Canada Immigration Changes in 2025

Canada tightened immigration in 2025. The Levels Plan cut the permanent resident target to about 395,000. Job offers stopped adding CRS points on March 25, 2025 (since November 3, 2026, offers in high-wage occupations earn points again). The study permit cap stayed and tightened, flagpoling ended on December 23, 2024, and new pilots replaced the caregiver pilots.

Compare the published criteria

Last verified: November 2026

$23,448
Living-cost funds for a single study permit applicant, applications made on or after September 1, 2026
$22,895
Living-cost funds for a single applicant, applications from January 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026
$85
Biometrics, per person
$170
Biometrics, maximum per family applying at the same time

The funds are on top of tuition and travel. Confirm the current figure on canada.ca, as IRCC updates these amounts each year.

How did permanent resident targets change?

The 2025 to 2027 Immigration Levels Plan, released October 24, 2024, lowered the targets of the 2024 to 2026 plan, which had planned 500,000 for 2025 and 2026. For the first time, it also set targets for temporary residents, aiming to reduce their share of the population.

Permanent resident admission targets in the Levels Plans
Plan	Announced	Permanent resident target
2025 to 2027	October 24, 2024	395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027
2026 to 2028	November 4, 2025	380,000 per year, with the economic class reaching 64% in 2027 and 2028
2027 to 2029	Posted by IRCC on November 5, 2026	380,000 a year in 2027, 2028 and 2029, with the economic category at 64.4% (the 2028 and 2029 figures are notional)

IRCC said more than 40% of 2025 permanent resident admissions would be students or workers already in Canada. The share of non-permanent residents in the population peaked at 7.6% on October 1, 2024, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

The 2025 to 2027 plan aimed for 5% by the end of 2026. The 2026 to 2028 plan aims for less than 5% by the end of 2027.

What changed in Express Entry?

IRCC removed the bonus CRS points for a job offer on March 25, 2025, described as a temporary measure.

IRCC also continued category-based Express Entry selection. Category-based draws let IRCC invite candidates in targeted occupations (or with strong French).

The 2025 categories: French-language proficiency (NCLC 7 in all four abilities), health care and social services, trades and education. STEM, transport and agriculture were not on the 2025 list.
New for 2026: Medical doctors, researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport occupations, and skilled military recruits with a job offer from the Canadian Armed Forces.
Renewed for 2026: French, health care and social services, education, STEM and trades. IRCC raised the minimum work experience for the renewed occupation categories from six months to one year.

The rule

Effective March 25, 2025, IRCC removed the additional CRS points (50 or 200) for arranged employment.

IRCC, canada.caVerify on canada.ca

What changed for international students?

The study permit cap: The national study-permit cap began in 2024 and was tightened again for 2025. IRCC set a target of about 437,000 study permits to be issued, roughly 10% below the 485,000 target it had used for 2024. IRCC allocates the cap among provinces and territories, which issue the attestation letters.
Attestation letters (PAL and TAL): Since January 22, 2024, most new college and undergraduate students must include a provincial or territorial attestation letter, and IRCC returns an application without one unless the student is exempt. Through 2024, master's and doctoral applicants were exempt. In January 2025, most graduate students were brought under the cap and required an attestation letter. In 2025 IRCC also added a new exemption for exchange students.
The PGWP field-of-study rule: Since November 1, 2024, graduates of programs other than bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, whose study permit was applied for on or after that date, must have studied in an eligible field. That is a condition for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Eligible fields are identified using Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes, and for 2026 IRCC said it would not add or remove any.
Proof of funds: The minimum cost-of-living funds a student must show rose again in 2025. In January 2024 it climbed from $10,000 to $20,635 CAD, the first change since the early 2000s. The single-applicant requirement then rose to $22,895 CAD, and for applications made on or after September 1, 2026 it is $23,448 CAD. A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution is one accepted way to demonstrate these funds.

What replaced the caregiver pilots?

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot stopped accepting new applications on June 17, 2024. Under the old pilots, permanent residence required Canadian work experience (24 months, cut to 12 months on April 30, 2023).

The replacement Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots opened on March 31, 2025. Unlike the pilots they replaced, they do not require prior Canadian work experience. They are designed to give permanent residence on arrival in Canada.

The occupations for a qualifying job offer are NOC 44100 (home child care providers) and NOC 44101 (home support workers, caregivers and related occupations).

Did the Safe Third Country Agreement change?

The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) expansion took effect on March 25, 2023. Before March 2023, the STCA only applied at official ports of entry. In 2025 it continued to apply at land border crossings and to people who cross between ports of entry and claim less than 14 days after entering.

A claimant found ineligible under the agreement is generally returned to the US unless an exception applies. IRCC lists four types of exception: family members in Canada, unaccompanied minors, document holders and public interest.

What changed in biometrics and online applications?

Most people must apply online, IRCC says. For most temporary resident applications, biometrics given once count for 10 years. Most permanent residence applicants give them each time they apply.

The biometrics fee is $85 CAD per person, with a maximum of $170 per family applying at the same time, at any family size. A separate $255 maximum applies only to a group of three or more performing artists applying for a work permit at the same time.

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What do people ask?

What were the biggest immigration changes in Canada in 2025?

The biggest were lower permanent resident targets, the end of CRS points for job offers on March 25, 2025, and a tighter study permit cap. Students also faced higher proof of funds and the PAL requirement. Flagpoling ended on December 23, 2024. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots replaced the caregiver pilots on March 31, 2025. Our Pathway Explorer compares the routes under these rules.

What are the immigration changes in Canada for 2026?

Four stand out. The 2026 to 2028 Levels Plan, announced November 4, 2025, holds permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year. Bill C-12 received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026. Study permit applications made on or after September 1, 2026 must show $23,448 CAD for a single applicant's living costs. On November 3, 2026, the Express Entry CRS was rebuilt to 1,270 points, and job offers in high-wage occupations earn points again. Our Canada Immigration 2026 guide tracks the year's changes.

Did Canada really lower its immigration targets?

Yes. The 2025 to 2027 Immigration Levels Plan, announced in October 2024, lowered permanent resident targets to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. The 2026 to 2028 plan, announced November 4, 2025, set 380,000 for each year, and the 2027 to 2029 plan keeps 380,000 for each of 2027, 2028 and 2029. The 2025 to 2027 plan aimed for temporary residents at 5% of the population by the end of 2026; the 2026 to 2028 plan aims for less than 5% by the end of 2027. Our Levels Plan 2026 to 2028 guide breaks down the targets.

Can I still "flagpole" to get a work or study permit at the border?

Generally no. Since December 23, 2024, most foreign nationals cannot flagpole, meaning leave Canada and re-enter at a land border for same-day work or study permit processing. You apply online to IRCC instead. Narrow exceptions exist, such as certain free-trade professionals and technicians, some international truck drivers, and US citizens and US lawful permanent residents. Our Canada Flagpoling Ban guide lists every exception.

Does Canada have a digital nomad visa?

No standalone digital nomad visa exists. Under measures announced in 2023, a visitor can generally stay up to 6 months and work remotely for a foreign employer. No Canadian work permit is needed, because that work does not enter the Canadian labour market in the usual way. This is not a separate visa, and the rules can change. Our Digital Nomad Visa Canada guide explains the limits.

Why did my Express Entry CRS score drop in 2025?

Because IRCC removed job-offer points on March 25, 2025. The extra 50 or 200 CRS points for a valid job offer were withdrawn, described as a temporary measure. Candidates who relied on them saw their scores fall. Since November 3, 2026, a job offer in a high-wage occupation earns 100, 70 or 50 points again, and any other offer earns 0. Our Express Entry job offer points guide explains what counts now.

What is Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act?

Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026. Its measures include asylum-claim time limits, information sharing, and the power to pause or change application intake in the public interest. Its new asylum rules apply to claims made on or after June 3, 2025, and the regulations for the new asylum process took effect on November 3, 2026. Our Bill C-12 guide covers what is in force.

How do I check current processing times and track my application?

IRCC's online processing-times tool gives the current published time for each application type, and the figures change often, so no fixed number applies. You track most applications through your IRCC secure account or the IRCC portal. GCKey is one way to sign in to the IRCC secure account (the other is a bank Sign-In Partner); the IRCC portal uses an email address. Our processing times page summarizes the latest IRCC data, and our GCKey guide shows how to check your status.

Part of:Immigrating permanently

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.