2026 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration

Introduction

The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration provides Parliamentarians and Canadians with valuable information on permanent and temporary immigration. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) requires that this report be tabled in Parliament each year. The report includes data for 2025 by immigration category. It shows whether admissions and arrivals were within the targets and ranges set out in the Government of Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan.

A return to sustainable immigration levels

The Government is focused on returning immigration levels to a more sustainable pace by reducing temporary resident arrivals and maintaining stable permanent resident admissions. The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan continued to prioritize economic immigration, while decreasing overall admissions targets for permanent residents. For the first time, it also included targets for temporary residents, constituting a new holistic approach to managed migration. Targets were set for new arrivals of international students and temporary foreign workers with the primary aim of returning volumes to more sustainable levels, while also taking into account the needs of our labour market and Canadian employers. To support the commitment to reduce the share of non-permanent residents to less than 5% of the population, the number of new arrivals were also balanced with planned departures of international students and temporary workers.

Temporary resident programs and volumes

A temporary resident is a foreign national who is authorized to enter Canada for a limited period. Temporary resident status may be granted to an individual who meets the legislative requirements to enter or remain in Canada as a visitor, student, worker, or holder of a temporary resident permit.

Total permit holders

Throughout 2025, 3,341,695 people held valid temporary resident permits to enter or remain in Canada. This total includes individuals who received a new permit or an extension during the year, as well as those who remained in Canada with valid status throughout the year.

The figure includes temporary residents holding permits as visitors, students, workers, or temporary resident permit holders. It is adjusted to account for individuals that may hold more than one type of permit in a year.

Temporary resident arrivals

The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan is the first to include targets for arrivals of Temporary Residents. Temporary Resident arrivals are a subset of the total of Work and Study permits signed. The number of arrivals in the levels plan does not include:

• asylum claimants
• study/work permit applicants in Canada (permit extensions)
• seasonal agricultural workers and certain other seasonal workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) who are in Canada for 270 days or less and whose work period begins and ends within the same calendar year.

Source: Data as of March 31st on Understanding student and temporary worker numbers in Canada

In 2025, there were 323,995 temporary resident arrivals, which was below the target range of 604,900 to 742,400 set out in the 2025-2027 Levels Plan. Of these arrivals, 153,920 entered through the International Mobility Program (IMP), 54,895 through the TFWP, and 115,180 as study permit holders.

International students

IRCC facilitates the entry of students who want to study at a designated educational institution in Canada. Individuals approved to study in Canada are issued a study permit.

In 2025, 381,725 individuals had their study permit become effective (including extensions).^{Footnote 6} Of those whose new permit or extension became effective, 184,245 were female, 197,410 were male, and a small portion were another gender or unspecified. The number of study permits that became effective decreased by 26.1% compared with 2024. In 2024, 516,275 people had a study permit become effective.

Figure 1 text version

Total study permits that became effective and gender of the holders

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	209,813	262,861	319,991	242,970	184,245
Male	235,899	287,265	362,824	273,235	197,410
Another GenderFootnote 7	48	48	66	55	60
UnspecifiedFootnote 8	16	13	18	10	5
Total	445,776	550,187	682,889	516,275	381,725

In 2025, females accounted for 48.3% of individuals holding study permits that became effective, up from 47.1% in 2024. The total number of study permits that became effective fell significantly in 2025 compared with 2024. The decrease was larger among males than among females.

In 2025, 201,545 study permit holders were from the top five source countries. Together, they represented 53% of all individuals whose study permit became effective that year.

Figure 2 text version

Top five source countries of citizenship of study permit holders (including extensions) with permits that became effective in 2025

Source Country	Total
India	94,025
China, People’s Republic of	48,870
Nigeria	25,425
Philippines	19,885
France	13,345

India remained the largest source country for study permits in 2025, accounting for 24.6% of all permits that became effective. China was the second-largest source country, followed by Nigeria and the Philippines.

The top five source countries came from several regions of the world, highlighting the broad international appeal of Canada’s education system and the continued interest in Canadian post-secondary credentials.

Student to permanent resident transition

In 2025, 20,790^{Footnote 9} former study permit holders became permanent residents. Of those, 10,435 were female and 10,355 were male. This represented a decrease of 18.7% compared with 2024, when 25,580 former study permit holders became permanent residents.

Temporary workers

Foreign nationals seeking to temporarily work in Canada may be authorized to work without a permit or receive a work permit under one of Canada’s work permit programs under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

IRCC manages the International Mobility Program (IMP) and jointly administers the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) with Employment and Social Development Canada. These programs help employers address labour needs while supporting Canada’s economic and social objectives. Under the TFWP, employers must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to show that no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available for the job. Under the IMP, employers can hire certain foreign workers without an LMIA when there are broader economic, social, cultural, or reciprocal benefits for Canada.

In 2025, 743,770^{Footnote 10} people had a work permit become effective for employment purposes.^{Footnote 11} This total includes permits issued through both the TFWP and the IMP. Of these, 256,880 were new work permits and 491,840 were permit extensions. The number of people with a work permit that became effective decreased by 17.9% compared with 2024. In 2024, 905,440 people had a work permit become effective.

Figure 3 text version

Individuals Whose Work Permits Became Effective in 2025 – Totals and gender

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	155,609	239,668	391,923	385,530	309,990
Male	260,200	366,149	557,267	523,410	433,725
Another GenderFootnote 12	5	21	34	50	40
UnspecifiedFootnote 13	3	13	46	35	15
Total	415,817	604,382	946,259	905,440	743,770

In 2025, males accounted for 58.3% of work permits that became effective, while females accounted for 41.7%. This continues the pattern of males representing the larger share of work permit holders. The number of work permits that became effective declined for both females and males between 2024 and 2025. The decrease was slightly greater among females. This gender distribution may reflect the sectors that make the greatest use of temporary foreign workers. Industries such as agriculture, construction, transportation, and skilled trades often employ a higher proportion of males, which may contribute to the larger share of male work permit holders.

In 2025, 166,790 individuals had TFWP permits become effective. Of those, 33,210 were female, 133,575 as male, and a small portion were another gender or did not specify a gender.

During the same year, 580,125 people had a work permit become effective through the IMP. Of these, 277,810 were female, 302,265 were male, and a small number were another gender or did not specify a gender.

Females represented a larger share of work permit holders under the IMP (47.9%) than under the TFWP (19.9%). This difference reflects the types of jobs and sectors served by each program. IRCC continues to monitor gender outcomes across work permit programs, including the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers. In 2025, females accounted for 27.8% of approvals under this permit.

Figure 4 text version

Work permits that became effective

Year	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
International Mobility Program (IMP)	313,294	470,033	765,262	717,405	580,125
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW)	103,552	135,818	184,008	191,630	166,790

In 2025, 405,580 people whose work permits became effective were from the top five source countries. Together, these countries accounted for 55% of all work permit holders whose permits became effective that year.

Figure 5 text version

Top five source countries of citizenship of study permit holders (including extensions) with permits that became effective in 2025

Source Country	Total
India	215,250
Ukraine	59,545
Mexico	52,525
Philippines	46,705
Iran	31,550

India was the largest source country for people whose work permits became effective in 2025, accounting for 28.9% of the total. Ukraine was the second-largest source country, followed by Mexico. The continued presence of Ukrainian nationals among the top source countries reflects Canada’s temporary measures to support people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The top five source countries came from different regions of the world, highlighting the diverse origins of temporary foreign workers and other foreign nationals working in Canada through temporary resident programs.

Open Work Permit for Vulnerable workers

Every worker in Canada is entitled to a safe and healthy work environment. Temporary foreign workers who are experiencing abuse, or who are at risk of abuse, may be eligible for an Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers (OWP-V). The OWP-V allows eligible workers with a valid employer-specific work permit to obtain an open work permit. This gives them the flexibility to leave an unsafe or abusive job and work for almost any employer in Canada while they look for a new position and apply for a new work permit.

In 2025, 10,190 people had an OWP-V become effective. Of those, 2,830 were female and 7,360 were male.

Temporary to permanent resident transition

In 2025, 145,735 temporary work permit holders became permanent residents. Of these, 70,120 were female, 75,600 were male, and 10 were another gender. This represented a decrease of 9% compared with 2024. In 2024, 160,100 temporary work permit holders became permanent residents.

Visitors

IRCC facilitates the entry of visitors who wish to stay in Canada temporarily, while safeguarding the health, safety, and security of Canadians.^{Footnote 14} Depending on their nationality, travel document, and method of travel, visitors may need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. IRCC processes TRVs and eTAs for visitors such as tourists, those seeking to visit family, business travellers, and those transiting through Canada. Visitors contribute to Canada’s economy by supporting businesses, creating demand for goods and services, and generating tourism revenue. Business visitors can also help strengthen trade and investment ties. In addition, visitors help maintain family, cultural, and social connections that contribute to Canada’s diverse and inclusive society.

In 2025, 4,833,235 TRVs and eTAs were issued. Of those, 2,399,540 were for individuals who were female, 2,433,530 were male, 80 were another gender, and 90 had their gender recorded as unspecified or unknown. The number of issued TRVs and eTAs decreased by 3.9% compared with 2024. In 2024, IRCC issued 5,031,925 TRVs and eTAs.

Temporary Resident Permits

Under subsection 24(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) may be issued to a foreign national who is inadmissible to Canada or otherwise does not meet the requirements of the Act. A TRP may be issued when an officer determines that the person’s need to enter or remain in Canada temporarily is justified in the circumstances. TRPs are issued for a limited period and may be cancelled at any time.

In 2025, 5,100 TRP applications were approved. More information about Temporary Resident Permits and inadmissibility is available on IRCC’s website.

Table 2: Temporary resident permit applications approved in 2025 by grounds of inadmissibility

The following table presents the number of TRP applications approved in 2025, categorized by grounds of inadmissibility as defined under IRPA.

Source: IRCC, Consolidated Business Reporting as of April 21, 2026

TRPs for victims of human trafficking

To help protect victims of human trafficking, TRPs may be issued to foreign nationals in Canada who do not have legal immigration status. These permits give temporary resident status and allow holders to apply for a work permit.

In 2025, 80 TRP applications for victims of human trafficking and their dependants were approved. This number is included in the total number of TRPs shown in Table 2.

TRPs for victims of family violence

Since 2019, out-of-status foreign nationals who are experiencing family violence from a spouse or common-law partner can apply for a fee-exempt TRP. This measure is intended for individuals whose application for permanent residence depends on remaining in a genuine relationship that has become abusive. The TRP grants temporary legal status in Canada, enabling individuals to apply for an open work permit or study permit, and to safely leave an abusive relationship without risking their immigration status.

In 2025, 310 TRP applications were approved for victims of family violence and their dependants. These applications are processed separately from TRPs and are not included in the totals shown in Table 2.

Public policy exemptions for a temporary purpose

In 2025, 120 applications for temporary residence were approved under a public policy that provides exemptions from certain inadmissibility requirements. This policy allows eligible foreign nationals to come to Canada as visitors, students, or workers even if they would not normally meet all immigration requirements. These cases are processed separately from TRPs and are not included in the totals shown in Table 2.

Use of the negative discretion authority

Under subsection 22.1(4) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Annual Report must include the number of declarations made by the Minister stating that a foreign national (other than a person referred to in section 19) cannot become a temporary resident. This authority, known as negative discretion, may be used when the Minister determines that, because of public policy concerns, a foreign national is not eligible to become a temporary resident for a specific period, up to three years. The report must also describe the public policy reasons for any such declarations.

In 2025, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship did not use the negative discretion authority under subsection 22.1(1) of IRPA.

Additional information

For more information on temporary migration, refer to Core responsibility 1: Visitors, International Students and Temporary Workers in the Departmental Results Report.

Additional data is available on the Open Government Portal.

Permanent immigration

Foreign nationals can become permanent residents of Canada through a range of immigration pathways and programs. Permanent resident status allows people to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada. Those who meet the eligibility requirements may later apply for Canadian citizenship.

IRCC facilitates the entry of permanent residents in a way that maximizes their economic, social, and cultural contributions to Canada, while also safeguarding the health, safety, and security of all Canadians.

In 2025, IRCC admitted 393,770 permanent residents. This was within the target range of 367,000 to 436,000 set out in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. It was slightly below the target of 395,000 admissions. Of those admitted, 203,320 were female, 190,425 were male, and 30 were another gender. In 2024, the department admitted 483,640 permanent residents. As a result, the number of permanent resident admissions in 2025 was 18.6% lower than in 2024.

Table 3A: Levels plan table – Permanent residents admitted in 2025 by category and gender

The following tables provide gender disaggregated data on permanent residents admitted within each of the 2025-2027 Levels Plans Categories. It also includes planned admission ranges.^{Footnote 17}

Source: IRCC, Research and Data Branch (RDB), Permanent Residents, March 31, 2026

Table 3B: Levels plan table – Permanent residents admitted in 2025 under specific economic categories included in the 2025-2027 levels plan

Data in Table 3B is a regrouping of the admissions listed in Table 3A. The admissions in Table 3B are not additional admissions.

To better align permanent resident immigration levels with community capacity and ensuring a whole-of-society approach to immigration levels planning, the 2025-2027 Levels Plan introduced two thematics. “Federal Economic Priorities” in recognition of the importance of supporting critical sectors such as health care and skilled trades, and “In-Canada Focus” to ensure an emphasis on facilitating transition to permanent residence for those who are already in Canada as students or workers.

Source: Cognos June 25, 2026

Source: IRCC, RDB, Permanent Residents, March 31, 2026

Table 5: Linguistic profile - Official language of foreign nationals who obtained permanent resident status in 2025

The following table presents data describing the Official Languages linguistic profile of foreign nationals who obtained permanent resident status.

Source: IRCC, RDB, Permanent Residents, March 31, 2026

Economic immigration

Canada offers a range of economic immigration programs to attract talent, address labour shortages, and support economic growth. These programs ensure that the benefits of immigration are shared across Canada. These programs select skilled workers and entrepreneurs who can contribute to Canada’s economy. The economic category was the largest source of permanent resident admissions in 2025; admitting 225,680 people and accounting for 57.3% of all admissions. This total includes principal applicants as well as their spouses and dependants. Of those admitted, 108,790 were female, 116,880 were male, and a small number were another gender. In 2024, 281,615 people were admitted through the economic programs. Admissions under economic immigration programs were 19.9% lower in 2025 than in 2024.

Figure 6 text version

Economic immigration – Totals and gender (principal applicants and their dependants)

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	115,682	121,394	127,961	134,155	108,790
Male	137,288	134,265	144,783	147,455	116,880
Another GenderFootnote 35	1	1	0	–	10
Total	252,971	255,660	272,744	281,615	225,680

In 2025, females accounted for 48.2% of economic immigration admissions, a slight increase from 47.6% in 2024, though overall admissions for all applicants dropped. Between 2021 and 2025, the gender distribution of economic immigrants remained fairly stable. Over this period, the share of females increased slightly, while males continued to make up a small majority of admissions.

Economic permanent resident admissions from the top ten source countries amounted to 163,220, representing 72.3% of overall admissions in this category.

Figure 7 text version

Top ten source countries of citizenship of 2025 economic admissions

Source Countries of Citizenship	Total
India	68,085
Cameroon	21,320
Philippines	17,360
Nigeria	12,210
France	11,135
China, People’s Republic of	10,365
Algeria	6,595
Morocco	5,895
Ukraine	5,440
Tunisia	4,810

In 2025, India remained the largest source country for economic immigration, accounting for 30.2% of all admissions in this category. Compared with previous years, a larger share of admissions came from African countries, including Cameroon, Algeria, and Morocco. This change reflects, in part, the impact of category-based selection rounds that focused on French-language skills and work experience in targeted occupations.

Express Entry

Express Entry (EE) is Canada’s application management system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program. The EE system manages the intake of applications for permanent residence under key economic immigration programs, while facilitating the selection of individuals most likely to succeed. Category-Based Selection (CBS) enables the Minister to establish categories that support specific economic priorities and invite the highest-ranking eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence. In 2025, invitations were issued to candidates with qualifications in the following categories: French-language proficiency, health care and social services, trades, and education.

In 2025, Canada admitted 114,930 people through EE, including principal applicants and their accompanying spouses and dependants. Of those admitted, 55,810 were female, 59,115 were male, and five were another gender.

For more information on EE, including data across all stages of the EE continuum, please refer to the Express Entry Year End Report.

Federal business programs

Federal Business Programs help attract talented entrepreneurs who can support Canada’s economic growth. These programs include the Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program, which helps entrepreneurs build innovative businesses that can grow and create jobs in Canada. The Self-Employed Persons Program supports individuals with relevant self-employment experience. Application intake is currently paused for both programs.

In 2025, Canada admitted 2,210 principal applicants and their accompanying spouses and dependants through these programs. Of those admitted, 1,090 were female, and 1,115 were male.

Sectoral immigration programs

Sectoral immigration pilot programs test innovative approaches to support specific economic objectives and labour market needs across Canada.

Caregiver programs support seniors, children, and people living with disabilities across Canada by providing home care workers (caregivers) with a pathway to permanent residence. In March 2025, the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWIP) were launched, one for Home Child Care workers and one for Home Support workers. Application intake for these pilot programs was paused in December 2025, as part of efforts to return immigration levels to a more sustainable pace and provide greater predictability for clients.

The HCWIP replaced the five-year Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots, which ended in June 2024. Applications received before the expiry of caregiver programs continue to be processed. In 2025, 5,840 caregivers and their spouses and dependants were admitted through Caregiver programs.^{Footnote 36} Of those admitted, 3,430 were female, and 2,410 were male.

The five-year Agri-Food Pilot program (AFP) ended on May 14, 2025. Applications received by that date continue to be processed. The AFP tested an industry-specific approach to immigration to help address longstanding labour needs in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. It provided a pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in select year-round occupations. In 2025, 570 people were admitted through the AFP, including principal applicants and their dependants. Of those admitted, 255 were female and 315 were male.

Regional immigration programs and pilots

Regional immigration programs allow provinces, territories, and communities to select immigrants with the skills and experience needed to fill local labour shortages and support regional economic growth.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), and Community Immigration Pilots Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) are designed to respond to evolving regional labour market needs, drive population growth outside major urban centres and promote long-term integration and retention. In 2025, admissions through the PNP, AIP, and Community Immigration Pilots totalled 94,355. These programs accounted for 51% of all economic immigration admissions outside Quebec.

In 2025, Canada admitted 85,120 individuals through the PNP and 5,170 through the AIP,^{Footnote 37} including principal applicants and their accompanying spouses and dependants. Of those admitted through the PNP, 39,750 were female, 45,365 were male, and a small portion were another gender. For the AIP, 2,470 were female, and 2,700 were male.

The RCIP and the FCIP were launched in 2025, building on the success of the RNIP and testing a new approach to regional and Francophone immigration. These pilots give participating communities a lead role in assessing and recommending candidates that best suit their labour market needs, while collaborating with local stakeholders to create a welcoming environment for newcomers and their families. In 2025, across all rural community programs (RNIP, RCIP & FCIP), 4,060 principal applicants and their accompanying spouses and dependants were admitted as permanent residents through these pilots. Of those admitted, 1,920 were female, and 2,140 were male.

Francophone immigration outside Quebec

Francophone immigration supports regional vitality and economic development, particularly in Francophone Minority Communities across the country (outside Quebec). It also assists broader commitments to linguistic diversity and demographic renewal.

In 2025, IRCC advanced implementation of several initiatives announced in 2024. These included the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, the Centre for Innovation on Francophone Immigration , and the expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative. To complement these initiatives, in 2025, the Department launched the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, which offers permanent residence to French-speaking and/or bilingual skilled workers who want to work and settle in rural remote Francophone Minority Communities (FMCs) across Canada.

In addition, the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration supported 17 innovative projects in 2025, totalling $3.9M. These projects aimed to reduce barriers to Francophone immigration. Funding supported activities such as the promotion of FMCs internationally, the recruitment and selection of French-speaking and bilingual candidates, and research studies.

Admissions targets for french-speaking permanent residents outside quebec

IRCC’s Policy on Francophone Immigration provides long-term strategic direction to support the vitality and economic development of FMCs and requires that French-speaking permanent resident admissions targets be included in the Multi-Year Levels Plan.

In 2025, IRCC surpassed its 8.5% target, for francophone admissions outside Quebec with 29,650 French-speaking permanent residents admitted outside Quebec, representing 8.9% of overall admissions outside the province.

In 2025, French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec were admitted through all immigration categories. Most were admitted via the Economic class.

Figure 8 text version

Admission categories of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec

Category	Admissions
Economic	24,665
Sponsored Family	2,390
Resettled refugees and protected persons in-Canada and dependants abroad	1,575
Other	1,020

The top five source countries for French-speaking permanent residents admitted outside Quebec accounted for 20,930 admissions in 2025. Together, these countries represented 71% of all French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec.

Figure 9 text version

Top five source countries of citizenship of 2025 admissions of French-speaking permanent residents outside of Quebec

Source Country	Total
Cameroon	11,940
Algeria	2,700
Morocco	2,615
France	1,945
Ivory Coast	1,730

In 2025, four of the top five source countries for French-speaking permanent residents admitted outside Quebec were in sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. Cameroon was the largest source country, accounting for 40% of all admissions. These newcomers help strengthen Francophone minority communities across Canada and support Canada’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Sponsored family

Canada remains committed to helping Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence. Family sponsorship helps reunite families and supports the social, cultural, and economic strength of communities across Canada. Sponsors agree to provide financial support for a set period to help sponsored family members settle and integrate successfully.

In 2025, 96,170 people were admitted through the Family Sponsorship Program. This included spouses, partners, dependent children, parents and grandparents, and other eligible relatives. Of those admitted, 59,040 were female, 37,115 were male, and 10 were another gender.

Compared with 2024, family sponsorship admissions decreased by 9.3%. In 2024, 105,990 people were admitted through the Sponsored Family category.

Figure 10 text version

Sponsored family – Totals and gender

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	47,416	56,359	65,609	64,170	59,040
Male	34,001	40,975	44,115	41,810	37,115
Another GenderFootnote 38	6	4	4	15	10
UnspecifiedFootnote 39	N/A	N/A	2	0	0
Total	81,423	97,338	109,730	105,990	96,170

In 2025, females made up 61.4% of admissions in the Sponsored Family category. This continues a trend seen over the past five years, with females representing most admissions in this category. This pattern is linked to the composition of sponsored spouses and partners, where females account for a greater share of principal applicants in this category and accompanying family members. Sponsored Family admissions declined from 2024 to 2025 for both females and males. However, the decrease was smaller among females (8%) than among males (11.2%).

The top five source countries for sponsored family permanent residents accounted for 52,510 admissions in 2025. Together, these countries represented 55% of all admissions in the Sponsored Family category.

Figure 11 text version

Top five source countries of citizenship of 2025 sponsored family admissions

Source Country	Total
India	29,165
Philippines	7,805
China, People’s Republic of	7,435
United States of America	4,245
Pakistan	3,865

India remained the largest source country for Sponsored Family admissions in 2025, accounting for 30% of all admissions. Four source countries are located across Asia, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of Canadian sponsors and their families.

Sponsored spouses, partners, dependent children and others^{Footnote 40}

In 2025, 71,645 individuals were admitted through the sponsored spouses, partners, and children category. Of those admitted, 44,170 were female, 27,465 were male, and 10 were another gender. Admissions in this category decreased by 8.9% compared with 2024. In 2024, 78,655 people were admitted through the sponsored spouses, partners, and children category.

Figure 12 text version

Sponsored spouses, partners, dependent children and others – Totals and gender

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	40,337	40,398	48,702	47,775	44,170
Male	29,342	29,674	32,709	30,870	27,465
Another GenderFootnote 42	6	4	4	10	10
UnspecifiedFootnote 43	N/A	N/A	2	0	0
Total	69,685	70,076	81,417	78,655	71,645

In 2025, females accounted for 61.6% of admissions under the sponsored spouses, partners, and dependent children category. This continues a trend seen over the past five years, with females making up a growing share of admissions. This pattern reflects the makeup of the program, as females are more often the sponsored spouse or partner. Admissions in this category declined for both females and males in 2025 compared with 2024. However, the decrease was smaller among females (7.5%) than among males (11%).

Sponsored parents and grandparents

As of January 1, 2026, IRCC has paused accepting new permanent resident applications made by parents or grandparents of a sponsor, or related sponsorship applications. Applications received as part of the 2025 intake will be accepted into processing in 2026.

In 2025, 24,525 individuals were admitted through the Sponsored Parents and Grandparents category. Of those admitted, 14,875 were female, and 9,650 were male.

Admissions in this category decreased by 10.3% compared with 2024. In 2024, 27,330 people were admitted through the sponsored parents and grandparents category.

Figure 13 text version

Parents and Grandparents – Totals and gender

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	7,079	5,961	16,907	16,395	14,875
Male	4,659	11,301	11,406	10,930	9,650
Another GenderFootnote 44	0	0	0	0	0
UnspecifiedFootnote 45	N/A	N/A	0	0	0
Total	11,738	27,262	28,313	27,330	24,525

In 2025, females accounted for 60.6% of admissions under the sponsored parents and grandparents category. This continues a trend seen since 2023, with females making up the majority of admissions in this category.

Super visa

Although IRCC paused the intake of Parents and Grandparent program applications on January 1, 2026, parents or grandparents may still apply for a super visa. This super visa is a multi-entry temporary resident visa that allows parents or grandparents to reunite with their Canadian citizen, permanent resident, and registered Indian^{Footnote 46} family members in Canada for five years per entry. Visitors may also apply to extend their stay by up to two additional years while in Canada.

In 2025, the department approved 52,850 super visa applications. Of the applicants, 32,850 were female, and 20,000 were male. The number of approved super visa applications decreased slightly in 2025. In 2024, IRCC approved 53,695 applications, compared with 52,850 in 2025, a decrease of 1.6%.

Figure 14 text version

Super visa totals

Year	Total
2022	48,944
2023	73,113
2024	53,695
2025	52,850

Humanitarian & compassionate and other

This category includes people who are granted permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, through certain public policies, or under the Permit Holder Class. These measures help people facing exceptional circumstances, including those affected by global events or those who need special support while in Canada. These admissions comprise all Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other admissions, along with the Permit Holder Class.

In 2025, a total of 12,755 individuals were admitted under this category. Of those admitted, 6,780 were female, and 5,975 were male. Admissions under this category decreased significantly compared with 2024. In 2024, 19,355 people were admitted through the Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other category, compared with 12,755 in 2025, a decrease of 34.1%.

Figure 15 text version

Humanitarian & compassionate and other – Totals and gender

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	6,441	5,606	7,556	10,200	6,780
Male	4,935	4,592	6,799	9,150	5,975
Another GenderFootnote 47	–	–	0	–	0
Total	11,377	10,199	14,355	19,355	12,755

In 2025, females accounted for 53.2% of admissions under the Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other category.

The top five source countries for permanent residents admitted under the Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other category accounted for 10,045 admissions in 2025. Together, these countries represented 78.7% of all admissions in this category.

Figure 16 text version

Top five source countries of citizenship of 2025 humanitarian and compassionate admissions

Source Country	Total
Ukraine	2,615
China, People’s Republic of	2,290
Sudan	2,135
Colombia	1,500
Haiti	1,500

The top five source countries for admissions under the Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other category in 2025 reflected a range of ongoing humanitarian situations, including human rights concerns, political and economic instability, armed conflict, and other crises.

Ukraine and China were the two largest source countries, accounting for 38.4% of all admissions in this category. Sudan, Colombia and Haiti rounded out the top five source countries, reflecting continued humanitarian needs in those regions. These admission patterns are consistent with the objectives of the public policies and special measures that support people affected by exceptional circumstances.

Refugees and protected persons

In 2025, a total of 59,165 refugees and protected persons were admitted as permanent residents. Of those admitted, 28,705 were female, 30,450 were male, and 10 were another gender. Admissions in this category decreased by 22.8% compared with 2024. In 2024, Canada admitted 76,685 refugees and protected persons as permanent residents.

Figure 17 text version

Refugees and protected persons – totals and gender

Gender	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	28,937	36,059	35,905	36,440	28,705
Male	31,287	38,272	39,061	40,230	30,450
Another GenderFootnote 48	4	11	13	15	10
UnspecifiedFootnote 49	N/A	N/A	0	–	0
Total	60,228	74,342	74,979	76,685	59,165

Resettled refugees

Each year, IRCC facilitates the admission of a targeted number of permanent residents under the resettled refugee category. These include Convention Refugees who are outside their country of origin and cannot return because they have a well-founded fear of persecution. It also includes people who need resettlement because they have been seriously affected by armed conflict, civil war, or widespread human rights violations. Canada’s resettlement program supports a range of vulnerable groups, including religious and ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ individuals, human rights defenders, as well as women and children in precarious situations.

In 2025, 38,785 resettled refugees were admitted to Canada as permanent residents. Of these, 18,530 were female, 20,255 were male and five were another gender. Admissions in this category decreased by 21.3% compared with 2024. In 2024, Canada admitted 49,285 resettled refugees as permanent residents.

The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program accounted for most resettled refugee admissions in 2025. A total of 22,975 privately sponsored refugees were admitted, representing 59.2% of all resettled refugees. Of these, 10,475 were female and 12,500 were male. Females accounted for 45.6% of admissions through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, slightly lower than the 47.8% share of females among all resettled refugees.

The Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) Program accounted for 40.6% of resettled refugee admissions. In 2025, 15,730 government-assisted refugees were admitted. Of those admitted, 8,010 were female, 7,715 were male, and five were another gender.

The remaining admissions were through the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program. In 2025, 80 BVOR refugees were admitted, 45 were female, and 35 were male.

Protected persons in-Canada

Protected Persons in-Canada (PPIC) can apply for permanent residence and may include their dependants, whether in Canada or abroad. This category includes individuals recognized by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) as Convention Refugees or persons in need of protection, most individuals with positive pre-removal risk assessments, and protected temporary residents.

In 2025, a total of 20,380 protected persons obtained permanent residence. Of those who obtained permanent residence 10,180 were female, 10,195 were male, and five were another gender. The number of protected persons who obtained permanent residence decreased by 25.6% compared with 2024. In 2024, 27,400 protected persons became permanent residents.

The top five source countries of Resettled Refugees and Protected Persons admitted as permanent residents accounted for 26,732 and 6,629 admissions respectively in 2025. Together, these countries represented 68.9% of all admissions in the Refugees category and 32.5% of all admissions in the Protected Persons category.

Figure 18 text version

Top five source countries of citizenship of 2025 refugees and protected persons admissions

Resettled Refugees		Protected Persons in Canada
Source Country	Total	Source Country	Total
Eritrea	10,280	Iran	1,625
Afghanistan	6,510	India	1,470
Somalia	3,920	Nigeria	1,410
Syria	3,405	Haiti	1,130
Ethiopia	2,610	Türkiye	995

In 2025, Eritrea was the largest source country for resettled refugees admitted to Canada, accounting for 26.5% of all resettled refugee admissions. Afghanistan and Somalia were the next largest source countries.

For Protected Persons in Canada (PPIC), Iran was the largest source country in 2025, accounting for 8% of permanent residence admissions. India and Nigeria were the next largest source countries. These admission patterns reflect the different populations served through Canada’s refugee resettlement and in-country protection programs.

Asylum claimants

The in-Canada asylum system provides a process for determining whether individuals are in need of protection, consistent with Canada’s domestic and international legal obligations.

In 2025, Canada received claims from 113,105 asylum claimants at ports of entry and inland offices across the country. This was a decrease of 34.2% compared with 2024, when 171,840 asylum claimants made claims.

Figure 19 text version

Asylum claimant totals

GenderFootnote 51	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Female	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	46,910
Male	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	66,165
Another Gender	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	15
Not stated	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	20
Total	24,975	91,710	143,370	171,840	113,105

Asylum claimants from the top five source countries totalled 52,980, representing 46.8% of the overall claims.

Figure 20 text version

Top five source countries of citizenship of asylum claimants

Country	Total
Haiti	17,610
India	17,205
Iran	6,930
Nigeria	6,400
Mexico	4,840

In 2025, Haiti and India were the two largest source countries of asylum claimants in Canada. Together, they accounted for 30.8% of all claimants.

Additional information

For more information on the economic and social integration of immigrants and refugees, refer to Core Responsibility 2: Immigrant and Refugee Selection and Integration in the Departmental Results Report.

Additional data is available on the Open Government Portal.

Settlement program

IRCC’s Settlement Program supports newcomers in overcoming barriers to economic, social, and cultural integration into Canadian society. As announced in Budget 2025, IRCC will limit settlement service eligibility for economic immigrants beginning April 1, 2026. The change is intended to encourage newcomers to use services earlier, when they are most helpful, and to ensure support remains available for those who need it most.

Before this change, economic immigrants could access federally funded settlement services from the time they became permanent residents until they became Canadian citizens. Under the new rules, economic class permanent residents will be able to access these services:

• up to six years after obtaining permanent residence, as of April 1, 2026
• up to five years after obtaining permanent residence, as of April 1, 2027

These changes apply to current and future economic class permanent residents, including principal applicants and their accompanying spouses and dependants.

In 2025, 501,365 unique clients received settlement services. Of these clients, 492,115 received services in Canada,^{Footnote 52} 15,770 received pre-arrival services,^{Footnote 53} and 30,760 received support through the Resettlement Assistance Program.^{Footnote 54}

Among all clients who received settlement services, 279,440 were female, 217,515 were male, 45 were another gender, and 4,360 had an unspecified gender. During the same period, 22,595 French-speaking newcomers received settlement services from Francophone service provider organizations.

Gender-based analysis on the impact of the Act

While economic program admissions are broadly gender-balanced, they tend to reflect traditional gender patterns in certain occupational sectors. Within regional economic programs (e.g., Atlantic Immigration, Provincial Nominee, etc.) 91.7% of trade and transport applicants were male, while 73% of healthcare applicants were female. Within federal economic programs, the caregiver pilots have largely female admissions, while most temporary workers in agriculture are male.

Gaps in labour market outcomes for immigrant women have been documented since the 1990s. These gaps are exacerbated when race or ethnicity are also factored. Among full-time workers, the gender wage gaps faced by immigrant women who landed in Canada as adults were about twice as large (19.8%) as those faced by Canadian-born women (8.1%) and immigrant women who landed as children (9.8%). In addition to wage gaps, data from the 2021 census shows that racialized immigrant women aged 25 to 54 had the lowest labour force participation and employment rates, and the highest unemployment rates.

GBA Plus in immigration research

GBA Plus is an important tool for migration policy development. Research shows that immigrant and refugee outcomes are influenced by many factors that can overlap and interact. These factors include gender, race, ethnicity, income, language, disability, and age.

During the reporting period, the department strengthened its GBA Plus capacity through ongoing research that applied an intersectional approach. This work expanded the evidence on how factors such as gender, immigration class, age (including seniors), country of origin, official language status, and disability, affect social and economic outcomes for immigrants in Canada.

A notable area of progress was the integration of disability into immigration research. The December 2025 study Educational attainment and employment among immigrants with disabilities represents a significant advancement in departmental capacity to conduct GBA Plus involving immigrants with disabilities. This work generated new insights on barriers and differential outcomes in education and labour market participation, supporting more inclusive and evidence-based policy analysis and development.

Beyond disability, multiple studies incorporated GBA Plus by examining diverse populations and various intersecting identity characteristics, including:

• Differences in outcomes across immigration programs (e.g., Economic outcomes of provincial nominees: Differences between Express Entry and non-Express Entry, February 2026);
• Labour market integration across occupations and sectors, including regulated professions (Immigrant nurses in Canada, September 2025);
• Outcomes among official language minority communities and Francophone populations (Economic outcomes of official language minority permanent residents, August 2025; Experiences of French-speaking immigrants in rural communities, July 2025);
• The role of education, including international student program (Fields of study and occupations of immigrants who were international students, July 2025);
• Socio-economic disparities, including wealth gaps (Trends in the wealth gap between immigrant and Canadian-born families, March 2026);
• Housing outcomes across immigrant and non-permanent resident groups (Housing use of immigrants and non-permanent residents, May 2025; Immigration and housing prices across municipalities, June 2025).

Collectively, these initiatives strengthen IRCC’s analytical capacity by embedding GBA Plus considerations into core research products, improving disaggregated data use, and supporting a more systematic approach to intersectional analysis across departmental work.

Additional information

For additional information regarding Gender Based Analysis, refer to the GBA Plus supplementary information table in the Departmental Results Report.

Ministerial instructions

Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) includes various provisions that allow the Minister to issue instructions to immigration officers, to enable the Government of Canada to best achieve its immigration goals. These instructions are typically issued for limited periods of time and can touch upon a diverse range of issues.

The table below provides a description and publication date of the 2025 Ministerial Instructions issued under paragraphs 24(3) and 10.3(1) (h.2) and section 87.3 of IRPA, as well as section 14.1 and subsections 30(1.2), 30(1.41), and 30(1.43), where applicable.

Annex: Canada’s Next Temporary and Permanent Immigration Levels Plan

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship must table Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan (Levels Plan) in Parliament each year. Since 2017, a rolling three-year Levels Plan has been presented, which projects permanent resident (PR) admissions to Canada. Beginning in 2024, IRCC expanded the Levels Plan to include targets for new temporary resident (TR) arrivals. This approach supports a well-managed migration system by looking at the totality of newcomers arriving in Canada each year and ensures immigration continues to support our economy and domestic workforce while accounting for impacts on infrastructure, housing and services.

With a commitment to build a whole-of-society approach to immigration planning, IRCC develops the Levels Plan carrying out extensive consultations and engagement with federal partners, provinces and territories, municipalities, stakeholder organizations, and the public.

Temporary resident (TR) targets in the Levels Plan include new arrivals for international students, as well as temporary workers under both the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) – jointly delivered with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) – and the International Mobility Program (IMP), administered solely by IRCC.

Permanent residents (PRs) are categorized under three overarching groups: Economic immigration; Family reunification; and, Refugees, Protected Persons, Humanitarian & Compassionate, and Other.

The 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan

The Government is continuing to advance the commitment to sustainable immigration by building on progress already made to restore stability and predictability to the system. The Levels Plan aligns with the Government’s broader economic priority to attract the talent and skills needed to complement Canada’s domestic workforce and support major investments, while collaborating with provinces and territories, supporting regional and rural communities and reinforcing Canadians’ confidence in a well-managed immigration system.

Canada has already taken action to reduce immigration volumes and decrease pressures on our infrastructure, housing and services. Achieving sustainable immigration requires stable, predictable targets that align volumes of both temporary and permanent residents to the Canadian context, taking into account the capacity to welcome newcomers and objective to grow our economy. To this end, targets aim to balance supporting Canada’s ambitious economic agenda and meeting labour market needs while prioritizing first and foremost the Canadian domestic workforce. The Plan also demonstrates that Canada is a welcoming country and that our immigration system reflects Canada’s commitment to economic success and compassion as a nation while restoring trust and bringing greater alignment between immigration levels and the capacity of domestic infrastructure and services.

Temporary Residents (TRs)

To balance the Government’s commitment to sustainable immigration with the need for stability, predictability and economic growth, the 2027-2029 Levels Plan stabilizes targets for new temporary arrivals at 370,000 for the next three years. These figures represent new temporary worker and student arrivals. Over the course of the Plan, workers are expected to represent approximately 60% of new arrivals, and students approximately 40%. Workers are prioritized to help meet critical labour market needs to complement Canada’s domestic workforce.

Temporary resident targets provide stability and predictability for provinces and territories, employers, and educational institutions while supporting short-term labour needs tied to major investments and helping Canada attract global talent while continuing to work towards the Government’s commitment to reduce the non-permanent resident population. Targets are allocated under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program.

Permanent Residents (PRs)

Permanent resident admissions will remain at 380,000 for all three years of the 2027-2029 Levels Plan. As supporting the Canadian economy continues to be a key priority, the economic category remains the largest proportion of admissions each year at 64.4% across all three years. It supports a stronger focus on selecting the talent Canada needs to drive growth, support innovation, fill persistent labour shortages, and strengthen rural and remote communities while modestly increasing provincial programs to address regional labour needs.

Targets for the Family, Refugees and Protected Persons, and Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other categories remain stable, with the proportions of overall admissions across all three years remaining at 21.3% for Family, 13% for Refugees and Protected Persons, and 1.3% for Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other.

The Plan reinforces Canada’s commitment to ensuring the vitality and economic development of Francophone Minority Communities, by setting targets for French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec at 9.5% in 2027, 10.5% in 2028, and 12% in 2029.

Time-Limited Measure

IRCC is introducing a new time-limited measure to provide additional space to process permanent residence applications in 2027 within two cohorts:

• First, the workers cohort will transition in-Canada workers and their accompanying family members to permanent residence in collaboration with provinces and territories in order to support regional labour market needs.
• Second, the humanitarian cohort will transition individuals to permanent residence who are already in Canada and have been waiting for many years. This transition will provide fairness, keep families together, and fulfill some of Canada’s existing humanitarian commitments.

This time-limited measure complements the broader objectives of the 2027–2029 Levels Plan, and ensures that immigration will continue to serve its core purposes: supporting economic growth while prioritizing the domestic workforce, maintaining the integrity and security of the system, reuniting families, and providing stability in Canada for the humanitarian cohorts we have committed to support.