The Government of Canada has announced plans for immigration levels for skilled workers, caregivers and others from 2024 to 2026, including economic immigrants, family class and humanitarian goals. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) revealed this on Wednesday, adding that the North American country plans to welcome 485,000 new immigrants in 2024, while it is expected ​there will be 500,000 new immigrants each in 2025 and 2025. “Canada’s immigration levels will remain unchanged from its current targets. In 2024, the country will target the admission of 485,000 new immigrants. In 2025 and 2026, Canada will look to welcome 500,000 new immigrants [in] each year,” the CIC said. “The targets are the same as those announced under the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025. The new information released today is the 2026 target, as well as updates to the levels of immigrants that will be admitted under each class and program between 2024-2026. “In 2024, Canada will look to welcome about 281,135 immigrants under the economic class, or 58% of the annual target. By 2026, this will rise to 301,250 immigrants, or 60% of the annual target.” Economic immigrants are individuals selected based on their skills and ability to contribute to the Canadian economy, including skilled workers, business immigrants, provincial and territorial nominees as well as as a live-in carers. Meanwhile, the target for the family class in 2024 will be 114,000 immigrants, or 24% of total enrollment. This number will increase to 118,000 immigrants by 2026, accounting for 24% of total immigrants. This implies that Nigerians and other countries benefiting from the scheme should be skilled workers and carers. Skilled workers include carpenters, plumbers and welders, while carers are healthcare professionals. Family-based immigrants are people who are sponsored by relatives to come to Canada. The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident 18 years of age or older. They must demonstrate that they are willing and able to provide support and financial assistance to immigrant parents. The humanitarian enrollment target will be 89,865 immigrants by 2024, or approximately 19% of total enrollment. This total includes refugees, protected persons and persons admitted for humanitarian or other reasons. By 2026, the target will be 80,832 immigrants, equivalent to 16% of enrollment. It further stated that, “The Express Entry target will be 110,700 permanent resident admissions in 2024, and this will rise to 117,500 immigrants in each of 2025 and 2026.” “The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) target will be 110,000 immigrants in 2024, and rise to 120,000 in 2025, and another 120,000 in 2026. “Spousal, Partner, and Children sponsorship has a target of 82,000 admissions in 2024, and this will rise to 84,000 in each of 2025 and 2026. Meanwhile, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) target will be 32,000 immigrants in 2024, followed by 34,000 immigrants in each of 2025 and 2026.” Speaking on the plan, the Canadian government explains, “This plan is tailored to support economic growth while balancing with the pressures in areas like housing, healthcare and infrastructure. “It charts a responsible course for sustainable and stable population growth…Starting in 2026, the government will stabilize permanent resident levels at 500,000, allowing time for successful integration, while continuing to augment Canada’s labour market. “The government also plans to take action over the next year to recalibrate the number of temporary resident admissions to ensure this aspect of our immigration system also remains sustainable.” Under the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act (IRPA), which is Canada’s main immigration law, the federal government must release its annual immigration plan by November 1 in non-election years. The Immigration Levels Plan acts as the guideline for the number of new permanent residents who will be admitted into Canada over the next three years under each of the three immigration classes: economic, family, and humanitarian. This plan advances Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) mission to strengthen Canada's economy, reunite families and make Canada a safe place for people fleeing persecution or other humanitarian crises. In 2022, Canada broke a record for new immigrants with 437,000 arrivals. The target for receiving permanent residents in 2023 is 465,000.