On November 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, maintaining annual permanent resident targets at 380,000 for the next three years while gradually reducing the number of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. The plan aims to balance population growth with Canada’s housing, healthcare, and infrastructure capacity, while increasing the share of economic and francophone immigrants. This Q&A explains the plan’s key points, policy direction, and what it means for prospective applicants.

On November 4, 2025, the Government of Canada officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, setting an annual target of 380,000 permanent residents for each of the next three years. The plan aims to maintain steady immigration growth while tightening the inflow of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. Announced as part of the 2025 federal budget, the plan marks a policy shift from “expansion” to “stabilization,” emphasizing the balance between immigration growth and the country’s capacity in housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an update to the list of countries whose citizens must complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) when applying for temporary residence in Canada. Effective November 3, 2025, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela have been added to the list, while Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan have been removed. Applicants from newly added countries will now need to complete an IME, whereas those from the removed regions will no longer be required to do so. The new rules apply to individuals who have lived in or traveled to these countries for six consecutive months within the year before their intended arrival in Canada.

On October 31, 2025, Manitoba issued 29 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw primarily targeted candidates already working in the province on facilitated work permits. Of the total invitations, 19 were issued under the Temporary Public Policy (TPP), while the rest were distributed among Francophone, regional, and employer-based recruitment initiatives.

On October 27, 2025, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) conducted an unannounced draw, issuing 159 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. The selection specifically targeted international graduates from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île who are currently living and working in the province. The move breaks from PEI’s regular draw schedule, signaling the province’s intention to accelerate its intake of skilled talent with local education and employment experience.

On October 22, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total of 100 invitations through its Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) — the lowest number of invitations in a single draw so far this year. Of these, 55 invitations were issued under the NLPNP and 45 under the AIP. The province did not disclose which specific NLPNP streams were included in this round, but as of now, Newfoundland and Labrador has held 12 selection rounds across both programs in 2025.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new round of Express Entry invitations on October 28, 2025, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. To be eligible for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 533 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 4:16 a.m. UTC on March 21, 2025. This was the 11th CEC-specific draw of 2025, and the fourth consecutive CEC draw with a consistent invitation size of 1,000 and CRS cut-off around 533–534 points — demonstrating continued stability in this program’s selection trend.

On October 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw through the Express Entry system, issuing 302 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. This was the second PNP draw of October and the fifth overall Express Entry draw this month, highlighting the federal government’s continued focus on supporting provincial immigration priorities.

On October 17, 2025, Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted its second-largest immigration draw of the year under the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), issuing 160 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination. The draw primarily targeted skilled workers already employed in the province in priority occupations, as well as international graduates from designated educational institutions. As of October 26, 2025, PEI has issued a total of 1,081 ITAs through its PNP this year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is expected to release the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan by November 1, 2025, outlining Canada’s immigration targets for both permanent and temporary residents over the next three years. Based on previous federal commitments and recent immigration trends, the number of permanent residents admitted in 2026 is projected to remain below 416,500, aligning with the government’s policy to stabilize growth. While Express Entry allocations are expected to continue their upward trajectory following last year’s increase, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) quotas—previously reduced significantly in 2025—may rebound after several provinces successfully lobbied for additional spots. On the other hand, temporary resident policies are set to tighten further, as Ottawa continues its plan to reduce non-permanent residents to below 5% of the total population. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is undergoing structural reforms, while international student intake caps will remain strict. French-speaking immigration continues to be a key focus, with targets for Francophone permanent residents outside Quebec rising gradually to 12% by 2029.