IRCC Policy Update — October 12, 2026
Monday, October 12, 2026
The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets permanent resident admissions at 380,000 for 2026, increases the economic migrant share from 59% to 64% by 2027, and cuts new temporary resident targets from 673,650 in 2025 down to 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027-2028.
Canada's goal is to reduce the total temporary resident population to under 5% of Canada's population by end of 2027, with Francophone immigration targets set at 9% for 2026 and a longer-term goal of 12%.
Effective April 1, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased (e.g., 10-year adult passport now $163.50, up from $160), and a new '30 days or free' passport processing guarantee took effect, offering full fee refunds if processing exceeds 30 business days.
What You Should Do
- If you are a temporary resident (worker or student), review how the reduced 2026 temporary resident targets (385,000 new arrivals) may affect your permit renewal or status. Check your situation at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada.html.
- If you are applying for a Canadian passport, budget for the updated fees: $163.50 for a 10-year adult passport or $122.50 for a 5-year adult passport (from within Canada). Apply at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports.html and note that applications taking longer than 30 business days now qualify for a full fee refund automatically.
- If you are a Francophone immigrant or applicant, note that the 2026 Francophone PR target is 9% — track French-language stream draws and eligibility requirements at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/french-language.html.
- Employers relying on temporary foreign workers in tariff-impacted industries or rural/remote communities should monitor IRCC guidance on sector-specific accommodations under the 2026-2028 Levels Plan at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028.html.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The 2026-2028 Levels Plan stabilizes PR admissions at 380,000 for 2026, sharply reduces new temporary resident targets to 385,000 in 2026 (down from 673,650 in 2025), and raises the economic migrant share to 64% by 2027. The plan aims to bring Canada's temporary resident population below 5% of total population by end of 2027.
Service Fee Adjustments: Canadian passport fees increased on March 31, 2026 for the first time since 2013, with a 10-year adult passport now costing $163.50. A new '30 days or free' processing guarantee also took effect April 1, 2026, entitling applicants to a full refund if processing exceeds 30 business days.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — October 8, 2026
Oct 8, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — October 5, 2026
Oct 5, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — October 1, 2026
Oct 1, 2026
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