12 Ways You Can Immigrate To Canada In 2024

On This Page You Will Find

• Overview of Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan
• Express Entry targets and new physician pathway
• Provincial Nominee Program opportunities in 2026
• Quebec’s reduced immigration intake and PEQ closure
• Economic pilot programs and Atlantic Immigration Program
• Federal business immigration suspension and new entrepreneur pilot
• Provincial entrepreneur pathways
• Family sponsorship options for spouses, children, parents, and grandparents
• Refugee and humanitarian immigration targets
• Francophone immigration priorities outside Quebec

Canada is not closing its doors to immigration in 2026. Instead, the federal government is holding permanent resident admissions steady while reshaping how newcomers are selected.

Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will admit 380,000 permanent residents per year, with a strong emphasis on economic immigration, labour market alignment, and candidates who can integrate quickly. General pathways have narrowed, while targeted and occupation-specific routes have expanded.

Below is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the 12 main ways to immigrate to Canada in 2026, incorporating official targets, program suspensions, and major policy changes.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE – ECONOMIC PROGRAMS

1. Express Entry

Express Entry remains Canada’s flagship system for selecting skilled workers, but 2026 continues the shift toward precision selection rather than broad, all-program draws.

2026 target – Federal High Skilled (Express Entry): 109,000
(2027: 111,000 | 2028: 111,000)

Express Entry manages applications under:

In 2026, invitations are expected to focus on:

Large, general draws are now the exception rather than the rule.

New for 2026 – Physicians With Canadian Work Experience

The most significant Express Entry development for 2026 is the creation of a physician-specific category limited to candidates with recent Canadian work experience.

This marks a clear shift from recruitment to retention. Rather than competing internationally for doctors, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is prioritising physicians already working in Canada who have demonstrated their ability to integrate into provincial healthcare systems.

To qualify, candidates must have accumulated within the past three years:

• At least 12 months of full-time, continuous Canadian work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time work
• Experience in a single eligible physician occupation
• Compliance with all draw-specific instructions issued by IRCC

Eligible occupations include general practitioners and family physicians, specialists in surgery, and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine.

This category operates alongside, not instead of, broader healthcare draws and confirms that Express Entry will continue to fragment into increasingly specific pathways where shortages are most acute.

2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Provincial and territorial immigration programs remain one of the most reliable routes to permanent residence in 2026, particularly for candidates who may not score highly enough under Express Entry.

2026 target – Provincial Nominee Program: 91,500
(2027: 92,500 | 2028: 92,500)

PNPs allow provinces to nominate candidates based on local labour shortages and demographic needs. In 2026, provinces are prioritising:

• Healthcare and social services
• Skilled trades and construction
• Regional and smaller community settlement
• Francophone candidates outside Quebec

Many PNP streams are aligned with Express Entry, while others operate independently and offer pathways for workers already in Canada.

3. Quebec Immigration

Quebec operates its own immigration system, separate from federal programs, and has moved sharply to restrict intake for 2026.

The Government of Quebec has confirmed it will cap permanent immigration at 45,000 admissions in 2026, citing limits on its capacity to integrate newcomers in French and provide public services.

Quebec has also restructured its skilled worker pathways. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) will end on November 19, 2025, leaving the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) as the sole skilled worker selection program. Candidates must now declare interest through Arrima, with priority given to those already living in Quebec, holding Quebec credentials, or possessing strong French language skills.

Permanent immigration pilot programs for food processing workers, orderlies, and AI-related occupations will close on January 1, 2026. Quebec has also tightened temporary immigration rules, including extended LMIA suspensions in Montréal and Laval and new French language requirements for long-term temporary foreign workers.

Overall, Quebec remains an option in 2026, but it is now more restrictive, more francophone, and more regionally focused than in previous years.

4. Economic Pilot Programs

Canada continues to use targeted pilot programs to address regional and sector-specific labour shortages, though several are being paused or redesigned.

2026 target – Economic Pilots: 8,175
(2027: 8,775 | 2028: 8,775)

This category includes:

Most pilot programs are employer-driven, meaning candidates generally need a qualifying job offer.

5. Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program is now a permanent pathway and remains a practical option for candidates with job offers in Atlantic Canada.

2026 target – Atlantic Immigration Program: 4,000
(2027: 4,000 | 2028: 4,000)

The program covers Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island, and focuses on long-term regional retention.

BUSINESS IMMIGRATION

6. Federal Business Immigration – Start-Up Visa Ends, Entrepreneur Pilot Coming

Canada has effectively ended the current era of federal business immigration.

In December 2025, IRCC confirmed a full reset of the Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs, citing a backlog of 42,200 people including dependants.

Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, federal business immigration has been reduced to just 500 permanent resident admissions per year, confirming that business immigration will operate as a small, highly selective pilot rather than a broad pathway.

The Start-Up Visa will fully pause to new Commitment Certificates at midnight on December 31, 2025. Applicants with valid 2025 commitments must apply for permanent residence by June 30, 2026, while new SUV work permit applications stopped on December 19, 2025.

A new Entrepreneur Pilot is planned for 2026. While details remain limited, IRCC has indicated it will prioritise entrepreneurs already in Canada, focus on businesses delivering significant economic benefit, and abandon the volume-based SUV model.

Under Bill C-12, IRCC will gain authority to cancel non-priority SUV applications, particularly those backed by designated business incubators that failed to meet earlier prioritisation rules. Until the new pilot launches, provincial entrepreneur streams under the PNP remain the most realistic option for business owners.

7. Provincial Entrepreneur Programs

Many provinces continue to operate their own entrepreneur and business immigration streams under the PNP.

These programs typically require:

• Significant personal net worth
• Minimum investment levels
• Active business management
• Job creation and performance commitments

They remain viable in 2026, but are costly, selective, and region-specific.

FAMILY REUNIFICATION

8. Spouses, Partners and Children

Family sponsorship remains a core pillar of Canada’s immigration system.

2026 target – Spouses, Partners and Children: 69,000
(2027: 66,000 | 2028: 66,000)

Sponsored spouses and partners can usually qualify for open work permits while their applications are processed, allowing families to settle together in Canada.

9. Parents and Grandparents

The Parents and Grandparents Program continues to operate with limited intake.

2026 target – Parents and Grandparents: 15,000
(2027: 15,000 | 2028: 15,000)

Selection remains based on the existing interest-to-sponsor pool. Parents and grandparents not selected can consider the Super Visa as an alternative.

REFUGEES AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN PATHWAYS

10. Refugees and Protected Persons

Canada continues to maintain a stable humanitarian commitment.

2026 target – Refugees and Protected Persons: 49,300
(2027: 49,300 | 2028: 49,300)

This includes government-assisted refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and protected persons already in Canada.

11. Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other

Canada also sets aside space for humanitarian and discretionary admissions.

2026 target – Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other: 6,900
(2027: 5,000 | 2028: 5,000)

These cases involve exceptional circumstances and are assessed individually.

12. Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec

While not a standalone program, francophone immigration is a central priority across Canada’s system.

Target for French-speaking admissions outside Quebec:

• 2026: 9% (30,267)
• 2027: 9.5% (31,825)
• 2028: 10.5% (35,175)

This priority is reflected in Express Entry category-based draws, PNP francophone streams, and community-focused pilots. For many candidates, French language ability is now one of the strongest strategic advantages available.

What This Means for 2026

Canada’s immigration system in 2026 is not about volume. It is about fit.

The strongest pathways are now those that align with labour shortages, regional needs, French language priorities, and proven ability to integrate. Candidates who plan strategically and target the right program remain well-positioned, even as general routes narrow.

Frequently Asked Questions: Immigrating to Canada in 2026