As of October 8, 2026. Canada's 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan has not been released yet. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Minister must table the annual immigration report, which carries the plan, on or before November 1, 2026, unless Parliament is not sitting. The current 2026-2028 plan already sets "notional" targets for 2027 and 2028, 380,000 permanent residents and 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals in each year, which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says "will be confirmed or adjusted by November 1 of each year." This page sets out what is already decided, the two caps the government has committed to, and what to watch for. We will update it with the actual figures on the day the plan is tabled.
When will the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan be released?
By law it is due on or before November 1, 2026. Section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act requires the Minister to table a report on the operation of the Act each year "on or before November 1" or, if a House of Parliament is not sitting, within the next 30 sitting days. That report includes the number of people projected to become permanent residents in the following year.
Three dates help set expectations:
| Date | What happened |
|---|
| May 12 to June 30, 2026 | IRCC's public consultation on the 2027-2029 levels plan |
| Early November 2025 | The current 2026-2028 plan was published |
| November 1, 2026 | Legal deadline for this year's report, unless Parliament is not sitting |
What does the current plan already say about 2027 and 2028?
The 2026-2028 plan set targets for all three years, but IRCC labels the 2027 and 2028 figures "notional": they stand until the new plan confirms or changes them. Each target comes with a range, shown in brackets, according to IRCC's supplementary information for the 2026-2028 plan.
| Category | 2026 target | 2027 notional target | 2028 notional target |
|---|
| Total permanent residents | 380,000 (350,000 to 420,000) | 380,000 (350,000 to 420,000) | 380,000 (350,000 to 420,000) |
| Economic | 239,800 | 244,700 | 244,700 |
| Federal High Skilled | 109,000 | 111,000 | 111,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 91,500 | 92,500 | 92,500 |
| Family | 84,000 | 81,000 | 81,000 |
| Spouses, partners and children | 69,000 | 66,000 | 66,000 |
| Parents and grandparents | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Refugees and protected persons | 49,300 | 49,300 | 49,300 |
| Humanitarian, compassionate and other | 6,900 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| New temporary resident arrivals | 385,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| Students | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| Workers | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
The plan puts the economic class at 64% of admissions in 2027 and 2028. For French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, it sets 9.5% in 2027 and 10.5% in 2028, and supports a goal of 12% by 2029. Our guide to Canada's 2026-2028 immigration plan explains each of these programs.
What two caps will shape the 2027-2029 plan?
The government has committed to two limits that frame the new plan, both stated in IRCC's consultation page:
- reducing Canada's temporary population "to less than 5% of Canada's population by the end of 2027"
- keeping "the number of permanent resident admissions at less than 1% of the population after 2027"
Statistics Canada's population estimate for July 1, 2026 puts those caps in numbers. Canada had 41,798,407 people and 2,779,774 non-permanent residents on that date. We calculated the rest from those two figures:
| Measure | Figure |
|---|
| Non-permanent residents, July 1, 2026 | 2,779,774 |
| Share of the population | about 6.7% |
| 5% of the July 1, 2026 population | about 2,090,000 |
| Gap to the 5% goal at today's population | about 690,000 people |
| 1% of the July 1, 2026 population | about 418,000 |
| Current permanent resident target as a share of today's population | about 0.91% (380,000) |
Two things follow. The 5% goal still requires a large drop in the temporary population by the end of 2027, so temporary resident arrival targets are the part of the plan most likely to stay tight. The 1% cap would allow permanent resident targets of up to about 418,000 a year after 2027 at today's population, above the current 380,000, but it is a ceiling, not a target.
Will Canada increase immigration levels for 2027?
Possibly, but nothing has been announced. In an interview with The New York Times published on September 27, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the question now is "when do we resume some controlled increase in the population," after the cuts of the past two years. He did not give a number or a date.
What is known is the room the government has given itself. The current plan holds permanent residents flat at 380,000 a year through 2028, and the 1% cap would allow up to about 418,000 a year after 2027 at today's population. Temporary residents are the opposite case: the 5% goal for the end of 2027 still points to fewer arrivals, not more. So if there is an increase, it is more likely to show up in permanent resident targets for 2028 and 2029 than in temporary numbers for 2027. Only the tabled plan will settle it.
What should you watch for in the new plan?
Nothing below is announced. These are the points that will tell you how the plan affects you:
- Whether 2027 and 2028 change. Confirming 380,000 permanent residents and 370,000 temporary arrivals means stability; a change to either is the headline.
- The first 2029 targets. The new plan adds 2029, the first year the 1% cap applies in full.
- Temporary resident arrivals. Look at the student and worker numbers against the 5% goal.
- The economic class. Federal High Skilled (111,000 notional for 2027) and the Provincial Nominee Program (92,500) drive Express Entry and provincial invitations. IRCC has also proposed merging the Express Entry programs; see our Express Entry overhaul explainer.
- Francophone targets. The plan should show the path from 10.5% in 2028 toward 12% by 2029, which matters for French-language Express Entry rounds.
- One-time measures. The current plan includes a one-time initiative to move about 115,000 protected persons already in Canada to permanent residence over two years, and the In-Canada Workers Initiative for up to 33,000 workers. Whether these continue or end shapes the numbers for 2027.
What should you do before the plan comes out?
Plan around the current targets, which remain official until replaced. If you are in the Express Entry pool, keep your profile current, because invitations continue under the existing targets; see the latest rounds on our Express Entry draws page. If you are on a study or work permit, the temporary resident numbers are the ones to watch, so map out your permanent residence route now. To see which programs fit your profile, run a free PR assessment.
No plan guarantees an outcome for any one person. Targets set how many people Canada admits overall, not whether a given application is approved.
Frequently asked questions
When will Canada announce the 2027-2029 immigration plan?
On or before November 1, 2026, unless Parliament is not sitting, in which case it is due within the next 30 sitting days. Last year's plan came out in early November 2025.
How many permanent residents will Canada admit in 2027?
The current notional target is 380,000, within a range of 350,000 to 420,000. The 2027-2029 plan will confirm or adjust it.
Will Canada increase or cut immigration in 2027?
The current plan holds permanent residents at 380,000 and lowers new temporary arrivals from 385,000 in 2026 to 370,000 in 2027. Prime Minister Carney said in September 2026 that the government is weighing when to resume a "controlled increase in the population," but gave no numbers. Because of the 5% goal for temporary residents, any increase is more likely on the permanent resident side. The new plan will show the exact figures.
What is the 1% cap?
The government has said it will keep permanent resident admissions below 1% of Canada's population after 2027. At the July 1, 2026 population of about 41.8 million, 1% is about 418,000 a year.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Want to know how the new plan affects your file? Book a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) at Go Far Global, RCIC R515110.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
