Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled its 2025–2026 Departmental Plan, outlining major reforms that will shape the future of Canadian immigration. The plan includes new pathways to permanent residence (PR), upcoming changes to work and study permit programs, and a continued reduction in temporary resident levels.
Key Highlights
New Pathways and Pilot Programs
- IRCC will make the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot permanent by the end of 2025, offering a new PR route for skilled refugees.
- A new work permit stream will be introduced for agriculture and fish processing sectors.
- The department is exploring a potential PR pathway for refugee students in Canada.
PGWP and SOWP Reforms
- IRCC will update the eligibility criteria for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) by redefining acceptable fields of study.
- Spousal open work permits (SOWPs) for spouses of foreign workers and international students will also see eligibility changes.
Digital Initiatives and Innovation
- A new centralized online client account will be gradually launched through 2025–2026.
- IRCC is testing a GeoMatch algorithm, in collaboration with Stanford University, to guide Express Entry candidates on where to settle based on regional needs.
Francophone Integration
The Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative will be fully operationalized during this period.
Trade and International Mobility
- IRCC will implement new work permit provisions under free trade agreements (FTAs) with Indonesia and Ecuador.
- Additional negotiations are underway with ASEAN and CPTPP candidate countries to expand work permit access.
Ongoing Priorities
Express Entry Focus
- Continued category-based selections under Express Entry targeting healthcare, trades, education, and French-speaking candidates.
- IRCC aims for at least 40% of new PR admissions to come from temporary residents already in Canada.
Support for PNP Candidates
- Collaboration with provinces continues to expand special work permits for PNP nominees.
- Provinces must issue at least 75% of PNP nominations to candidates currently residing in Canada.
Family Reunification
IRCC plans to accelerate processing of sponsorship applications for family members living abroad.
Settlement Support
Increased investment in settlement services to boost PR integration into the Canadian economy.
Immigration Reductions Continue
Following the federal government’s direction to ease pressure on infrastructure and services, IRCC will:
- Cap PR admissions at no more than 1% of the population.
- Limit temporary resident levels to 5% of the population.
- Restrict LMIA-based work permits to 80,000–84,000 annually, down from 184,000 in 2023.
- Maintain the intake cap for study permit applications.
- Enforce the ongoing moratorium on low-wage LMIAs in metropolitan areas with unemployment above 6%.
Performance Targets
IRCC aims to:
- Process 80% of applications within service standards.
- Achieve at least 90% client satisfaction across programs.
- Reach $36 billion in economic contribution from international students and visitors annually.
- Secure at least 65% public support for current immigration levels by end of fiscal year (up from 50% in 2023–24).
