Quebec Announces New Immigration Reductions in Its Latest Immigration Levels Plan

Quebec has released its latest Immigration Levels Plan and confirmed that it will reduce both permanent and temporary immigration in 2026. According to the plan tabled on November 6, the province aims to admit 45,000 new permanent residents in 2026, with a range allowing between 43,000 and 47,000 admissions.

This marks a decrease from the 2025 targets, where the range was 48,500 to 51,500.

Quebec’s 2026 Permanent Resident Targets

For 2026, Quebec plans to follow a target range of 43,000 to 47,000 new permanent residents. The province expects that:

• Economic immigration will make up 64% of all PR admissions.
• Up to 54% of new PRs will be temporary residents already living in Quebec.
• Quebec will maintain its target of 45,000 PR admissions every year for the next four years.
  
  

The distribution for 2026 is expected to be:

• Economic immigration: 27,500 to 30,100
• Family reunification: 9,600 to 10,400
• Refugees and similar categories: 5,500 to 6,000
• Other immigrants: 400 to 500

Within economic immigration, skilled workers will represent between 27,050 and 29,500 admissions. Quebec is also aiming for a French-language proficiency rate of around 76% among admitted PRs.

These numbers follow the proposals the government shared earlier this year during public consultations, where Quebec considered PR admissions of 25,000, 35,000, or 45,000.

New Temporary Resident Targets for 2026

For the first time, Quebec’s plan also includes targets for temporary residents. In 2026, the province expects to admit up to:

• 55,700 temporary foreign workers
• 68,500 international students

These figures include people already in Quebec who apply for permit extensions.

Quebec has also set minimum and maximum ranges for 2026:

Temporary Foreign Workers

• Minimum: 40,400
• Maximum: 55,700
  
  

International Students

• Minimum: 44,500
• Maximum: 68,500
  
  

Among temporary foreign workers, 48% will be agricultural workers and 52% non-agricultural workers.

To meet these targets, the province will issue the following ranges of Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQs):

CAQ Ranges for 2026

• Temporary Foreign Worker Program: 43,400 to 63,700
• International Student Program: 87,300 to 114,100
  
  

A CAQ is required before applying to IRCC for a work permit or study permit.

By 2029, Quebec plans to reduce its temporary resident population to 65,000 temporary foreign workers and 110,000 international students, representing a 13% decrease from 2024 levels.

Additional Measures to Reduce Temporary Resident Numbers

Quebec is implementing several changes to slow the growth of its temporary resident population:

• Extending the suspension of certain LMIAs in Montreal and Laval until December 31, 2026.
• Adding a requirement for CAQ applicants under the TFWP to meet NCLC level 4 spoken French, planned for December 17, 2025.
• Providing a three-year grace period for foreign workers already in Quebec to meet the French requirement.
• Exempting certain groups, including agricultural workers, from the French requirement.
• Extending the suspension of the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship) until December 31, 2029, while continuing to assess eligible applications.
• Making the Skilled Worker Selection Program the only pathway for permanent selection of skilled workers.
• Ending the Quebec Graduate and Temporary Foreign Worker streams of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) on November 19, 2025, with previously submitted applications continuing to be assessed.
• Proceeding with the closure of Quebec’s three immigration pilot programs on January 1, 2026, except for the Francophone profile of the AI stream, which remains open for applicants.
  
  

Quebec will continue to accept applications to add family members for individuals already selected through these pilot programs.

How Quebec’s Immigration System Works

Quebec operates a unique immigration system under the Canada-Quebec Accord of 1991. This agreement gives the province more control over immigration than any other jurisdiction in Canada.

Key features of Quebec’s system include:

• Setting its own targets for how many permanent and temporary residents it admits each year.
• Running its own economic immigration programs, administered by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).
• Focusing immigration policies on supporting the French language and meeting social, demographic, and economic needs.
  
  

Individuals who want to settle in Quebec must first obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from MIFI. Once they have a CSQ, they can apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

While Quebec selects candidates, the federal government remains responsible for security, medical, and admissibility checks.