CANADA IMMIGRATION REPORT 2025

Canada has just released its 2025 Annual Immigration Report, setting a clear direction for the next phase of immigration management:
👉 Bringing immigration back to sustainable levels
👉 Reducing the number of temporary residents
👉 Prioritizing permanent residence (PR) applications with strong economic value — especially from those already living and working in Canada.

🔹 1. The 2024 Overview

🇨🇦 483,640 new permanent residents were admitted in 2024 — a 2.5% increase from 2023.

Of these, 58.2% were economic immigrants, the key driver of Canada’s labour market and population growth.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) remains the strongest pathway, accounting for over 114,000 admissions.

Express Entry continues to operate stably, with category-based draws targeting occupations in:
🧑‍⚕️ Healthcare • 👩‍🏫 Education • 🔧 Trades • 💻 STEM • 🚛 Transport • 🌾 Agriculture • 🇫🇷 French proficiency

Francophone immigration outside Quebec reached 7.2%, surpassing the 6% target and moving toward 12% by 2029.

🎓 2. International Students & Temporary Workers — Sharp Reductions to Manage Growth

International students: Canada imposed a study permit cap in 2024.
➤ Only about 293,000 new students were approved — nearly a 40% drop from 2023.
➤ Each applicant must now submit a verified Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) before applying.

Temporary foreign workers:
➤ The number of new work permits fell by 4.3% in 2024.
➤ By the end of 2027, Canada aims to reduce its temporary resident population to under 5%, down from about 7.5% today.

💬 In short: Canada now prioritizes those already contributing within the country over opening the doors to large new inflows.

💼 3. The 2026–2028 Plan: Stable, Selective, Strategic

Under the new Levels Plan:

• Permanent residents: will stabilize at 380,000 per year (slightly lower than 2025).

• Economic class: will make up 64% of total admissions.

• Temporary residents (students + workers): will drop to 385,000 in 2026, then level off around 370,000 per year.

• Focus will shift to critical labour shortages and rural or smaller communities that need workers most.

🧭 4. What This Means for SICON Clients

If you’re already in Canada:
✅ Your chance to transition from a work or study permit to PR has never been higher.
✅ Prepare early: ensure your NOC, work experience, and language scores (IELTS/TEF) meet program standards.

If you’re applying from outside Canada:
🗺️ Target regional programs like the PNP, Atlantic Program, or the Rural & Francophone Community Pilots.
💡 French-language ability is now a major competitive edge.

If you’re a new international student:
📋 Ensure your LOA, PAL, and financials are accurate and verifiable.
🎯 Choose reputable institutions and employable programs — avoid “easy visa” shortcuts.

If you’re an entrepreneur or self-employed:
🚀 The Start-Up Visa (SUV) has a strict intake cap, and the Self-Employed stream is paused.
➡️ Your business plan must be genuine, regionally beneficial, and supported by a solid retention strategy.

⚠️ 5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Submitting applications without meeting regional or occupational criteria
🚫 Falling short of language or NOC requirements
🚫 Following unethical consultants or “shortcut” promises

💬 Message us or book a consultation to build a clear, compliant PR strategy that matches your qualifications — not the latest trend.