As of November 1, 2022, today the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced Canada’s 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan. In order to manage the social and economic challenges Canada will face in the decades ahead, the plan focuses on immigration as a strategy for helping businesses find workers and attracting the skills they need in key sectors such as health care, skilled trades, manufacturing, and technology.
In 2021, 405,000 immigrants arrived in Canada, the highest number of immigrants welcomed by the Canadian government in a single year. The plan, which is still in effect today, ensures that the government continues to accept a certain number of immigrants from 2023 to 2025, as outlined below.
Number of immigrants Canada will aim to welcome over the next three years
- 2023: 465,000
- 2024: 485,000
- 2025: 500,000
Express Entry and PNP targets will rise
Most permanent residents come to the country through economic class programs such as those within the Express Entry system or through Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs).
The targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) will increase as follows:
- 2023: 82,880
- 2024: 109,020
- 2025: 114,000
In addition to remaining Canada’s leading immigration program, the PNP will increase goals to include:
- 2023: 105,500
- 2024: 110,000
- 2025: 117,500
How about the Family class?
According to the Immigration Levels Plan, family sponsorship is the second largest permanent residence class after economic class sponsorship. Families sponsor applicants for permanent residence through spouses, partners, children, and other family members.
Under the Spouses, Partners, and Children program, Canada will continue to welcome approximately 80,000 new immigrants each year. Parent and grandparent program targets will rise to 28,500 by 2023, 34,000 by 2024, and 36,000 by 2025.
To learn more about the specific numbers of each program click here.
Other highlights of the level plan include:
- Just over 60% of admissions will be in the economic class by 2025 with a long-term focus on economic growth.
- In sectors with acute labour shortages such as health care, manufacturing, building trades, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), using the Express Entry system to welcome newcomers with the required skills and qualifications.
- By increasing regional immigration programs, like Provincial Nominee Programs, Atlantic Immigration Programs, and Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Programs, we can meet local labour market needs.
- Reuniting more families faster and ensuring that at least 4.4% of new permanent residents outside Quebec are francophones.
- Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot can be expanded to provide a safe haven for those facing persecution in times of global crises.
This plan emphasizes regional immigration while spreading the benefits of immigration to communities across the country, including Francophone communities outside of Quebec.
Regional economic immigration programs, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, are becoming increasingly important to Canada’s sustainable growth. As a result, this year’s plan outlines growth over last year in order to help provinces and territories maintain their labour shortages and address their demographic challenges.
Sources:
- An Immigration Plan to Grow the Economy,
- Canada to welcome 500,000 new immigrants in 2025
- Notice – Supplementary Information for the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan – Canada.ca
Disclaimer:
The information is obtained directly from the Government of Canada website. The information has been gathered as accurately as possible at the time of writing (Nov 1, 2022), but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please check their official website and digital channels.
