Canada Immigration Trend Shows Decline

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Key Takeaways:

Canada saw a significant 16.4% decrease in new permanent residents in the first quarter compared to last year.
Despite fluctuations, Canada is on track to meet its annual goal of 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024.
Ontario received 52,720 newcomers, the highest among provinces, with significant contributions from various economic and family programs.

What Are the Latest Immigration Trends to Canada?

Recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) illustrates a discernible downward trend in the number of new permanent residents arriving in Canada. This pattern reflects a continuation from the previous year, offering important insights into current immigration trends.

How Has Canada’s Immigration Trend Changed in Recent Months?

In March, Canada witnessed a notable decline in new permanent residents, seeing an 11% drop from February, with numbers decreasing to 34,785 from 39,090. This follows a significant influx of 47,745 newcomers in January. A similar pattern was observed early last year, though 2023 ultimately closed with record-breaking immigration numbers.

To put this into perspective, the high in January 2023 was 50,945 new residents, which tapered down to 29,565 by April. The first quarter of the current year saw 121,620 new permanent residents, marking a 16.4% decrease compared to the same period in 2023, which welcomed 145,495 new permanent residents. This equates to 23,875 fewer residents in the first quarter alone—a number that matches the population size of Yukon’s capital city.

How Does This Impact Canada’s Annual Immigration Goals?

Despite the monthly decline, projections based on the first three months suggest that Canada might still welcome 486,480 new permanent residents by the end of the year. This would be a 3.1% increase from last year’s record-breaking figures and aligns closely with Canada’s 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan. The country aims to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents this year, escalating to 500,000 in 2025 and maintaining that level through 2026.

The IRCC notes, “Following the trajectory of the 2023-2025 plan, Canada aims to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025, and plateau at 500,000 in 2026.” This plan not only targets economic growth but also supports family reunification, addresses humanitarian crises, and acknowledges the rapid growth in immigration in recent years.

Which Provinces Are Attracting the Most New Residents?

Ontario remains the most popular destination, attracting 52,720 new permanent residents in the first quarter of this year. This represents 43.3% of all newcomers. The rise in residents primarily stems from various economic programs that facilitated 28,710 new arrivals, including:

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (AFIP)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Caregiver Programs
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Programs
Start-Up Visa (SUV)
Self-Employed Persons (SEP) Programs
Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway

Another 12,960 new arrivals came through family sponsorships, with 9,525 coming via Canada’s refugee and protected persons programs.

What Are the Immigration Figures for Other Provinces and Territories?

Here’s a breakdown of newcomers by province and territory for the first three months:

Newfoundland and Labrador: 1,405
Prince Edward Island: 1,330
Nova Scotia: 3,995
New Brunswick: 3,995
Quebec: 13,355
Manitoba: 5,680
Saskatchewan: 5,610
Alberta: 15,360
British Columbia: 17,745
Yukon: 295
Northwest Territories: 115
Nunavut: 10

March saw New Brunswick experience the most significant drop in new permanent residents at 28.9%, while Yukon saw a 31.6% decrease from the previous month. Nunavut has only welcomed ten new permanent residents so far this year.

How Does Canada’s Immigration System Work?

Canada operates a two-tier immigration system. Foreign nationals can gain permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programs, or via Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) across the ten provinces.

Temporary immigration, which surged during the pandemic, is also under review. In September, Immigration Minister Marc Miller is expected to announce a new immigration levels plan that will address this surge.

This comprehensive look at Canada’s current immigration trend underscores not only the monthly fluctuations but also the overall strategic planning involved in managing immigration in the coming years. For more specific information on federal programs and application processes, visit the official Government of Canada Immigration and Citizenship website.

Learn Today:

Glossary of Immigration Terms

Permanent Resident: An individual who has been granted the right to live in Canada indefinitely but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents can access most social benefits and protections and are required to follow Canadian laws and pay taxes.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): A Canadian immigration program that allows provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and settle in a specific province. PNPs are aimed at meeting the specific economic and demographic needs of the provinces.
Express Entry: An online immigration application system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programs. It ranks candidates based on factors like skills, work experience, and language proficiency.
Family Sponsorship: A program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their relatives to come to Canada as permanent residents. This facilitates family reunification and ensures sponsors can support their relatives financially.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): The federal department responsible for managing immigration, refugees, and citizenship processes in Canada. It oversees various immigration programs, processes applications, and implements immigration policies.

These definitions provide clarity on key terms used in discussions about Canada’s immigration trends and policies.

This Article In A Nutshell:

Canada’s latest immigration trends show a decrease in new permanent residents. From a high in January 2023, numbers fell by 16.4% in early 2024. Despite monthly declines, Canada aims for 485,000 newcomers this year, with future targets of 500,000 annually by 2025. Ontario remains the most popular destination.
— By VisaVerge.com

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