Canada to welcome 4,85,000 permanent residents in 2024 and aims for 5,00,000 by 2025
Canada is set to welcome a significant number of permanent residents in the coming years as part of a new strategy to transform its immigration system. Immigration Minister Marc Miller revealed his plan to transform Canada’s immigration system, entitled ‘An Immigration System for Canada’s Future’, on November 1, 2023.
Under the current 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada has set the following targets:
2023: 465,000 new permanent residents
2024: 485,000 new permanent residents
2025: 500,000 new permanent residents
These increased immigration levels are in response to several factors, including an aging population and critical labour shortages in sectors like healthcare, transportation, and home building. The government aims to spur innovation and economic growth and support local businesses and communities by welcoming new qualified professionals from countries like India.
Minister Marc Miller emphasized the role of immigration in driving Canada’s economy and fuelling its future growth. The new immigration strategy aims to balance economic growth with pressures in areas like housing, healthcare, and infrastructure, charting a responsible course for sustainable and stable population growth.
To achieve these goals, the government plans to maintain its target of 500,000 permanent residents by 2025 and stabilize it at that level starting in 2026. The government will also take action to recalibrate the number of temporary resident admissions to ensure sustainability within the immigration system.
This strategy marks a significant development in Canada’s approach to immigration, with a focus on economic growth, sustainability, and addressing critical labour shortages. It also aims to improve various aspects of the immigration system to benefit both newcomers and the Canadian population. These measures come as Minister Miller prepares to release his first Immigration Levels Plan since taking over the portfolio, amidst concerns about immigration’s impact on housing and the cost of living in the country.
