Immiboards ― Canada immigration target is set to a record 401,000 immigrants in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.
Canada aims to welcome 1.2m immigrants over the next three years per the 2021-2023 `Immigration Levels Plan”.
The numbers represent an increase of 50,000 for each year and aim to compensate for the immigration shortfall in 2020 due to the pandemic.
It represents about one percent of Canada’s population.
The 2021-2023 ‘Immigration Levels Plan’ was unveiled by Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on October 30.
Canada will welcome more immigrants than ever before.
Canada Immigration target for the next three years is as outlined below:
2021 – 401,000 immigrants
2022 – 411,000 immigrants
2023 – 421,000 immigrants
The minister shared targets and ranges for overall immigrant admissions as well as for each category.
The immigration target appears to be a well-planned strategy as Canada realizes the importance of economic immigration.
Canada aims to fuel its economic recovery by inviting 60% of the immigrants under economic class programs to boost the local labour market.
If Canada is able to achieve the set target, it will be a record achievement in the history of Canadian immigration. It was way back in 1913 when Canada last invited more than 400,000 immigrants.
Along with Covid impact, Canada is also is facing the challenge of an ageing population.
As per Statcan, Canada’s median age is 40.9 years with 17.5% of the population over the age of 65. Comparing this with India, the median age in India was 26.8 years in 2015 as per Statista.
India is the largest source of new immigrants for Canada and this target bodes well for Indians who want to move to Canada.
Canada recently made changes to its Express Entry program.
Even as a second language, applicants with French knowledge would now be eligible for an additional 50 bonus CRS points.
Most of the applicants who get invited under the Federal Skilled Worker economic program have a good amount of international experience and relevant education, aligning with Canada’s economic goals and labour market needs.
The points-based system is favourable for skilled Indians as most of them have professional degrees and good command of English, making their transition to Canada easier.
A Canadian PR (Permanent Resident) is the goal of many foreign workers since it is the eventual pathway to Canadian citizenship.
With the new immigration target, Canada aims not just for short term economic recovery but also for long-term economic goals.
As of 2020, 33% of all business owners are immigrants, and 25% of all workers in the health sector are immigrants. Immigrants have played a crucial role in creating new jobs.
“Immigration is essential to getting us through the pandemic, but also to our short-term economic recovery and our long-term economic growth. Canadians have seen how newcomers are playing an outsized role in our hospitals and care homes, and helping us to keep food on the table. As we look to recovery, newcomers create jobs not just by giving our businesses the skills they need to thrive, but also by starting businesses themselves. Our plan will help to address some of our most acute labour shortages and to grow our population to keep Canada competitive on the world stage.”
– The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
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: CaregiversFootnote3; Agri-Food Pilot; Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot | 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 |
As per the IRCC news release, the 2021–2023 Immigration Levels Plan will help cement Canada’s place among the world’s top destinations for talent, creating a strong foundation for economic growth while reuniting family members with their loved ones and fulfilling Canada’s humanitarian commitments.