Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published its 2025–2026 Departmental Plan, setting out federal priorities for immigration, permanent residence, study permits, work permits and digital services over the next two years.
The plan is a roadmap for the policies that will be implemented across that period, and it carries direct consequences for anyone hoping to study, work or immigrate to Canada.
Below we highlight the points that matter most to foreign workers, international students and permanent residence candidates.
1. Express Entry: focus on strategic candidates
IRCC confirmed that it will keep issuing invitations through Express Entry, with a focus on the following categories:
- Healthcare professionals
- Skilled trades workers
- Education professionals
- Candidates with French proficiency
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) also remains active, benefiting those who already have Canadian work experience.
📌 The target is for 40% of new permanent residents to be people already in the country on temporary status.
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Permanent residence candidates going through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will continue to benefit from work permits while their application is being processed, strengthening their integration into the local labour market.
3. A significant cut to LMIA-based work permits
The plan sets a target of issuing only 80,000 to 84,000 work permits based on an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) in 2025 — a sharp fall from the 184,000 issued in 2023.
This signals a shift towards more selective, sector-specific policy, concentrated on areas of demonstrated demand.
4. Faster family sponsorship
IRCC intends to cut processing times for family sponsorship applications, particularly for spouses, children and parents outside Canada. The aim is to reinforce family reunification as a pillar of the Canadian immigration system.
5. Study and the PGWP: focus on in-demand fields
The government announced it will review the fields of study eligible for the PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit). The measure responds to growing concern about how well the courses international students take match the needs of the Canadian labour market.
In practice, courses outside the priority fields may stop being PGWP-eligible over the coming months.
📌 The cap on new study permits will be maintained to control intake.
6. Spousal work permits: changes ahead
One of the plan's most significant points is a possible reworking of the eligibility rules for open work permits (OWPs) held by spouses of international students and foreign workers.
The stated goal is to keep Canada competitive in attracting talent, particularly in sectors such as healthcare and construction.
No official decision has been made, but IRCC has signalled it may loosen OWP access again for students' spouses — especially where the student is enrolled in an in-demand field of study.
7. New permits for essential sectors
The plan also proposes creating a new stream and dedicated work permits for the agriculture and fish-processing sectors, to address critical shortages in both.
8. Support for francophone immigration outside Quebec
IRCC reaffirms its target of reaching 8.5% francophone new permanent residents outside Quebec by 2026, strengthening the Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFCs) initiative and investing in linguistic and social integration support.
9. Digitising services
The plan also sets out service improvements, including:
- Expanding the online passport renewal system
- Launching a new digital account for all IRCC clients, intended to centralise services and improve the user experience
Conclusion
The 2025–2026 Departmental Plan shows that Canada is not closing its doors — it is adopting a more strategic and selective model. The goal is clear: attract immigrants aligned with the country's economic, social and demographic priorities.
For anyone hoping to immigrate, study or work in Canada, it will matter more and more to align your personal plan with in-demand fields, understand the new criteria, and act with a plan.
📩 Need help working out how these changes affect your case? Talk to the Turas Immigration team for personalised guidance.
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