Canada plans to welcome 1.14 million permanent residents between 2026 and 2028. The country has set an annual target of 380,000 new permanent residents under its current immigration plan.
The targets are part of Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The government released the plan in November 2025. The figures do not show a new increase in immigration.
However, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that the country may consider increasing immigration in the future.
He said that the immigration system was “back under control” and raised the possibility of a controlled increase in Canada’s population.
How many immigrants will Canada accept in 2026?
Canada has set different targets for people applying through various immigration categories in 2026.
The current plan is as follows
|
Immigration category |
Target for 2026 |
|---|---|
|
Economic immigration |
239,800 |
|
Family sponsorship |
84,000 |
|
Refugees and protected persons |
49,300 |
|
Humanitarian and other categories |
6,900 |
The economic immigration target will increase to 244,700 in both 2027 and 2028. Meanwhile, the annual target for family sponsorship will fall to 81,000 during these two years.
Despite these changes, Canada’s total annual target for permanent residents will remain at 380,000.
What does Canada’s immigration plan mean for Pakistani applicants?
Pakistani applicants can apply through the immigration programmes for which they qualify.
However, Canada has not set aside a specific number of permanent residency places for Pakistanis under these targets.
Applicants must meet the requirements of their chosen immigration programme. Meeting the basic requirements does not guarantee approval.
Will Canada reduce temporary immigration?
Canada also plans to reduce the number of new temporary residents entering the country.
The target is 385,000 new temporary resident arrivals in 2026. This figure will fall to 370,000 per year in 2027 and 2028.
These targets are separate from the country’s permanent residency plan.
Austria’s Red-White-Red Card: Pakistanis can apply for jobs, residency
Separately, interested Pakistanis can also apply for Austria’s Red-White-Red Card programme and get a chance to live and work in the country.
According to Austria’s official immigration information, the Red-White-Red Card is usually issued for 24 months.
It allows holders to work for the employer named in their application, subject to the rules of their category.
