Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023 is the most industrious attempt to invite foreigners in its history.
Canada will strive to invite over 400,000 new immigrants each year to support its economic and social prosperity. Canada invites skilled and talented labour force to strengthen its economy.
Summary of Canada's Immigration Levels Plan
Over the following years, Canada will open its door for over 1.2 million skilled and talented immigrants.
Each year, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases a new Immigration Levels Plan which it uses to guide its operations.
In 2021, IRCC will target the arrival of 401,000 immigrants. In 2022, this will rise to 411,000 new permanent residents (PRs). In 2023, Canada will aim to welcome an additional 421,000 immigrants.
The following table summarizes Canada's immigration targets between 2021-2023 by immigration class:
Immigration Class | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Economic | 232,500 | 241,500 | 249,500 |
Family | 103,500 | 103,500 | 104,500 |
Refugee | 59,500 | 60,500 | 61,000 |
Humanitarian | 5,500 | 5,500 | 6,000 |
Total | 401,000 | 411,000 | 421,000 |
2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan
Immigrant Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||
Target | Low Range | High Range | Target | Low Range | High Range | Target | Low Range | High Range | ||
Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions | 401,000 | 300,000 | 410,000 | 411,000 | 320,000 | 420,000 | 421,000 | 330,000 | 430,000 | |
Economic | Federal High Skilled | 108,500 | 81,000 | 110,250 | 110,500 | 96,250 | 112,900 | 113,750 | 100,000 | 114,500 |
Federal Business | 1,000 | 400 | 1,250 | 1,000 | 250 | 1,250 | 1,000 | 500 | 1,250 | |
Economic Pilots: Caregivers | 8,500 | 4,900 | 9,250 | 10,000 | 4,500 | 10,500 | 10,250 | 4,500 | 11,000 | |
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program | 6,000 | 3,300 | 6,250 | 6,250 | 3,000 | 6,750 | 6,500 | 3,500 | 6,750 | |
Provincial Nominee Program | 80,800 | 64,000 | 81,500 | 81,500 | 63,600 | 82,500 | 83,000 | 65,000 | 84,000 | |
Quebec Skilled Workers and Business | See the Quebec immigration plan | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||
Total Economic | 232,500 | 180,500 | 237,000 | 241,500 | 199,000 | 247,000 | 249,500 | 207,000 | 253,500 | |
Family | Spouses, Partners and Children | 80,000 | 61,000 | 81,000 | 80,000 | 60,000 | 81,000 | 81,000 | 60,000 | 82,000 |
Parents and Grandparents | 23,500 | 15,000 | 24,000 | 23,500 | 14,000 | 24,000 | 23,500 | 14,000 | 24,000 | |
Total Family | 103,500 | 76,000 | 105,000 | 103,500 | 74,000 | 105,000 | 104,500 | 74,000 | 106,000 | |
Refugees and Protected Persons | Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad | 23,500 | 17,000 | 25,000 | 24,500 | 19,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 19,500 | 25,500 |
Resettled Refugees - Government-Assisted | 12,500 | 7,500 | 13,000 | 12,500 | 7,500 | 13,000 | 12,500 | 8,400 | 13,000 | |
Resettled Refugees - Privately Sponsored | 22,500 | 14,900 | 23,000 | 22,500 | 15,400 | 23,000 | 22,500 | 15,500 | 23,000 | |
Resettled Refugees - Blended Visa Office-Referred | 1,000 | 100 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 100 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 100 | 1,000 | |
Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 59,500 | 39,500 | 62,000 | 60,500 | 42,000 | 62,000 | 61,000 | 43,500 | 62,500 | |
Humanitarian and Other | Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other | 5,500 | 4,000 | 6,000 | 5,500 | 5,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 5,500 | 8,000 |
4.4% of total admissions outside Quebec | 12,144 | 16,544 | ||||||||
What is the reason behind the open arm policy followed by the Canadian Government in regards with immigration?
As we are well aware of the fact that Canada is the second largest country in terms of geographical area but the population residing in Canada is quite low and the population growth rate is also very slow. Canada has one of the world's oldest populations and also one of the world's lowest birth rates. This has a direct impact on its economy, thus creating economic and fiscal pressures. Since, Canada has a low natural population growth rate it inadvertently results in lack of labour force and economic growth. This makes it difficult for Canada to raise taxes which are needed to support services such as education, healthcare etc.
This resulted in increase of skilled immigrants to Canada since the late 1980s to increase its population growth, workforce and economic growth. And, Canada is majorly dependent on its skilled labour force to increase its economic growth.
Canada has regularly welcomed over 200,000 immigrants per year since 1988. In recent years, it has decided to increase its levels to over 300,000 per year. Canada welcomes three times more immigrants on a per capita basis than then the United States of America.
Based on the data and trends it is apparent that Canada will continue to increase its workforce and population by increasing the immigration levels as immigration is critical for supporting a healthy economy in the country.
COVID-19 has weekend Canada’s economy and increased spending on social services also Canada is currently experiencing a sharp decrease in its birth rate and this decrease is witnessed to be the lowest level ever resulting in economic uncertainties making Canada even more dependent on its foreign workforce for the economic growth and population growth.
Canada Immigration Levels 1860-2019
What impact did COVID-19 have on Canadian immigration?
Due to the on-going pandemic and travel restrictions Canada did slow down its immigration process which also affected the population growth of the country. Though Canada imposed travel restriction yet the system wasn’t as rigid as compared to the other countries. Also Canada, aims to invite 401,000 in immigrants, skilled workers, international students, business owners, temporary foreign workers, visitors, etc. in 2021 to fill in the lack of previous year
Canada has communicated its desire to minimize disruptions to the immigration system and conducts regular PNP draws, Express Entry draws, etc. even when Canada initially imposed COVID-19 travel restrictions; it announced that some new permanent residents would be allowed to enter the country.
COVID-19 has lessened the flow of foreign immigrants applying for Permanent Resident arrival to Canada. Those who didn’t get to enter Canada in 2020 mustn’t lose hope and expect to immigrate to Canada once the pandemic situation gets a little better.
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