With the beginning of 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have started the implementation of several modifications that will impact all individuals immigrating to Canada this year.
As outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026, Canada is targeting the admission of a total of 485,000 permanent residents (PRs) in 2024. In tandem with this heightened immigration quota, Canada anticipates introducing enhancements across diverse programs and harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance and streamline the overall client experience.
Updates to the Express Entry System
In 2023, IRCC initiated category-based Express Entry draws as part of its strategy to identify foreign nationals best suited to address Canada's crucial labor gaps and demographic requirements.
During the inaugural year of category-based draws, IRCC prioritized the following immigration candidate categories:
- Individuals with proficiency in the French language
- Those with recent work experience in one of the following five industries: Healthcare; Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM); Trades; Transport; and Agri-Food/Agriculture
In 2024, IRCC is set to continue with category-based draws. However, the department has emphasized its intent to reassess the focus categories chosen in 2023, potentially modifying them based on the evolving needs of Canada's labor market. This implies that new sectors and proficiencies may be selected by IRCC as focal points, potentially opening the door for new groups of immigrants to qualify for category-based Express Entry draws in the upcoming year.
Provincial Nominee Program
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) serve as immigration channels empowering local governments to selectively choose candidates adept at mitigating labor market gaps. As per the most recent Immigration Levels Plan from IRCC, PNPs are anticipated to constitute the most significant immigration pathway in 2024, based on immigration targets for the country.
IRCC is set to unveil fresh multi-year plans for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) commencing in 2024. This initiative aims to provide provinces and territories with a more effective means of strategizing their immigration approaches, as they will be informed about their 2025 allocation a year in advance.
Collectively, these recent PNP advancements signify that individuals aspiring to utilize this immigration pathway can anticipate a more transparent understanding of their immigration options for their preferred province or territory. This is a result of improved planning by each regional government.
Improvements to Canada's International Student Program
In an effort to bolster the integrity of the International Student Program throughout Canada and enhance the safeguarding of incoming foreign nationals, IRCC has introduced a revamped Letter of Acceptance (LOA) verification system that will have continued implications for all applicants seeking study permits.
As of December 1 this year, Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) across Canada are now obligated to "validate each applicant's letter of acceptance directly with IRCC." The department asserts that this "new and enhanced verification process is designed to shield potential students from fraud while ensuring the issuance of study permits is based solely on authentic LOAs."
IRCC made another announcement in November, stating that, as the year progresses into 2024, the department will undertake a comprehensive assessment of its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. Numerous international students aspiring to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) find the PGWP valuable, given the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score's favorable treatment of Canadian work experience.
This review is anticipated to lead to IRCC implementing reforms that align the PGWP more closely with the demands of the country's labor market, as well as regional and Francophone immigration objectives.
However, while countries such as Australia, the UK, France, and the US are decreasing the overall number of newcomers, Canada is maintaining its existing immigration targets, with plans to welcome 485,000 new immigrants in 2024 and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026.
Canada has already raised the cost of living requirement for international students from CAD $10,000 to CAD $20,635. Additional measures that could potentially limit the influx of temporary residents, including students and temporary foreign workers, may be introduced. However, the immigration minister has clarified that these measures would primarily target mitigating fraud that has previously allowed unsuspecting international students to enter the country.
International Experience Canada (IEC)
In 2024, Canada is set to once again embrace up to 90,000 international youth aged 18-35 (varying by country) through its three IEC programs.
The most sought-after among these programs is the Working Holiday Visa, granting participants the freedom to work anywhere in the country for any Canadian employer. Job changes are even permissible as long as the work permit remains valid.
The other two programs offer closed work permit options but can be advantageous for those already securing a job offer in Canada. These programs encompass the Young Professionals and the International Co-op.
Furthermore, if you decide to extend your stay in Canada and pursue permanent residency, post-IEC options may be available for you.
Increased Admissions Quota for Parents and Grandparents Program
In 2023, Canada set a goal to admit 28,500 immigrants through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
The latest Immigration Levels Plan for 2024 reveals an expansion of PGP targets to 32,000. If IRCC successfully enhances intake management and the alignment of application inputs and outputs, it is anticipated that more PGP applicants will have the opportunity to immigrate to Canada in the upcoming year.
Analysis of the 2024 Projections
Approximately 281,135 immigrants will be welcomed to Canada under the economic class, constituting 58% of the annual target. Further dissecting this figure, the Express Entry target is set at 110,700 permanent resident admissions for 2024. Consequently, Express Entry is poised to reclaim its position as the primary pathway for economic class admissions in Canada.
The family class is targeted to welcome 114,000 immigrants, representing 24% of all admissions. Specifically, Spousal, Partner, and Children sponsorship are allotted a target of 82,000 admissions in 2024, while the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is set at a target of 32,000.
Humanitarian admission targets are established at 89,865 immigrants, constituting approximately 19% of all admissions. This encompasses refugees, protected persons, and individuals admitted for humanitarian, compassionate, or other reasons.
For 2024, The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will be receiving 110,000 immigrants.
If you want to be part of this huge number in Canada, we can help you! You can contact our team and check if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada! Take advantage of our free online assessment today!
