OTTAWA, Canada — Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is maintaining Canada’s immigration targets for the next three years while introducing a special measure that could allow up to 200,000 people already living in the country to transition to permanent residence by the end of 2027.
The measures were announced as part of the federal government’s 2026 budget and its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan. Ottawa says the approach will help stabilize population growth, address labour shortages and provide greater certainty for newcomers, employers and communities.
Immigration Targets Remain Unchanged
Under the new plan, Canada will maintain its annual permanent resident admission target at 380,000 for 2027, 2028 and 2029.
The government is also setting an annual target of 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals, covering international students and foreign workers.
Of those temporary arrivals, 220,000 will be workers and up to 150,000 will be international students each year.
Ottawa says the targets are intended to reduce pressure on housing, health care and public services while ensuring Canadian businesses can continue accessing workers with skills needed in key industries.
Special Permanent Residence Pathway for 200,000 People
A major feature of the announcement is a temporary measure designed to help up to 200,000 people already in Canada obtain permanent residence.
The initiative will have two main groups. The first will support up to 100,000 workers and their families, with provinces and territories helping identify eligible candidates through selected economic immigration pathways.
The second group will cover up to 100,000 people through humanitarian and family-related pathways. This includes applicants connected to existing Hong Kong and Ukraine immigration pathways, people approved on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, and certain spouses, partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
The government says the initiative will help reduce application backlogs, keep families together and recognize people who have already established lives in Canadian communities.
Provinces to Play a Greater Role
Ottawa plans to work with provincial and territorial governments to identify workers whose skills match regional labour market needs.
The government is also increasing the Provincial Nominee Program target to 95,000 admissions annually, giving provinces additional opportunities to select qualified workers.
A More Controlled Immigration System
The Carney government says maintaining stable targets while creating pathways for established residents will help balance economic needs with pressure on public services.
However, eligibility for the 200,000-person measure will depend on specific program requirements. It is not an automatic permanent residence offer for every temporary resident in Canada.
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