IRCC's new three-year plan keeps permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year and new international student arrivals at 150,000. French-speaking admissions outside Quebec are set to rise to 12% by 2029

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published the supplementary information for its 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan, dated November 5, 2026. The plan sets 380,000 permanent resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals in each of the three years. Of the temporary arrivals, 150,000 are international students. For Indian applicants, the message is stability at a low level: the student target is not being cut again, but it is far below the numbers of a few years ago.

Key Facts at a Glance

• New international student arrivals: 150,000 a year in 2027, 2028 and 2029. This covers study permits for programmes of six months or more at a Designated Learning Institution
• How that compares: The 2026-2028 plan set 155,000 student arrivals for 2026 and 150,000 for 2027 and 2028, as reported by CIC News. The earlier 2025-2027 plan had set 305,900 for 2026 and 2027. The 150,000 figure for 2027 and 2028 is therefore confirmed, and 2029 is added at the same level
• Total new temporary arrivals: 370,000 a year (range 355,000 to 385,000), about 60% workers and 40% students
• Workers: 220,000 a year, made up of 170,000 under the International Mobility Program and 50,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• Permanent residents: 380,000 a year (range 352,500 to 422,000) 
  • Economic: 244,700 (64.4%), including 100,000 Federal High Skilled and 95,000 Provincial Nominee Program
  • Family: 81,000 (21.3%)
  • Refugees and protected persons: 49,300 (13%)
  • Humanitarian and compassionate and other: 5,000 (1.3%)
• French-speaking admissions outside Quebec: 9.5% of admissions in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029
• Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs): Not counted in the temporary resident targets. IRCC treats them as a change of status, not a new arrival
• From temporary to permanent: Under the one-time Budget 2025 measures, IRCC will continue to move up to 115,000 protected persons in Canada and their dependants, and 33,000 work permit holders, to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. A new time-limited measure in 2027 adds processing space for in-Canada workers and their families, and for a humanitarian group that has waited many years
• Planning note: The 2028 and 2029 temporary-resident targets are notional. IRCC says they will be confirmed or adjusted by November 1 of the previous year

What this means for applicants

The student target. The 150,000 figure is a target for new student arrivals, so it is the number that sets the size of the door for new international students each year. Because it stays at the same level for three years, applicants can plan on a predictable, but small, intake. It is not a promise that any one applicant will be approved, and this page does not say how the permits will be shared between provinces, institutions or countries. Competition for places and for study permits is likely to stay high, which makes the quality of the application more important than ever.

Why early and accurate applications matter. With a fixed number of new arrivals, an incomplete, inconsistent or late application has a higher cost. Students who prepare their offer, proof of funds, provincial attestation requirements and study plan early are in the best position. This is where careful, accurate processing makes a practical difference.

Permanent residence stays the long-term goal. The plan keeps 380,000 PR admissions a year, with nearly two-thirds in the economic category. Federal High Skilled (100,000) and the Provincial Nominee Program (95,000) are the main routes for graduates with Canadian study and work experience. Choosing a programme, province and field with a clear route to skilled work is as important as getting the study permit.

The French-language angle. The share of French-speaking admissions outside Quebec rises each year, from 9.5% in 2027 to 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029. This is an admissions target, not a change to the points system, and the page does not describe how it will be met. What it does show is the direction of policy: Canada wants more French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec, and French ability is likely to remain an advantage for applicants who aim for PR. Language learning takes months, so students who are considering Canada can start French early, alongside English, and plan for a recognised test result. Our earlier reporting on the Express Entry French-language measures explains how French has been used in selection.

Work permits after study. Because PGWPs sit outside the temporary arrival targets, this plan does not change the rules for how graduates apply for one. Check IRCC for the current PGWP conditions, including programme and language requirements.

The wider picture. Workers (220,000), family (81,000) and the one-time transition measures all share the same planning period. The temporary-to-permanent measures mainly benefit people who are already in Canada, so they should not be treated as a route for new applicants.

What you can do

• Apply early and accurately. Submit complete applications well before intake deadlines, with a consistent set of documents, since the number of new arrivals is limited.
• Choose a programme with a clear route to skilled work. Look at the province, the field and the demand for graduates, since Federal High Skilled and the Provincial Nominee Program make up the largest part of economic admissions.
• Check provincial requirements. Confirm the current provincial attestation and study permit conditions on IRCC and your province's website before you apply.
• Consider learning French. If you want to settle in Canada, start now. French ability fits the direction of the plan and can add options outside Quebec.
• Keep funds and documents ready. Show a clear source of funds and consistent records.
• Check IRCC for updates. Notional targets can change. Rely on IRCC rather than social media summaries.

IRS Study Abroad, Kottayam, helps Canada-bound students choose programmes and provinces, prepare accurate study permit files and plan for French-language and PR pathways from the start. Our team will update this guidance as IRCC confirms the targets.

Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), "Supplementary Information for the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan" (published November 5, 2026). Comparison with earlier plans: CIC News, "What international students need to know about Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028" (November 2025). Targets are plans and can be adjusted; check IRCC for current rules.