Canada's Immigration Reforms Limit Permanent Residents, Reduce Temporary Visa Holders

Canada is undergoing significant changes to its immigration policies under Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration, aiming to balance population growth with the country's housing, healthcare, and employment capacities. Beginning in 2027, a cap will limit new permanent residents to under 1% of the total population annually, while the number of temporary residents, including international students and workers, will be reduced to less than 5% of the population. The government has also introduced a two-year cap on student permits and tightened eligibility for open work permits, restricting spouses and dependent children of foreign workers. Meanwhile, the Express Entry system continues to issue invitations for permanent residency, with recent draws reflecting adjusted Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) requirements and the removal of 'job offer points' for most candidates. The Start-up Visa program, popular among entrepreneurs for its flexible criteria and family support features, is facing processing backlogs due to a surge in applications and pandemic-related delays. Additionally, interim measures now offer hope to Canadians abroad seeking citizenship for their children, as the government works to amend the restrictive first-generation limit in the Citizenship Act.