IRCC will be welcoming more newcomers in the coming years. Here’s all you need to know about Canada’s immigration targets v/s other top destinations. Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan is an annual release from IRCC highlighting the number of new permanent residents that Canada aims to welcome in the next three years. The figures provided every year break down the targets by immigration class, i.e., economic, family, & refugee/ humanitarian class. 

The plan shows Canada’s strategy to increase the number of newcomers while balancing their needs with those of the existing population. For instance, 60% of new permanent residents are from the economic class. This implies they are skilled professionals who will contribute to the national economy. 

Canada’s strategy is unique & contrasts the plans set forth by several other popular newcomer destinations, like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US, etc. 

Canada’s Immigration Strategy 

In addition to Canada’s immigration targets v/s other top destinations for newcomers, it is vital to note that IRCC intends to welcome 485,000 new immigrants in 2024. The target of 500,000 extra immigrants in 2025 and 2026 will follow this.

As explained in the notice accompanying the new Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC asserts the decision to maintain high immigration targets is because the plan prioritizes economic growth and supports family reunification while responding to humanitarian crises. Moreover, IRCC added that immigrants play a vital role in the labor market & growing the economy, thus helping ensure that labor force gaps are not a barrier to the success & expansion of Canadian businesses. 

How Other Top Immigrant Destinations Compare To Canada 

  • Australia’s Approach 

In Australia, the government plans to cut its immigration intake in half by June 2025. In a move that would align immigration intake with pre-pandemic levels, this decision will reduce annual immigration levels to 250,000. Moreover, the decision aims to fix the nation’s broken immigration system. Also, Australia will tighten visa rules and requirements for international students and low-skilled workers.

As an example of the measures the nation plans to implement, Australia will enforce minimum English-language requirements for international students and scrutinize individuals applying for a second visa more closely.

  • The UK’s Policy Shift 

The UK’s government is now making it harder for individuals to get family & work visas in an effort to reduce net migration to the region, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently said was too ‘high’. Well, this is why the government is changing visa rules & raising income thresholds for family visas. 

The increasing minimum salary requirements for immigrants wanting to work there is an example of the strategies the UK will use to control immigration. Previously, prospective immigrants to the UK were required to apply for a work visa while holding a job offer with a minimum salary of £26,200. As of spring 2024, this minimum will increase to £38,700. 

  • New Zealand’s Immigration Stance 

Regarding Canada’s immigration targets v/s other top destinations, the other destination is New Zealand. Worried that the nation’s immigration levels are not sustainable, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has indicated that the government expects international migration to be slowing month on month in the near future.

After the Reserve Bank in New Zealand expressed concern that the flood of newcomers is increasing the rent as well as housing processes & might fan inflation, the Prime Minister stated that the nation will now be focused on finding a balance in the next few months. In addition, the NZ government has not provided specific policy details on how they intend to manage immigration. 

  • USA’s Present Immigration Landscape

According to a report, the nation’s outdated immigration system is working against the growth of its national labor force.

In fact, the Cato Institute in Washington stated that the nation once accounted for 63% of the growth in the worldwide immigrant population. However, it now accounts for a -0.3% change in a similar metric. Furthering the report’s point about the impact of newcomers on the US workforce & productivity, Cato goes on to state that skilled immigrant workers increase innovation, accounting for around 40% of the total factor productivity growth. This implies that restrictive immigration policies are, in some ways, disadvantageous to the nation’s economic growth. 

In addition, the Cato Institute’s report also notes that the US hasn’t expanded its low green card caps since 1990 & the nation now ranks in the bottom third of wealthy countries for its foreign-born share of the population. 

What This Implies For Prospective Immigrants Around The World  

Of the five nations analyzed in Canada’s immigration targets v/s other top destinations article, Canada is the only immigrant destination that hasn’t significantly cut its immigration targets over the coming years. For different reasons, some of the world’s most popular hotspots for immigrants & temporary residents, like foreign workers & international students, are aiming to reduce international migration in the short term. 

While every nation’s strategy, as well as immigration policies, can change, immigrants to any of these popular destinations must consider federal immigration policy as a significant determining factor with respect to alternatives for pursuing education, work, or life in another nation. 

Of course, the choice to immigrate to a particular destination largely depends on a person’s specific ambitions. For this reason, while considering their alternatives, all prospective newcomers might find it useful to conduct thorough research on what destination best serves their short & long-term professional & personal goals.