Federal temporary residents: targets and arrivals 2026-2028
IRCC temporary resident arrival targets from the 2026-2028 levels plan, shown separately from permanent-resident admissions because the target counts arrivals, not landed permanent residents.
Data as of May 2026
Federal temporary resident targets
| Category | Group | Metric | Unit | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Temporary Resident Arrivals | Total | Arrivals | persons | 385,000 (375,000–395,000) | 370,000 (360,000–380,000) | 370,000 (360,000–380,000) | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada |
| Workers (Total) | Workers | Arrivals | persons | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada |
| International Mobility Program | Workers | Arrivals | persons | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | Workers | Arrivals | persons | 60,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada |
| Students | Students | Arrivals | persons | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada |
Frequently asked questions
What is Canada's temporary resident target for 2026?
IRCC's 2026 levels plan lists 385,000 temporary resident arrivals, with a planning range of 375,000 to 395,000.
Which rows does this table carry?
IRCC's published target and range rows for overall temporary resident arrivals, workers, the International Mobility Program, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and students. The worker total is split between the two work-permit programs, so IMP and TFWP sum to it rather than adding on top of it.
Are international students counted?
Yes. IRCC publishes a separate students row in the temporary resident target table.
Are visitors included in this target?
No. IRCC's temporary resident target rows exclude visitors and eTAs, as well as permit extensions, in-Canada study or work permit applications, and asylum claimant volumes.
Why is this separate from the permanent-resident plan?
Because the target counts arrivals, not landed permanent residents. Temporary resident arrivals and permanent resident admissions answer different planning questions, and keeping them on separate pages avoids implying that a work permit, study permit, or CAQ count is directly comparable to a PR admissions target.
What does a notional value mean?
Out-year values are marked notional wherever IRCC labels them indicative rather than firm. A notional figure is a planning placeholder the department expects to revise when it publishes the next plan, so it carries less weight than the current-year target.