Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 to land 1.45 Million immigrants
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025
Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced today that the country will welcome an unprecedented 1.45 million immigrants over the next three years. Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 is a direct strategy to land more immigrants to to help curb chronic labour shortage all over tyhe country.
The Plan targets 465,000 newcomers in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.
Canada broke its all-time immigration record by welcoming over 405,000 immigrants in 2021 and is looking to welcome over 430,000 immigrants in 2022.
The immigration levels plan guides Canada’s immigration system. It outlines the number of immigrants Canada will look to welcome under its various federal, provincial, and territorial programs. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) then regularly adjusts operations to attract, settle, integrate, and retain the targeted levels of newcomers.
Canada sets its immigration levels plan to strengthen the economy, reunite families, and help refugees.
A new Environics Institute survey reveals that Canadians are now more supportive of record-breaking immigration to Canada. They are also strongly supportive of Canada’s role in welcoming refugees from throughout the world. See Canadians overwhelmingly support surging immigration to Canada.
Notably, Canadians understand the importance of immigration for the economy and that Canada should accept more immigrants.
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 Details
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
| Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions | 465,000 | 485,000 | 500,000 | |
| Economic | Federal High Skilled | 82,880 | 109,020 | 114,000 |
| Federal Economic Public Policies | 25,000 | – | – | |
| Federal Business | 3,500 | 5,000 | 6,000 | |
| Economic Pilots: Caregivers; Agri-Food Pilot; Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot; Economic Mobility Pathways Project | 8,500 | 12,125 | 14,750 | |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 8,500 | 11,500 | 14,500 | |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 105,500 | 110,000 | 117,500 | |
| Quebec Skilled Workers and BusinessFootnote6 | See the Quebec immigration plan | To be determined | To be determined | |
| Total Economic | 266,210 | 281,135 | 301,250 | |
| Family | Spouses, Partners and Children | 78,000 | 80,000 | 82,000 |
| Parents and Grandparents | 28,500 | 34,000 | 36,000 | |
| Total Family | 106,500 | 114,000 | 118,000 | |
| Refugees and Protected Persons | Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad | 25,000 | 27,000 | 29,000 |
| Resettled Refugees – Government-AssistedFootnote7 | 23,550 | 21,115 | 15,250 | |
| Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored | 27,505 | 27,750 | 28,250 | |
| Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office-Referred | 250 | 250 | 250 | |
| Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 76,305 | 76,115 | 72,750 | |
| Humanitarian and Other | Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other | 15,985 | 13,750 | 8,000 |
Express Entry and PNP newcomers will rise
As the above table shows, a surge is expected in new permanent residents through economic class programs such as those within the Express Entry system and Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs).
Canada will welcome 82,880, 109,020 and 114,000 in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively through the Federal High Skilled stream, mainly managed by Express Entry. PNP newcomers will account for 105,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 110,000 in 2024 and 117,500 in 2025.
What is Canada Express Entry System?
Canada uses the Express Entry immigration pool draws system to manage permanent residence (PR) applications. It is the most popular way to immigrate to Canada.
In order to enter the federal Express Entry immigration pool, candidates must first create an Express Entry pool draws profile on IRCC website.
As well, you must meet the eligibility requirements for one of three economic programs. These are: the Federal Skilled Worker Class; the Federal Skilled Trades Class; and the Canadian Experience Class.
Typically, IRCC conducts Express Entry immigration pool draws approximately every two weeks.
A job offer is not required to enter or be selected from the Express Entry immigration pool. However, you get additional CRS score points if you have a Canadian job offer at hand.
In each draw, IRCC issues candidates from the Express Entry immigration pool an Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian PR. Importantly, only a limited number of candidates with the highest CRS points in the pool get ITAs.
You can check latest Express Entry draws here at Canada Express Entry draws – Latest Report.
After IRCC approves your application and you complete the landing process, you will officially become a Canadian permanent resident.
How the Express Entry system works
Express Entry candidates are ranked by IRCC using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). A total of 1,200 points are available under CRS. Out of that, 600 points are automatically awarded if you apply for and get a nomination under any of Canada’s Provincial Immigrant Nomination Programs (PNPs).
A candidate’s CRS score is based on factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and proficiency in English or French.
Only a limited number of candidates with the highest CRS points in the pool get Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
Express Entry Application Quick Steps
- Create an IRCC profile/account to apply for Canada visa online
- Check your application status, and also
- Check application processing times
How Provincial Immigrant Nominee Programs help your PR application
Canadian provinces do not have the ability to give out permanent residency status. However, they can nominate you for PR.
Under Canada’s Provincial Immigrant Nomination Programs (PNPs), provinces and territories nominate individuals for Canada PR who want to settle in their province. Each provincial program has its own unique selection criteria.
Of the total 1,200 points available under Express Entry, you immediately get 600 points if you are nominated by a province.
The 600 CRS points from a PNP nomination virtually guarantee that you will receive an invitation to apply for PR in an Express Entry draw.
For example:
Jen has a bachelor’s degree. She has been working in the retail industry for five years. She has never worked or studied in Canada. She has the necessary Canada English or French language proficiency. Her Express Entry CRS score is 315. However, she recently obtained a provincial nomination through a PNP. As a result IRCC awards her additional 600 points. Consequently, her total CRS score jumps to 915 points! This is well above the minimum CRS score that Jen needs to get an invitation in an Express Entry draw.
How to improve your Express Entry CRS score
An Express Entry candidate typically needs a CRS score of 470-490 points in a regular draw.
To emphasize, to get to these higher scores you need to maximize your points on all available factors.
We advise that you continue to improve your Express Entry CRS scoring. See for example Tips for Improving Express Entry CRS Scores.
See also Canada immigration document checklist – what you need to immigrate to Canada.
