Canada plans to accept 401,000 new immigrants from around the world in 2021. Almost 60 percent would be accepted through economy class, 25% through family class, and 16% through refugees and humanitarian class. This target is a part of the new immigration policy of 2021-2023 that has been planned to welcome about 1.2 million immigrants.
| Immigration Levels Plan | 2021 | |
| project admissions – Targets | 401,000 | |
| project admissions – Ranges | LOW | High |
| Federal economic, Provincial nominees | 153600 | 208,500 |
| Refugees, Protected, humanitarian and compassionate | 43,500 | 68000 |
| Family reunification | 76000 | 105,000 |
When it plans, the government always makes sure to set aside a low and high range of quota for different immigration programs and streams. These are as under:
| Immigrant Category | Sub Category | Target | Low Range | High Range |
| Total Permanent Resident Admissions | 401,000 | 300,000 | 410,000 | |
| Humanitarian and Other | Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other | 5,500 | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad | 23,500 | 17,000 | 25,500 | |
| Resettled Refugees – Government-Assisted | 12,500 | 7,500 | 13,000 | |
| Refugees and Protected Persons | Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored | 22,500 | 14,900 | 23,000 |
| Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office-Referred | 1,000 | 100 | 1,000 | |
| Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 59,500 | 39,500 | 62,000 | |
| Family | Spouses, Partners, and Children | 80,000 | 61,000 | 82,000 |
| Parents and Grandparents | 23,500 | 15,000 | 24,000 | |
| Total Family | 103,500 | 76,000 | 105,000 | |
| Economic | Federal High Skilled | 108,500 | 81,000 | 114,500 |
| Federal Business | 1,000 | 400 | 1,250 | |
| Economic Pilots: Caregivers | 8,500 | 4,900 | 9,250 | |
| Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program | 6,000 | 3,300 | 6,250 | |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 80,800 | 64,000 | 81,500 | |
| Total Economic | 232,500 | 180,500 | 237,000 |
Under the ongoing harsh circumstances, it seems really difficult to achieve this target but the Canadian government is extremely willing to do it. The current efforts from IRCC and the immigration ministry are showing a bright face to immigrants that they can still make it to Canada in 2021.
On October 30, 2020, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, tabled the 2021‒2023 Immigration Levels Plan that will allow 401,000 immigrants in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023. Why Canada is planning so big for the next three years? The answer is simple. The biggest challenge for Canada is that its labor force is out of balance. Over the next two decades, 13.4 million people are expected to be out of work, but only 11.8 million will drop out of school and join the workforce. Furthermore, it also has the lowest birth rate in the world. So the government does think now, that immigrants can fulfill these all gaps either for population growth or labor market needs.
How Canadian government can achieve this target in times of pandemic? A school of thought says it will not be as simple as it seems. The reasons are that Canada could only accept 184,370 against the set target of 341,000 in 2020. This total annual intake was the second-lowest number in history. Along with this, issues of travel restrictions and the unemployment rate touching to its highest at 9.75% make it more difficult to reach the immigration targets. The government itself is not sure how long the pandemic situation will last and when will the normal traveling be open.
On contrary, another school of thought sees the bright side of the scenario. The reasons are Canadian provinces, territories, and IRCC have been trying their level best to process the immigration applications in as much as high numbers as possible. The best example is the number of “Express Entry Draws” which are being held at a normal rate as ever (about twice a month). From November 2020 to December 2020, Canada continuously held 4 draws with a maximum 5,000 number of invitations to apply. The history-making record came on the front when Canada invited 27,332 candidates to apply for PR on 13 February 2021 under the CEC stream. The efforts continue as foreign students have also been entertained (Alberta started an open work permit program for graduates) in terms of extending their stays in Canada. A new program has also been set up for the farmers to own farms in Canada. New Brunswick province is also still holding online immigration events for candidates around the world. International students have been allowed to travel to Canada if their DLI fulfills the required SOPs. Parents and grandparents category for sponsorship and visa was held too.
Canada is also working more and more on temporary immigrants in the country. The reason is they can settle easily than others coming from abroad. The latest draw of 13 February saw 27,332 candidates be invited to apply for PR under Canada Experience Class. Out of all these, almost 90% of candidates are already in Canada on temporary visa status.
As per the immigration targets, Canada is aiming to accept 108,500 immigrants through Express Entry in 2021. Provided that it has already issued 37,986 invitations to apply in the first 2 months of 2021 if IRCC is able to issue another 30,000 or so ITAs within the next two months, they should have a strong chance to achieve their Express Entry target by year’s end. The time will tell how it will be possible in the upcoming days but the current huge draw success has made the express entry program more famous around the world. The CRS cut score that remains between 450 and 470 in general, came down to 75 in the latest draw that seems a dream come true to many in the entry pool. Australia, UK, the USA, and Germany on the other hand are not making that strong effort to accept immigrants, Canada stands far more ahead of them. The next months may well see express entry pool a huge number of new candidates with more hopes.