On November 1st, Canada announced its three-year immigration quota plan for the years 2024 to 2026. The plan aims to admit 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, with annual intakes planned to reach 500,000 people in both 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the plan includes targets to increase the proportion of French-speaking permanent residents outside of Quebec from 6% in 2024 to 8% by 2026.IRCC emphasized the significant role of immigration in the labor market and believes that immigration policies play a crucial role in the country's transition to a greener and more digital economy. Immigration is seen as essential for addressing labor shortages in key industries such as health, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), skilled trades, transportation, and agriculture. The government aims to enhance the well-being of new immigrants and accelerate their social integration by increasing support for family reunification. This is expected to improve the happiness of new immigrants and enable them to make greater economic contributions. The following table outlines the detailed immigration quota plan for the years 2024 to 2026.
| Immigration Categories | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
| Goals | Goals | Goals | ||
| Total Immigration Quota | 485,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | |
| Economic Class | Federal Skilled Worker Program | 110,770 | 117,500 | 117,500 |
| Federal Economic Class Public Policy | - | - | - | |
| Federal Entrepreneurship and Self-Employed Program | 5,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | |
| Economic Class Pilot Programs: Caregiver, Agri-Food Pilot | 10,875 | 14,750 | 13,750 | |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6,500 | 8,500 | 8,500 | |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 110,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | |
| Quebec Skilled Worker Program | Details Quebec immigration plan | Details Quebec immigration plan | To be determined | |
| Total Economic Class Quota | 281,135 | 301,250 | 301,250 | |
| Family Reunification | Spouse and Dependent Children Reunification | 82,000 | 84,000 | 84,000 |
| Parent/Grandparent Reunification | 32,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 | |
| Total Family Reunification Quota | 114,000 | 118,000 | 118,000 | |
| Refugee and Asylum Category | Protected Persons in Canada and their Dependent Children Abroad | 27,000 | 29,000 | 29,000 |
| Government-Assisted Refugees | 21,115 | 15,250 | 15,250 | |
| Privately Sponsored Refugees | 27,750 | 28,250 | 28,250 | |
| Blended Visa Office-Referred Refugees | 250 | 250 | 250 | |
| Total Refugee and Asylum Category | 76,115 | 72,750 | 72,750 | |
| Humanitarian | Total Humanitarian Immigration | 13,750 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| French-speaking Immigration Category Outside Quebec | 26,100 | 31,500 | 36,000 | |
In 2024, Canada will welcome approximately 281,135 economic class immigrants, accounting for 58% of the annual target. By 2026, this number will increase to 301,250 individuals, representing 60% of the annual target.
Express Entry (EE) Class: The target is set at 110,770 new immigrants, an increase of 27,890 individuals compared to the 2023 target, surpassing the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): IRCC aims to land 110,000 new immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program in 2024, an increase of 4,500 individuals compared to the 2023 target.
Federal Business Immigration (Federal SUV, Federal Self-Employed): The target quota for 2025 and 2026 is increased to 8,000 individuals, an increase of 1,000 individuals compared to the 2023 target. Looking at this plan, the quota for federal business immigration is expected to grow and stabilize over the next three years.
From the plan, it is evident that business immigration plays a crucial role in Canada's future economic class immigration. Among them, the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program stands out as a high-quality immigration program that can bring in highly skilled individuals from various industries, making it a top priority.
In 2024, the target number for family reunification immigrants is 114,000 people, accounting for 24% of the total immigration intake. By 2025 and 2026, the number of family reunification immigrants will increase to 118,000 people, maintaining the same proportion of the total intake.
Among them, the target for the Spouse, Partner, and Children Sponsorship Program is to admit 82,000 people in 2024, increasing to 84,000 people in both 2025 and 2026.
The target for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is to admit 32,000 immigrants in 2024, followed by 34,000 immigrants each in 2025 and 2026.
In 2024, the target for humanitarian immigrants is 89,865 people, accounting for approximately 19% of the total immigration intake. These numbers include refugees, protected persons, and individuals entering for humanitarian, compassionate, or other reasons. By 2026, the target number of humanitarian immigrants will reach 80,832 people, representing 16% of the total immigration intake.
The Canadian Minister of Immigration, when announcing the immigration quota plan for 2024-2026, stated that the new quotas aim to support Canada's economic growth, alleviate labor shortages, and balance pressures in areas such as housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Furthermore, IRCC emphasized six favored categories of immigrants:
1. IT professionals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields
2. Healthcare professionals such as nurses, caregivers, and nannies
3. Workers in the agricultural and food processing industry such as farm workers and meat cutters
4. Various skilled trades including electricians, carpenters, welders, and plumbers
5. Increase in the proportion of French-speaking residents outside of Quebec from 6% in 2024 to 8% by 2026
6. Early childhood education professionals
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