The federal government released Budget 2026, titled "Masters of our destiny", on 5 November 2026, the same day IRCC published the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan. Chapter 3.4 of the Budget explains how Ottawa plans to pay for that plan, and the spending shows where the government wants immigration to go.
If you are a skilled professional weighing a move to Canada, the money matters more than the speeches. It tells you which programs are getting resources, which are being reshaped, and which are still only ideas. Everything below is a budget proposal. Spending still needs Parliament's approval, and several items have no rules or start dates yet.
In short: Budget 2026 funds a steady, lower intake, pays to move up to 200,000 people already in Canada to permanent residence in 2027, reforms the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and keeps a skilled-talent strategy in place, but its new startup pilot has no published criteria.
A one-year 2027 measure adds up to 200,000 PR spaces for people already in Canada. Who is covered, what is unknown, and what to do now.
What does the Budget spend on the levels plan?
The Budget proposes $56.9 million over four years from 2027-28, and $205.4 million in future years, for IRCC to implement the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan (Department of Finance, Budget 2026, chapter 3.4, 5 Nov 2026).
That plan sets 380,000 permanent resident admissions a year for 2027, 2028 and 2029, and 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals a year (IRCC, supplementary information, 5 Nov 2026). The economic class gets 244,700 PR spaces a year, about 64% of the total. For temporary residents, roughly 60% of new arrivals are workers and 40% students.
In numbers, that is 220,000 new workers and 150,000 new students each year. The temporary count covers new arrivals only. Visitors, eTA holders, permit extensions, in-Canada study and work permit applications and asylum claimants are not counted, and neither are post-graduation work permits, which IRCC treats as a change of status. The 2028 and 2029 figures are notional and will be confirmed or adjusted by 1 November next year (IRCC, supplementary information, 5 Nov 2026).
What is the $302.3 million for?
It pays for a one-year transition. The Budget says "Up to 200,000 temporary residents already in Canada would have the opportunity to become permanent residents by the end of 2027". It proposes $302.3 million over four years from 2027-28 and $90.6 million ongoing (Department of Finance, Budget 2026, 5 Nov 2026).
IRCC's page splits the 200,000 into up to 100,000 workers and up to 100,000 family and humanitarian applicants, outside the regular targets and with no new application (IRCC, "Managing a responsive and predictable immigration system", 5 Nov 2026). For someone abroad, this measure does not open a door. It is for people already living in Canada.
How is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program changing?
The Budget proposes $151.5 million over five years from 2026-27 to Employment and Social Development Canada to reform the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The stated goal is "to better align with regional labour market needs, in collaboration with provinces and territories, while improving processing time and strengthening employer compliance" (Department of Finance, Budget 2026, 5 Nov 2026).
The levels plan sets 50,000 new TFWP workers a year, against 170,000 under the International Mobility Program (IRCC, supplementary information, 5 Nov 2026). The Budget also renews the Migrant Worker Support Program with $82 million, through which non-profit groups help temporary foreign workers understand their rights.
What results does the government claim?
The Budget compares January to August 2026 with the same months of 2024 (Department of Finance, Budget 2026, 5 Nov 2026):
- New international student arrivals fell 71%, which is 156,440 fewer people.
- New worker arrivals fell 57%, which is 170,455 fewer people.
- New asylum claims fell 68%.
Chart 3.1 in the Budget, using IRCC data to 31 August 2026, sets the longer trend out:
| Measure | 2023 (actual) | 2024 (actual) | 2027–2029 annual target |
|---|---|---|---|
| New temporary resident arrivals | 971,815 | 686,010 | 370,000 |
| Permanent resident admissions | 471,820 | 483,655 | 380,000 |
The Budget describes the temporary target as about 602,000 lower than 2023, a 62% reduction, and the PR target as about 104,000 lower than 2024, a 21% reduction. These are the government's own figures and framing.
What is in the International Talent Attraction Strategy?
Budget 2025 announced a $1.7 billion International Talent Attraction Strategy. Budget 2026 reports on it (Department of Finance, Budget 2026, 5 Nov 2026):
- Research chairs. The first 64 Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs, who are researchers from 13 countries.
- Global Talent Stream. Labour Market Impact Assessments in as few as 10 business days for employers hiring through this stream.
- Express Entry modernisation. Named as part of the strategy. The Budget gives no detail on what changes.
- A new high-impact startup pilot. The Budget mentions the "development of a new high-impact startup pilot to attract entrepreneurs and innovators with the potential to create jobs and commercialise innovation in Canada".
The startup pilot is the item founders will ask about. As of 5 November 2026, no eligibility criteria, cap or launch date had been published. The Start-up Visa itself has been paused for new applications since 30 June 2026. Until the pilot's rules appear, there is nothing to prepare an application against.
The levels plan also names priority sectors: education, healthcare, construction, AI and digital innovation, defence, energy and critical minerals (IRCC, Canada's immigration levels, 5 Nov 2026).
What changes for visa-exempt travellers?
The Budget annex proposes $90 million from 2027-28 to 2030-31 for IRCC to expand fingerprint and facial-image checks. This includes "a new requirement for visa-exempt travellers applying for an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) ... to submit a facial image remotely" (Department of Finance, Budget 2026, annex, 5 Nov 2026).
No start date was given. If you come from a visa-exempt country, the eTA rules have not changed yet. Expect a photo step at some point, and check IRCC before you apply.
The Budget also funds asylum processing at the Immigration and Refugee Board, IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency to reduce inventories, and proposes amending the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act to improve information sharing with newcomers and between departments.
Where is the labour demand?
The Budget places immigration next to a labour-market argument. It projects more than 7 million job openings over the next decade and says 1.4 million people will be needed in skilled trades by 2033. Its Team Canada Strong goal is up to 100,000 new Red Seal workers by 2031 (Department of Finance, Budget 2026, 5 Nov 2026).
| Economic PR line, 2027 | Admissions |
|---|---|
| Federal High Skilled (Express Entry) | 100,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 95,000 |
| Federal economic pilots | 7,900 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6,000 |
| Rural Community Immigration Program | 5,500 |
| Federal Business (Start-up Visa, Self-Employed) | 1,500 |
Source: IRCC, supplementary information, 5 Nov 2026. Express Entry's line is 100,000 a year, down from the 111,000 last year's plan set for 2027. The provincial line rises to 95,000, up from 92,500. The federal route shrinks slightly while the provincial route grows slightly.
What should a skilled professional take from this?
- Intake is set to stay flat. The plan keeps 380,000 PR admissions a year to 2029. It does not add regular room.
- Provinces carry more weight. A provincial nomination tied to a real job offer is worth looking at alongside Express Entry.
- Sector matters. Healthcare, construction, trades and digital work line up with both the priority list and the demand figures.
- Announced is not open. The startup pilot and the eTA facial image are proposals without dates. Act on published program rules, not on budget lines.
Additional details are due when the Minister tables the 2026 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, the Budget says. To see where you stand, try our Express Entry CRS estimator and our overview of the Provincial Nominee Programs.
Sources
- Department of Finance, Budget 2026 "Masters of our destiny", chapter 3.4 and annex (read 5 Nov 2026)
- IRCC, Supplementary Information for the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan (read 5 Nov 2026)
- IRCC, Canada's immigration levels (read 5 Nov 2026)
- IRCC, "Managing a responsive and predictable immigration system" (read 5 Nov 2026)
- IRCC, Supplementary Information for the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan (read 5 Nov 2026)