Every autumn, Ottawa decides how many new permanent residents Canada will welcome over the next three years. If you are on a work permit, a study permit or waiting in the Express Entry pool, that decision will shape your life whether you read it or not. The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan is due this fall. When we went to press it had not been published, so here is what to watch for when it arrives.
What is already on the table
The current plan, covering 2026–2028, sets permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year. Its 2027 and 2028 numbers are notional, which means the new plan can confirm them or change them. The new plan will also set Canada’s first official target for 2029.
The government has made three commitments that limit how far the numbers can move:
1. Fewer temporary residents. Ottawa wants temporary residents to fall below 5% of the population by the end of 2027. In practice that means fewer new study and work permits, and more pressure on people already here to move to permanent residence or plan their next step.
2. A ceiling on permanent residents. After 2027, permanent resident admissions are to stay below 1% of Canada’s population.
3. More French speakers. The goal is for 12% of admissions outside Quebec to be French-speaking by 2029. If you speak French, even at an intermediate level, that is an advantage you should use.
The plan does not choose you. But it does decide how wide the door is.
What newcomers should watch
The economic class share. This covers Express Entry, provincial nominee programs and the Atlantic program. Provinces lobbied this year for larger nominee allocations. If the provincial nominee numbers rise, applying to a province may be faster than waiting for a general Express Entry draw.
Transitions from temporary to permanent status. The government has been inviting more people who are already in Canada. If you have Canadian work experience, watch any language about “in-Canada” pathways.
Family class numbers. The 2026–2028 plan sets family admissions lower in 2027 and 2028 than in 2026. If you are waiting to sponsor a spouse or parent, the new numbers will show whether the queue gets shorter or longer. Read our explainer on the Parents and Grandparents pause in Love, Family & Weddings.
Your playbook while you wait
Do not wait for the plan before you act. Retake your language test if your score is close to a higher band. Check whether your occupation qualifies for a category-based Express Entry draw. Keep your documents current, because invitations can come quickly. Whatever the final number, people who are ready will move first.
Gather will update this story when the 2027–2029 plan is published. Always confirm figures on the official IRCC website before making decisions, and speak to a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer about your own case.