Canada 2026-2027 immigration plan go reduce international workers and students, set new target for temporary residents

Canada through di Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) don release dia 2026/2027 plan to reduce foreign workers and international students so dem go fit control dia immigration system.

Di Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship for Canada, Lena Metlege Diab, tok say di plan go help restore control of di immigration system and also bring am to sustainable level.

According to di document wey Canada immigration ministry make available, dem outline dia priorities and also di annual targets for permanent residents for di next three years.

For February 2026, di IRCC bin unveil new categories under di Express Entry system for international workers wey wan come work for di country.

Dem say di announcement of di 2026 express entry categories na to allow Canada invite candidates wey get skills and experience.

Howeva, for di new plan, dem go reduce di number of temporary residents including international workers and international students wey dem go allow into di kontri.

Number of temporary resident wey go arrive Canada go drop from 673,650 for 2025 to just 385,000 for 2026.

Dis show reduction for di number of new international students and temporary workers wey dey apply to enta Canada.

"We go make am easier for companies and communities to recruit and retain critical and innovative workers, including skilled trade pipo, health care professionals and experts for emerging technologies, to support our labour market need," Canada immigration minister tok.

Canada plan na to reduce di share of temporary residents wey dey Canada to 5% of di population by di end of 2026.

Dem also wan keep permanent resident admission for less dan 1% of Canada population annually beyond 2027, but also attract talent international workers.

Highlight of Canada 2026-2027 immigration plan

For Canada, Immigration dey account for almost 100% of dia labour force growth, and e dey help dem address labour shortages for important sectors.

According to Canada immigration minister, dem dey work to attract and retain di best talent to dia kontri and also be able to control di kain pipo wey enta dia kontri.

Di immigration minister say "IRCC recognize say strong Canadian economy depend on highly skilled workforce, as immigration dey help to fill critical labour gaps for priority industries."

Di first priority na to focus on sustainable and managed migration wey go align wit Canada goals.

According to di plan, dem wan reduce di target for new temporary residents (wey include workers and students) from 673,650 for 2025 to 385,000 for 2026.

According to data from di Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, (IRCC), na about 2.36 million temporary resident applications dem reject for 2024.

Dem add say na to reduce di pressure wey dey ontop housing, infrastructure and social services.

Dia plan na to reduce di total number of temporary residents to less dan 5% of Canada population by di end of 2027.

Canada plan make di target for permanent resident (PR) admission dey stable at 380,000 for 2026.

But dem go increase di share of economic migrants from 59 per cent to 64 per cent by 2027.

E mean say di kontri dey consider permanent resident arrivals to stay below 1 per cent of di total population beyond 2027.

"IRCC go continue to dey support eligible permanent residents to become Canadian citizens, including improving processing efficiency through technology", di minister tok.

For di Francophone immigration, Canada say dose community dey play important role for dia kontri. Dem set dia target at 9 per cent for 2026, and e go support di goal of reaching 12 per cent target of overall permanent resident admissions for French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2029.

For dia express entry announcement, IRCC say dem go continue dey select candidates wey get strong French skills and dose wey don get work experience for area of health care and social services.

For refugees and asylum seekers, Canada say dem go strengthen dia border and immigration management so dem go fit address di security challenges wey dey hapun for dat aspect.

Dem go secure dia borders and improve how dem dey process asylum claims, so dem go fit ensure say dose wey 'genuinely need protection receive am on time.'

"We go also look to complete reforms to our asylum system, so dat Canada get di tools to protect dose wey need am, through system wey Canadians fit trust.