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Canada Freezes Permanent Residency at 380,000, Prioritizing Applicants Already in the Country

Ottawa pairs the freeze with one-off permanent admissions to clear refugee and work-permit backlogs.

Overview

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says an extra 148,000 permanent residents will be admitted over two years, including about 115,000 refugees and 33,000 work-permit holders.
  • Temporary resident intake will drop to 385,000 next year from 673,650 in 2025, with a further reduction to 370,000 in 2027 and 2028, and international student admissions will be halved.
  • The government will cut temporary foreign worker targets from 82,000 this year to 60,000 next year and to 50,000 in 2027 and 2028, with priority for non-urban labour needs.
  • Provinces will see their nominee allocations rise to 91,500 next year from 55,000 to address regional labour gaps.
  • Quebec set a 2025 goal of 45,000 new permanent residents, with up to 54% drawn from temporary residents, and separate targets of up to 55,700 foreign workers and 68,500 international students.