Foreign-born population – 2021 | 22% of the population | Main countries of birth: China (11%), India (11%), Philippines (9%) |
Size: 8.4 million, 48% women | Evolution since 2014: +17% |
International Migration Outlook 2026
50th Edition
In 2025, Canada received 394 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status), ‑19% compared to 2024. This figure comprises 32% labour migrants, 50% family members (including accompanying family) and 15% humanitarian migrants. Around 158 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 134 000 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants.
India, China and the Philippines were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2024. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Cameroon registered the strongest increase (9 500) and India the largest decrease (‑12 000) in flows to Canada compared to the previous year.
In 2025, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑33%, to reach around 116 000. The majority of applicants came from Haiti (18 000), India (18 000) and Iran (6 000). The largest increase since 2024 concerned nationals of Haiti (9 900) and the largest decrease nationals of India (‑14 000). Of the 97 000 decisions taken in 2025, 55% were positive.
Emigration of Canadian citizens to OECD countries increased by 1% in 2024, to 40 000. Approximately 53% of this group migrated to the United States, 6% to the United Kingdom and 5% to Korea.
Canada’s recent migration policy was guided by the 2025‑2026 Departmental Plan of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the 2025‑2027 Immigration Levels Plan, tabled in Parliament in October 2024. For the first time, the Levels Plan incorporated targets for temporary residents, extending migration planning beyond permanent admissions.
A major policy development was the adoption of the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act in March 2026, following parliamentary debates during late 2025 and early 2026. The legislation introduced new eligibility rules for asylum claims, applicable to all claims made on or after 3 June 2025.
Under the new framework, claims made more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada after 24 June 2020, and claims submitted more than 14 days after irregular entry at the Canada-United States land border, are no longer referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board. Individuals affected remain eligible for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, and the Safe Third Country Agreement continued to apply unchanged.
In parallel, IRCC initiated regulatory work during late 2025 and early 2026 to modernise asylum processing, including digital intake, standardisation of claims across entry channels and removal of inactive cases. These operational changes formed part of a broader effort to manage caseloads and improve co‑ordination with the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Canada maintained temporary measures for Ukrainians admitted under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), including extensions allowing eligible individuals to apply for new or renewed work or study permits until 31 March 2026. Access to settlement services and administrative deferrals of removal also continued.
Canada also expanded humanitarian responses to other displacement crises. In 2025, the government committed to resettle up to 4 000 Sudanese Government-Assisted Refugees by the end of 2026 and facilitate the resettlement of additional Sudanese refugees through private sponsorship and family reunification measures.
Significant adjustments were made to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program in 2025 and 2026, including higher wage thresholds, regional eligibility restrictions linked to unemployment levels, and more limited access to spousal open work permits. Employer compliance requirements and inspection regimes were also strengthened during 2025.
Economic immigration policy also evolved during the period. In March 2025, Canada removed additional Express Entry points previously awarded for arranged employment, as part of broader efforts to strengthen programme integrity. In January 2025, Canada launched the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot to support regional labour market needs and strengthen Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
Integration policy continued to focus on labour market participation, language acquisition and settlement services, supported by ongoing digitalisation initiatives and enhanced intergovernmental information-sharing.
In December 2025, the government passed Bill C‑3, to amend the Citizenship Act. Before this legislation, citizenship by descent was generally limited to the first generation born abroad. The changes expanded access to citizenship by descent for certain individuals born outside Canada beyond the first generation and introduced a framework based on a substantial connection to Canada.
For further information: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html
