Canada plans to cut student and temporary worker arrivals, fast-tracks PR for 33,000 workers

Canada plans to reduce new arrivals of international students and temporary foreign workers over the next three years while maintaining permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually. The country’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan also proposes accelerating permanent residency for up to 33,000 temporary workers and prioritising applicants with skills needed by the Canadian economy.

Canada will lower its targeted intake of new temporary residents as part of a broader effort to bring immigration levels under control, while continuing to offer permanent residency to skilled workers who can help address labour shortages.

Also read: Canada updates and personalises work permit processing time, what does it mean for Indians?


Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the target for new temporary resident arrivals will fall to 385,000 in 2026, from which it will decline further to 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028. These targets cover new arrivals of international students and temporary workers.

The government aims to reduce temporary residents to less than five per cent of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027. The plan reflects a shift towards more controlled immigration after years of growth in the country’s temporary population.

Student and work permit arrivals to decline

Canada’s target for new international student arrivals will be 155,000 in 2026, falling to 150,000 in each of the following two years.

The target for temporary workers will also decline, from 230,000 in 2026 to 220,000 in 2027 and 2028. This includes workers entering through the International Mobility Program (IMP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program.

The IMP target will remain at 170,000 annually throughout the three-year period. Meanwhile, the target under the TFW Program will fall from 60,000 in 2026 to 50,000 in 2027 and 2028.

The government said its approach would take account of sectors affected by tariffs and the particular requirements of rural and remote communities. The TFW Program allows employers to recruit foreign workers for positions they cannot fill with Canadian citizens or permanent residents, subject to programme requirements.

The targets cover new arrivals rather than every person entering or remaining in Canada temporarily. They exclude visitors arriving on temporary resident visas or electronic travel authorisations, permit extensions and certain applications made from within Canada.

Permanent residency to remain at 380,000

Despite the planned reduction in temporary arrivals, Canada will maintain its overall permanent resident admissions target at 380,000 annually from 2026 to 2028.

Economic immigration will account for the largest share, with its proportion expected to reach 64 per cent of admissions in 2027 and 2028. The plan increases targets under the Federal High Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program, which are intended to help Canada attract skilled workers and address regional labour market needs.

The Provincial Nominee Program target will rise from 91,500 in 2026 to 92,500 in both 2027 and 2028. Federal high-skilled admissions will increase from 109,000 in 2026 to 111,000 in the following two years.

The government also plans to maintain family reunification, with family-class admissions accounting for around 21.3 to 22.1 per cent of permanent residents. Refugees and protected persons will account for 13 per cent of overall admissions.

Also read: Canada study: What Indian students prioritise when choosing universities?

Up to 33,000 workers could transition to PR

As part of a one-time initiative, Canada will accelerate the transition to permanent residency for up to 33,000 temporary workers in 2026 and 2027.

The initiative will focus on workers who have established roots in their communities, pay taxes and contribute to the economy. The government has also announced a separate two-year initiative to streamline permanent residency for approximately 115,000 protected persons already in Canada and on a pathway to permanent residence.

For Indian students and workers considering Canada, the new plan signals tighter control over fresh temporary arrivals alongside continued demand for skilled immigrants. However, the published targets do not guarantee admission or permanent residency for individual applicants. Eligibility will continue to depend on the relevant immigration programme and its requirements.