Canada’s Immigration Engine Gears Up: IRCC Sets Its 2026 – 28 Agenda

"Canada’s Immigration Engine Gears Up: IRCC Sets Its 2026 – 28 Agenda" Snapshots: Canada’s immigration system is entering a phase of clear prioritization and planning. The federal department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has identified which pathways will be fast-tracked this year and revealed that more than 2.2 million applications are currently in its inventory.

Processing Priority Streams – Who’s Moving First?

IRCC has confirmed that major permanent‑residence streams will be cleared as a priority in 2025:

• The federal economic programs, including the Express Entry system, enhanced provincial nominee streams, and the province of Québec’s skilled-worker pathways, are among those expected to have their inventories fully processed this year. en_US

• Meanwhile, other pathways are facing long waits — for example, the Start-Up Visa stream has seen processing times swell to 10 years or more, according to recent reports. imidaily.com

Take‑away: If you qualify for Express Entry or an enhanced PNP stream, you likely face the shortest wait. Applicants in less-prioritized programs should be prepared for delays.

2 Million + Files in Queue – What That Means for You

According to the latest inventory update, IRCC is processing over 2.2 million active files across permanent‑residence, temporary‑residence, and associated streams. ImmigCanada

With such a large backlog:

• Timing matters. Even in priority streams, delays are inevitable.

• Filing early and submitting a complete, high-quality document will enhance your prospects.

• Where you have flexibility, target the fastest pathways (see above).

Government Signals Stability with Next Immigration Levels Plan

Canada’s immigration “road‑map”, known as the Immigration Levels Plan 2026‑2028, will set out federal targets for both permanent and temporary residents for 2026‑28, offering insight into how Ottawa plans to align immigration volumes with housing, infrastructure and labour‑market capacity.

Key indicators

:

• Admission of temporary residents in the earlier 2025–27 plan was capped at ~673,650 in 2025, dropping to ~516,600 in 2026. canada.ca+1

• A growing share of permanent‑resident admissions is expected to come from candidates already in Canada (as workers or students) rather than fresh arrivals. canada.ca

Take‑away: Expect the new Plan to emphasize “managed growth” rather than significant expansion. Applicants should position themselves in priority streams now rather than waiting for a big “boost”.

Plain‑Language Take‑aways for Applicants & Advisers

• Focus on Express Entry / Enhanced PNP: These are being processed fastest — if you qualify, act now.

• Prepare for competition & delays: With millions of files in play, quality matters. Complete documentation, strong credentials, and precise alignment with Canadian labour‑market needs will pay off.

• Update your strategy for 2026‑28: The forthcoming Levels Plan will shape intake volumes — knowing how you fit (skilled worker vs family vs humanitarian) helps.

• Temporary → Permanent pathways matter: The system is increasingly favouring candidates already in Canada (students, workers) over external arrivals.

• Minimize the risk of surprise delays, especially for lesser-prioritized streams (e.g., business immigration, Start-Up Visa), where multi-year waits are possible.

Final Word

Canada’s immigration system is moving into strategy mode — clearing backlogs, focusing on highest‑impact applicants and publishing a forward‑looking roadmap for 2026‑28. For prospective immigrants, employers and advisers, the message is: be selective, be timely and be informed. Those who move now with well‑prepared files stand to benefit most from the system’s current momentum.

Canada’s Immigration Engine Gears Up: IRCC Sets Its 2026 – 28 Agenda