Canada is reducing permanent resident admissions from 485,000 in 2024 to 365,000 by 2027 — a 25% cut. Temporary resident intake drops 43% in 2026. PNP allocations are slashed nearly in half, with a new rule requiring 75% of nominees to already be living in Canada.
In November 2024, the Canadian government announced its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan — the most significant reduction in immigration targets in decades. The cuts affect every stream: permanent residents, temporary workers, international students, and provincial nominees.
Permanent Resident Targets
- 2024: ~485,000 permanent residents admitted
- 2025: 395,000 — a reduction of 90,000
- 2026: 380,000
- 2027: 365,000 — a 25% drop from the 2024 peak
- Government goal: reduce the temporary resident share of Canada's population from 7%+ back to 5% by end of 2026
PNP Allocations Halved
Provincial Nominee Program allocations took the steepest cuts:
- 2024: 110,000 PNP nominations
- 2025: 55,000 — a 50% cut
- 2026: 91,500 — partial recovery
- Critical new rule: 75% of all PNP nominees must already be residing inside Canada
- BC PNP: cut to 4,000 total; general draws suspended for all of 2025
- Ontario: exhausted its 10,750-slot allocation
- Alberta received one of the largest individual increases: 6,403 slots
Temporary Residents
- 2025 temporary resident intake: 673,650
- 2026 temporary resident intake: 385,000 — a 43% year-over-year drop
- Study permit cap 2025: 550,162 applications accepted
- The government aims to achieve a net reduction of temporary residents by end of 2026
Strategic Implications for Applicants
The in-Canada residency requirement for 75% of PNP nominees fundamentally changes strategy for overseas applicants. Rather than applying from outside Canada, the new model rewards those who are physically present. This makes temporary entry (work permit, study permit) the essential first step — followed by PNP nomination once in-Canada status is established. ITC iLand's consultants can build a multi-step pathway tailored to your profile.
