Five Things International Students Should Know About Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027

On October 24, Canada revealed its Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027, marking the first time it set targets specifically for temporary residents, including international students.

Each year, Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan outlines the number of permanent residents it aims to admit in the coming years, supporting economic growth, family reunification, and humanitarian goals. This year’s plan also provided immigration targets for 2026 and 2027, with final targets for the upcoming year determined by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) each November 1.

Here are key takeaways for international students:

1. More Focus on International Students Than Work Permit Holders

The new plan aims to welcome a consistent target of 305,900 new international students per year in 2025, 2026, and 2027. This target only counts new arrivals and does not include existing students who renew their study permits while in Canada.

In contrast, the number of new temporary resident workers entering Canada—through programs such as the International Mobility Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program—will decrease over the next three years. The projected numbers are 367,750 in 2025, then 210,700 in 2026, and 237,700 in 2027. As a result, a larger portion of temporary residents arriving from 2026 onward will be international students.

2. Greater Opportunity for PR Transition Within Canada

The plan emphasizes the transition of temporary residents, such as students and workers already in Canada, to permanent residency. By 2025, more than 40% of Canada’s planned permanent resident admissions are expected to be those already residing in Canada.

The Federal High Skilled (FHS) category has been split into Federal Economic Priorities and In-Canada Focus categories, with a greater share of admissions allocated to the latter over the next three years. For example, in 2025, the target for Federal Economic Priorities is 41,700, while the target for In-Canada Focus is 82,980—nearly double. This shift may lead to more programs and policies designed to help temporary residents transition to permanent residency, such as more Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws through Express Entry.

3. Reduced Targets for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

The plan includes major cuts to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets in the coming years. In 2025, the target for PNP admissions is 55,000, a sharp decrease from the previous target of 110,000 for 2024 and 120,000 for 2025. As a result, students looking to use provincial nominations as a pathway to permanent residency may face increased competition.

4. Increased Emphasis on French Language Skills

Consistent with IRCC’s goal to boost francophone immigration outside Quebec, the plan includes higher targets for French-speaking permanent residents. In 2025, 8.5% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec are expected to be French speakers, increasing to 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027. This is an increase compared to previous targets of 7% for 2025 and 8% for 2026. Students with little or no French fluency may benefit from learning the language to improve their chances of gaining permanent residency.

5. Focus on In-Demand Occupations

In 2023, Canada began conducting category-based selection draws to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to skilled workers in high-demand sectors, such as healthcare, STEM, trades, and transport, to address labour shortages. These categories may change over time based on labour market needs.

For 2025, priority categories include healthcare and trade occupations, although no plans have been announced to remove other priority categories like STEM, transport, agriculture, or agri-food. Students with Post Graduate Work Permits (PGWPs) who aim to become permanent residents should consider focusing on jobs within these high-demand sectors. To qualify for category-based draws, candidates need at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time experience) within the past three years in a designated occupation.