deemed critical or in-demand.

Closed Work Permits and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

Minister of Employment Randy Boissonnault announced changes to limit TFWP use:

• Employers can only hire 10% of their workforce through TFWP.
• The maximum employment duration for Low-Wage stream workers is reduced to one year.
• LMIAs will not be processed in areas with unemployment rates over 6%, except for specific cases.

Permanent Resident Targets

The current 2024-2026 plan targets 500,000 permanent residents annually by 2025, primarily focusing on economic immigrants (60% of the total). Minister Miller has hinted at "significant" changes in immigration types, suggesting a potential shift in priorities.

The 2025-2027 plan aims to balance Canada's economic needs with sustainable immigration growth, reflecting an evolving approach to managing temporary and permanent residents.