Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has outlined several major immigration priorities in its newly released 2025–2026 Departmental Plan, published on June 20, 2025. The Plan highlights the government’s intention to launch a new permanent residence (PR) pathway by making the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot a permanent fixture by the end of 2025. It also details the development of a new foreign labour stream and work permit specifically targeting the agriculture and fish processing sectors. In addition, IRCC will revise eligibility requirements for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) and spousal open work permits (SOWPs), implement new free trade agreements with Indonesia and Ecuador, and continue negotiations with CPTPP accession countries and ASEAN members for expanded labour mobility. A digital transformation is also underway, with a full rollout of a new online client account system planned, along with the operationalization of the Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative and exploration of a new PR pathway for refugee students. Notably, IRCC is piloting “GeoMatch,” a Stanford University-backed algorithm designed to help Express Entry candidates choose ideal settlement locations.
The Plan reaffirms existing policy priorities, such as targeting healthcare, trades, education workers, and French speakers through category-based Express Entry draws, and focusing on transitioning temporary residents (TRs) already in Canada to permanent status—aiming for at least 40% of new PRs to come from this group. It also includes ongoing collaboration with provinces to expand access to special work permits for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants. In a significant policy shift, the IRCC will reduce Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based work permits to between 80,000 and 84,000 annually—down sharply from 184,000 in 2023—and is working to cap temporary resident levels at 5% of Canada’s population while limiting annual PR admissions to 1% of the population. Further initiatives include maintaining the study permit cap, improving integration outcomes for newcomers through increased funding for settlement services, enhancing online passport renewals, and aiming for a minimum 80% processing rate within service standards for all application types. The department has also set a goal of achieving at least 90% client satisfaction and increasing public support for immigration to 65% by fiscal year-end, following a decline from 67% in 2021–2022 to 50% in 2023–2024. IRCC further aims for international students and visitors to contribute at least $36 billion to Canada’s economy annually.
