Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 — Complete Breakdown
TL;DR: Canada's 2026 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents. Express Entry (now called the Federal High Skilled category) gets 109,000 spots — slightly down from 2025. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) jumped from 55,000 to 91,500 spots — a 65%+ increase, making PNP the single biggest opportunity in 2026. Three new Express Entry categories launched: Physicians, Researchers, and Senior Managers.
The Headline Number: 380,000 New Permanent Residents
In 2026, Canada's newcomer target is 380,000 new permanent residents — a level the government plans to maintain for the following three years through 2028. This marks a period of stability after several years of fluctuating targets, giving applicants more predictability about their chances.
Express Entry: Now the "Federal High Skilled" Category
The 2025 labels "In-Canada Focus" and "Federal Economic Priorities" have been retired. All Express Entry programs — Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class — now fall under a single umbrella: the Federal High Skilled category, allocated 109,000 spots for 2026 (range: 85,000–120,000).
This is a real-terms decrease from the 124,680 combined spaces available in 2025 — meaning Express Entry competition through general and category draws may be tighter in 2026, even as overall PR numbers stay flat.
The Real Story: PNP Allocation Jumped 65%
While Express Entry spots dipped slightly, the Provincial Nominee Program received a massive boost — from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 in 2026. This is the single most important shift in the 2026 plan for most applicants. A PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points and effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply regardless of your Express Entry score.
With nearly 110,000 PNP applications already in the federal backlog, this increased quota gives provinces real room to clear demand — and gives applicants targeting PNP streams meaningfully better odds in 2026 than in 2025.
Three New Express Entry Categories for 2026
| Category | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 👨⚕️ Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | NEW | First draw already held in 2026; 5,000 extra PNP spaces reserved separately for doctors |
| 🔬 Researchers with Canadian Work Experience | NEW | Targets candidates with research backgrounds and Canadian experience |
| 👔 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | NEW | NOC TEER 0 executive-level candidates |
| ✈️ Transport Occupations (incl. pilots) | Expected | Signalled but not yet confirmed with draw data |
| 🇫🇷 French Language Proficiency | Continuing | Work experience requirement now 1 year (up from 6 months) |
| 🏥 Healthcare & Social Services | Continuing | Work experience requirement now 1 year (up from 6 months) |
| 🔧 Trade Occupations | Continuing | Work experience requirement now 1 year (up from 6 months) |
| 📚 Education Occupations | Continuing | Work experience requirement now 1 year (up from 6 months) |
| 🔬 STEM Occupations | Continuing | No draws were held in 2025 despite being listed — confirmed active for 2026 |
| 🌾 Agriculture & Agri-food | REMOVED | Delisted as a priority category for 2026 |
⚠️ Important change: The minimum work experience for ALL category draws has increased from 6 months to 1 year, gained in Canada or abroad over the previous three years. This makes category draws slightly harder to qualify for in 2026 than in 2025.
New: Accelerated PR Pathway for Work Permit Holders
Budget 2025 introduced a one-time measure to accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residency across 2026 and 2027 — particularly benefiting those working in rural areas or high-demand sectors. Program-level details remain limited, but based on the allocation structure, eligible applicants will likely need to qualify through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.
What This Means For You
If you're a doctor: 2026 is the best year in Canadian immigration history to apply — a dedicated category plus 5,000 reserved PNP spaces plus 14-day processing.
If you're targeting general Express Entry: Spots are slightly tighter than 2025. Build your CRS score aggressively and consider category draws where your profile fits.
If you have any PNP-eligible profile: 2026 is dramatically better than 2025 — 65% more spots means real movement on a backlog that was nearly 110,000 applications deep.
If you're on a Canadian work permit: Watch closely for details on the new 33,000-spot accelerated pathway — this could be your fastest route to PR.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — 2026 Immigration Levels Plan
What is Canada's immigration target for 2026?
Canada's 2026 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 380,000 new permanent residents, a level the government plans to maintain through 2028. This is part of a broader plan that also covers temporary residents including international students and temporary workers.
How many spots does Express Entry get in 2026?
Express Entry programs fall under the new Federal High Skilled category, which has been allocated 109,000 spots for 2026, with a target range between 85,000 and 120,000. This is a decrease from the 124,680 combined spaces under the 2025 In-Canada Focus and Federal Economic Priorities streams.
How much has the PNP allocation increased for 2026?
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocation jumped from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 for 2026 — a major increase of over 65%. This makes PNP one of the most important and accessible pathways for skilled workers in 2026, especially since PNP nominations have no minimum CRS score requirement.
What are the new Express Entry categories for 2026?
Three new categories were added for 2026: Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, Researchers with Canadian work experience, and Senior Managers with Canadian work experience. A category for Transport occupations including pilots is also being introduced. The Agriculture and agri-food category has been removed for 2026.
Has the work experience requirement for category draws changed?
Yes. The minimum work experience required for all renewed Express Entry categories has increased from 6 months to 1 year of experience in an eligible occupation, gained in Canada or abroad over the previous three years.
Is there a faster PR pathway for work permit holders in 2026?
Yes. Canada's Budget 2025 introduced an accelerated pathway that will help up to 33,000 work permit holders transition to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027, particularly those working in rural areas or high-demand sectors.
Are there extra PNP spaces for doctors in 2026?
Yes. The federal government has set aside an additional 5,000 admission spaces specifically for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers through Provincial Nominee Programs. These are separate from and do not reduce the regular PNP allocation.
Do PhD students still need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) in 2026?
No. As of January 1, 2026, doctoral students and master's students at public Designated Learning Institutions are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement entirely. Doctoral student study permit applications are now processed within 14 days.
Calculate your CRS score against the new 2026 category structure right now.
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VisaCalc Editorial Team. "Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 — Complete Breakdown." VisaCalc. Last modified June 2026. https://www.visacalc.org/blog/canada-immigration-levels-plan-2026.html