Canada Immigration Plan 2026-2028: What It Means for International Students

Canada’s new Immigration Levels Plan for 2026-2028 sends a clear message:
fewer temporary residents, more focus on permanent residence through economic and provincial programs.

Instead of simply reducing immigration, Canada is reshaping the pathways:

At a Glance: What Changes in Canada Immigration Plan for 2026-2028?

Under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will:

• Keep PR admissions stable at 380,000 new permanent residents per year (2026, 2027, 2028).

• Expand the PNP to 91,500 PR admissions in 2026, up from a previous target of 55,000.

• Shift work permits toward the International Mobility Program (IMP) and away from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

• Cut new temporary residents (workers + students) from 673,650 in 2025 to:

  • 385,000 in 2026

  • 370,000 in 2027 and 2028

• Slash new study permit targets by almost 50%, to:

  • 155,000 in 2026

  • 150,000 in 2027 and 2028

1. Canada Immigration Plan: PNP Gets a Bigger Role in Permanent Residence

Permanent resident (PR) targets remain stable at around 380,000 PR admissions per year from 2026 to 2028. Within this, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a major winner:

• 2026 PNP target: 91,500 PR admissions

• Strong focus on skilled workers and people already contributing to the labour market

• New opportunities for:

  • Candidates with lower CRS scores in Express Entry

  • Workers in TEER 4 and 5 jobs

  • Candidates stuck in PNP EOI pools

  • Entrepreneurs and business owners under provincial business streams

For students and workers who already have Canadian experience, PNP will be one of the most realistic PR options in the coming years. This is good news if you are:

• In a PNP Expression of Interest pool, but haven’t received a nomination yet

• Struggling with a low CRS score that is not competitive for federal Express Entry draws

• Working in TEER 4 or 5 roles that don’t fit well within typical Express Entry profiles

• Not eligible for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) due to gaps in Canadian work experience

• An entrepreneur or business owner targeting a provincial investor/entrepreneur stream

2. Canada Immigration Plan for Study Permits and Work Permits: Tougher Caps

The biggest impact for future students and temporary workers is the reduction in new temporary resident entries.

Study permits:

• 2026: about 155,000 new study permits

• 2027–2028: about 150,000 per year

This is almost 50% lower than previous targets, meaning:

• Stronger competition for offers and visas

• Stricter checks on program choice, finances, and study plan

• More emphasis on students who have a clear long-term pathway, not just short-term study.

Important notes for Study Permit:

• Canada is still prioritizing master’s and PhD programs, especially in public institutions. Some high-level programs will be exempt from the cap starting in 2026, which means students in these pathways may still have strong prospects. 8171ip.pk+1

• The government wants fewer students overall, but higher “quality” profiles with strong academic and language readiness and a clearer route to PR.

If you are planning to study in Canada from outside the country, you should expect:

• More competition for limited seats

• Stricter documentation on finances, intent, and program choice

• Higher refusal rates, especially from high-volume source countries

However, for students already in Canada, fewer new arrivals can actually mean less competition later for jobs, PGWP-based work experience, and PR spots.

Work permits:

• More space for the International Mobility Program (IMP)

• Reduced allocations for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

Canada is shifting towards LMIA-exempt and policy-based work permits, and away from purely employer-dependent, LMIA-based jobs. The goal is to reduce long-term reliance on temporary labour while still filling key skill gaps.

3. What This Means for Your Study to PR Pathway

With these changes, it’s no longer enough to “just get to Canada” and figure things out later. You need a joined-up strategy from the start:

• Choose programs that align with in-demand occupations and PNP priorities

• Think in milestones: Study → PGWP → Skilled work experience → PNP/Express Entry → PR

• Pay close attention to province choice, not only school ranking or big-city popularity

• Prepare a strong, realistic application: language scores, academics, financials, and a convincing study plan

For students who plan well, the new system can actually be an advantage: fewer random temporary residents, more space for serious candidates with long-term goals.

4. How Yes Study Can Help

At Yes Study, we don’t just help you apply to a school! We help you design a study plan that connects to PR under Canada’s new priorities. Our team can:

• Analyse your profile and suggest programs and provinces that support PNP or Express Entry later

• Explain how the 2026-2028 immigration plan affects your options as a student, worker, or family

• Coordinate with licensed immigration professionals and RCIC-IRB Andy Luu to map out aplan from study to PR

If you’re wondering:

“With these new rules, is studying in Canada still a good pathway to PR for me?”

Send your questions and documents to Yes Study.
We’ll help you read the policy changes correctly and build a strategy that fits your goals, not just the headlines.