Canada to Increase Immigration Levels Over Next Three Years

Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) just released their updated immigration levels for 2022-2024. In the new plan, immigration targets have increased significantly over the next three years.

Canada’s immigration levels plan for 2022

This is the first time Canada has updated the Immigration Levels Plan since October 2020. The Canadian government typically releases a new immigration plan on November 1 of each year. However, due to the 2021 election, they did not announce a plan last year.

The plan outlines the number of immigrants Canada hopes to accept over the next three years, through its various provincial and federal programs.

The previous immigration levels were the highest ever targeted in Canadian immigration history. The new plan has increased immigration targets by over 20,000 new permanent residents each year.

The number of economic immigrants targeted in 2022 has increased from 241,500 to 241,850. However, the Federal High Skilled workers dropped from 110,500 to 55,900. Instead, IRCC made room for 72,000 newcomers immigrating through TR to PR pathway and has increased the number of candidates they will accept under PNPs and Federal Economic Pilot Programs.

What does this mean for Express Entry draws?

A recently released internal memo from November 2021 revealed that there was an estimated 76,000 FHS candidates on inventory. Since this is significantly higher than what was needed to meet the Federal High Skilled (CEC, FSW, FST) admissions targets, for 2022, the memo proposed pausing FHS intake for at least the first half of the year.

IRCC put a pause on Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) draws since December 2020. Since September 2021, they also put a halt on issuing invitations to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. Instead, Canada’s recent Express Entry draws have focused on inviting Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates and continue to invite newcomers through Federal Economic Programs.

The new immigration plan suggests that Canada will continue focusing on these candidates for 2022, placing less emphasis on the FSW and CEC categories. This will accommodate for the high volume of newcomers applying through the TR to PR Public Policy implemented in 2021.

That means that candidates interested in immigrating to Canada should first look at the nominee programs offered by the province they intend to live in.

With an ageing population and declining birth rates, Canada relies on immigration to maintain population growth and fill labour market gaps. The newest announcement reaffirms Canada’s reliance on immigration in a post-pandemic economy.

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