Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Plan

On March 2026, Canada announced official immigration levels for the next three years:

2026: 385,000 permanent residents
2027: 380,000 permanent residents
2028: 375,000 permanent residents

Context: 2025 was ~440,000. So we're seeing a ~12% reduction.

Breakdown by Category (2026)

Economic Class (185,000 - 48% of total)

This is Express Entry + PNPs. GOOD NEWS: % of economic class is HIGHER than before

Express Entry: ~110,000
Provincial Nominee Programs: ~75,000

Family Class (110,000 - 29% of total)

Sponsoring family members (spouse, parents, children). DOWN significantly.

Refugees (80,000 - 21% of total)

Government-assisted and privately sponsored refugees. DOWN due to Bill C-12 restrictions.

Other (10,000 - 2% of total)

Humanitarian cases, etc.

What This Means for YOU

Good News

✅ Economic class (skilled workers) is BIGGER percentage of total intake
✅ Express Entry + PNP spots INCREASED to 185,000 (~110k EE + 75k PNP)
✅ Skilled workers = priority for Canada
✅ French speakers = even more priority (specialty draws)

Challenging News

❌ Overall immigration DOWN 12% (385k vs 440k in 2025)
❌ Higher competition for spots (more applications, fewer seats)
❌ CRS cutoffs likely to stay elevated (400-520+ range)
❌ Family sponsorship DOWN significantly

Express Entry Targets 2026

~110,000 ITAs expected in 2026

That's ~2,100 ITAs per week on average. But draws are likely concentrated in:

French-language draws (~8,000-9,000 per draw)
Specialty occupation draws (~2,000-5,000 per draw)
General draws (~3,000-4,000 per draw)

PNP Targets 2026

~75,000 spots across all provinces

By province (approximate):

Ontario: ~12,000
British Columbia: ~15,000
Alberta: ~10,000
Saskatchewan: ~8,000
Manitoba: ~7,000
Other provinces: ~23,000

Bottom Line

Canada is prioritizing SKILLED WORKERS. If you're pursuing Express Entry or PNP, you're in the right pathway. The intake is down overall, but skilled immigration is UP as a percentage. French speakers are even more competitive.

2026 is actually an ADVANTAGE for skilled workers if you speak French. Get your French to NCLC 7 (B2) and apply ASAP.

Not sure how this changes your ranking? Our CRS score calculator gives you an instant estimate.

Canada Immigration Levels 2026-2028: 385,000 Annual Intake Plan