On November 5, the Canadian government unveiled its immigration reception plan for the years 2027 to 2029, which aims to admit 380,000 new permanent residents annually over the next three years. The target for incoming temporary residents will remain at 370,000 each year. Additionally, the government intends to offer up to 200,000 extra permanent residency slots in 2027 to expedite the processing of backlogged applications, including those related to the Hong Kong “Lifeboat Scheme.”
According to the details outlined in Canada’s 2026 federal budget, the annual target for permanent resident admissions from 2027 through 2029 is set at 380,000, resulting in a total of 1.14 million over three years.
The targets for 2027 and 2028 are aligned with those announced previously in the 2026-2028 immigration plan, while the figure for 2029 continues at the same level.
Under the prior guidelines, economic immigrants are expected to constitute approximately 64% of the total number of permanent residents admitted in 2027 and 2028. The government aims to meet labor market needs primarily through economic immigration while continuing to prioritize family reunification and humanitarian immigration.
Regarding temporary resident quotas, the targets for new entrants in 2027 to 2029 are also set at 370,000 per year, consistent with the previously reported goals for 2027 and 2028.
This figure includes 220,000 foreign workers and 150,000 international students. It is worth noting that these figures reflect the annual number of new arrivals and do not represent the total number of temporary residents already in Canada.
Last year, Canada announced a decrease in the annual target for new temporary residents, reducing the expected number from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026, and further lowering it to 370,000 in 2027 and 2028. The new plan ensures that the target of 370,000 is also maintained through 2029.
Statistics Canada reported that as of July 1, 2026, temporary residents made up 6.7% of the national population, down from a peak of 7.2% on October 7, 2024. The government’s objective is to reduce this percentage to 5% by the end of 2027, and going forward, to keep the number of new permanent residents admitted annually to within 1% of the national population.
The Canadian government also plans to introduce time-limited measures in 2027, offering up to 200,000 additional permanent resident slots beyond the annual target of 380,000, aiming to expedite the processing of eligibility applications for individuals already in Canada.
According to the information released by the Canadian Immigration Department on November 5, the initiative will be divided into two categories: workers and humanitarian, each allowing a maximum of 100,000 individuals.
In the worker category, the federal government plans to collaborate with provinces and territories to increase the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) quotas. This will enable provinces to nominate workers and their families based on local labor market demands. The measures will also apply to individuals who have submitted applications through various programs, including the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, Startup Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agricultural Food Immigration Pilot, and the Home Care Worker Program.
The humanitarian category primarily involves applicants who are already in Canada and have been waiting for years for their applications to be processed. The Immigration Department stated that the government plans to address all outstanding applications under the permanent residency pathways for Hong Kong residents (commonly referred to as the “Lifeboat Scheme”) and the family reunification pathway for Ukrainian families, while also prioritizing applications from individuals who have been recognized as qualifying for humanitarian and compassionate reasons.
This initiative will also be aimed at processing permanent residency applications for spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents already in Canada.
It is important to note that the Hong Kong Lifeboat Scheme ceased accepting new applications on August 31, 2026. This new measure is primarily intended to handle the existing backlog and does not signify the reopening of related pathways. The cap of 200,000 is a policy maximum, and it does not guarantee that all applications will be approved; the specific processing procedures are yet to be announced.