Canada’s 2026–2028 temporary resident targets: what the caps on new students and workers cover
New temporary arrivals are capped at 385,000 in 2026. Who counts toward that number, who does not, and what it means if you are already in Canada.
For the second year running, Canada’s levels plan sets targets for temporary residents as well as permanent ones. The 2026–2028 plan allows 385,000 new temporary residents in 2026 and 370,000 in each of 2027 and 2028, down from a target of 673,650 in 2025.
Those numbers are easy to misread. They are not a limit on how many temporary residents can be in Canada, and they do not count most of the applications made by people who are already here. Here is what they actually measure.
The targets
| Category | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All new temporary residents | 385,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| Workers | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| International Mobility Program | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | 60,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| Students | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
The 2027 and 2028 figures are notional: IRCC confirms or adjusts them by November 1 each year.
What counts toward the targets
Only new arrivals: people coming to Canada under one of the two work permit programs, or as new international students.
- International Mobility Program. Work permits that do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment, such as those issued under agreements with other countries or under economic, family or humanitarian public policies.
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Employer-specific permits that need an LMIA, issued when no Canadian or permanent resident is available for the job. The target includes non-seasonal workers who stay longer than a year and excludes seasonal workers who enter and leave within the same year, such as some agricultural workers here for less than 270 days.
- Students. New study permits for programs of six months or more at a designated learning institution.
What does not count
- Visitors arriving with a visa or an electronic travel authorization.
- Permit extensions, and study or work permit applications made from inside Canada.
- Post-Graduation Work Permits, which IRCC treats as an extension or change of status rather than a new arrival.
- Asylum claimants.
That does not mean these groups are ignored. IRCC says asylum claimant volumes and in-Canada study and work permit applications are part of its overall calculation for bringing the temporary population below 5% of Canada’s total by the end of 2027. They are simply not what the arrival targets count.
Where the plan leaves room
The plan says it will consider industries and sectors affected by tariffs, and the particular needs of rural and remote communities, when it comes to temporary foreign workers. It also says temporary and permanent targets were set together, with a focus on moving people already in Canada with needed skills and experience to permanent residence — the idea behind the one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative.
What it means for you
If you are outside Canada
Expect competition for fewer places, especially in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which falls from 60,000 new arrivals in 2026 to 50,000 in 2027. A complete, well-evidenced application matters more than ever.
If you are already in Canada
Extensions and in-Canada applications are not counted against the arrival targets, but the goal of a smaller temporary population still shapes policy. Plan your next step well before your permit expires, apply to extend on time so you keep your status, and treat your time here as the runway to permanent residence rather than a holding period. Our work permit extension and temporary resident extension guides set out the deadlines that matter.
If you are an employer
With fewer Temporary Foreign Worker Program arrivals planned, build realistic timelines into hiring, and check whether a worker already in Canada, or a route that does not need an LMIA, fits the role. Our LMIA guide covers what employers need to get right.
What to do next
The next levels plan is due by November 1, 2026, and it may confirm or change the 2027 and 2028 figures above. Until then, these are the numbers IRCC is planning against.
A licensed RCIC at our Brampton or London office can review your file and set out the routes that genuinely fit. Request a consultation. General information only, not legal advice; IRCC makes all final decisions.
Source: IRCC, Supplementary Information for the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
