Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published its 2026–27 Departmental Plan, which lays out what the department says it will prioritize over the next three fiscal years. While a departmental plan is not a new law, it is one of the clearest “official signals” of where IRCC intends to put its resources—especially on temporary resident volumes, program integrity, digital modernization, and service delivery.
Official source: IRCC 2026–27 Departmental Plan (full).
4 priorities IRCC says will drive decisions in 2026–27
IRCC lists four department-wide priorities, which appear repeatedly throughout the plan:
- Sustainable, managed migration: immigration aligned with Canada’s social, economic, and regional needs, working with provinces/territories and partners.
- Simplification and modernization: making programs easier to deliver, supported by new digital infrastructure.
- System integrity and risk management: preventing fraud, strengthening security, and improving program compliance.
- Fiscal responsibility and workforce planning: managing costs while using data and technology to improve results.
Source: IRCC Departmental Plan – “Key priorities”.
PR targets: “stabilized at 380,000” through 2028
The plan confirms the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan approach: overall permanent resident admissions are stabilized at 380,000 per year from 2026 to 2028. It also notes the share of economic admissions is expected to rise to 64% by 2027.
Source: Supplementary Information for the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan (IRCC).
Temporary resident targets: new arrivals reduced from 673,650 to 385,000 in 2026
One of the clearest numbers in IRCC’s plan is the shift on temporary resident “new arrivals.” The plan states the target for new temporary residents (workers and students) is reduced from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026.
IRCC links this to broader goals: keeping PR arrivals below 1% of Canada’s population beyond 2027 and reducing the total temporary resident share to less than 5% of the population by the end of 2027.
Source: IRCC Departmental Plan – “Highlights for IRCC in 2026–27”.
Francophone immigration outside Quebec: 9% target in 2026
The plan confirms IRCC’s francophone target outside Quebec is set at 9% for 2026, as part of the longer-term goal of reaching 12% by 2029.
Source: IRCC Departmental Plan – “Highlights for IRCC in 2026–27”.
Budget pressure: spending reductions and fewer staff planned
IRCC also outlines planned spending reductions under a Comprehensive Expenditure Review. The plan lists reductions of:
- $154,982,029 in 2026–27
- $231,352,591 in 2027–28
- $284,642,630 in 2028–29
IRCC states these reductions are expected to involve a decrease of about 318 full-time equivalents by 2028–29, alongside continued investment in technology and program changes (including shifting some employer-focused compliance inspections under the International Mobility Program to ESDC).
Source: IRCC Departmental Plan – “Comprehensive Expenditure Review”.
What this means for applicants and newcomers
- For people outside Canada: fewer “new temporary resident” spaces can mean tighter selection and more scrutiny in student and worker channels, depending on the program.
- For people already in Canada: IRCC’s plan repeatedly emphasizes “restoring balance” while providing stability to people already living and working in Canada—this is why pathways that rely on Canadian work experience or provincial selection remain important to understand.
- For processing expectations: IRCC is leaning heavily on modernization and integrity work at the same time as cost controls. That combination can create uneven timelines: some streams may improve, while others face bottlenecks.
If you are planning around temporary status while exploring long-term options, Canadianow readers often start here: Foreign worker options and TR to PR pathways.
FAQ
Is the Departmental Plan the same as a new immigration law?
No. A departmental plan explains priorities, planned spending, and expected results. It can signal where IRCC will focus, but it does not automatically change program rules. The official document is here: IRCC 2026–27 Departmental Plan.
Where does the “385,000 new temporary residents in 2026” figure come from?
IRCC states this directly in the “Highlights for IRCC in 2026–27” section of its plan, comparing 2025 (673,650) to 2026 (385,000). IRCC Departmental Plan – highlights section.
Does IRCC confirm PR targets of 380,000 through 2028?
Yes. IRCC’s levels plan supplementary information states PR admissions stabilize at 380,000 from 2026 to 2028. IRCC levels plan supplementary information.
Reality check
IRCC’s Departmental Plan is a strong indicator of direction, but it is not a guarantee of outcomes for any individual application. Targets and priorities can shift based on operational pressure, new regulations, court decisions, and provincial negotiations. If you are making life decisions (work, study, relocation), use the plan as a “trend signal,” but verify your specific program rules and timelines through official sources before you rely on assumptions.
