Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the period of immigration restrictions is coming to an end and the country will soon return to controlled population growth. However, specific figures for 2027–2029 remain unknown — a new immigration plan is expected in early November.
What happened over the past two years
Over the course of approximately two years, Canada has pursued a policy of reducing immigration. The federal government imposed restrictions on international students and temporary workers, and tightened the rules for issuing study and work permits. According to the Prime Minister, the main problem was rapid growth in the population of temporary residents, which had gotten out of control.
These measures allowed the situation to be brought under control. Carney noted that the question now is when Canada will resume controlled population growth.
Current targets for 2027
Currently, Canada plans to admit 380,000 new permanent residents in 2027 — exactly the same as expected in 2026. For temporary residents, 370,000 arrivals are planned, which is 15,000 fewer than in the current year.
This figure includes 150,000 international students and 220,000 temporary foreign workers in 2027. However, these targets are provisional and may change when the government publishes the new three-year immigration plan.
Why growth may be limited
Canada remains committed to the goal of reducing the share of temporary residents to less than 5% of the country’s population by the end of 2027. In the second quarter of 2026, this figure stood at 6.7% — a significant gap between the current level and the target.
In light of this, the government may take one of two paths: increase the permanent resident targets while continuing restrictions on students and temporary workers, or decide that it is still too early for growth to begin and lower the overall targets.
When the new figures will be known
Every autumn, the federal government publishes a new three-year immigration plan, which may differ significantly from the previous one. The plan for 2027–2029 is expected in early November.
The shift in the Prime Minister’s rhetoric is significant. Over the past several years, almost every major immigration decision has involved cutting numbers and limiting access. Now, for the first time in a long time, the federal government is openly discussing the need to resume growth — not whether this will happen, but when it will happen.
What this could mean for applicants
Carney’s statements do not mean that immigration targets will automatically increase in 2027. They only indicate that the current period of declining immigration is not intended to be indefinite.
A clear answer will only come after the plan for 2027–2029 is published. In the coming weeks, the Prime Minister may provide additional details about his intentions and expectations before the official announcement of the plan.
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