Immigration regulations in Canada have experienced substantial changes in 2024, with further updates on the horizon for 2025. These revisions aim to better synchronize immigration with the nation's workforce requirements and infrastructure capabilities.

Employers will feel the impact of these adjustments, particularly in the areas of hiring international employees. Recent changes and what's anticipated for 2025:

Immigration Levels Decrease

• 395,000 in 2025

  380,000 in 2026

• 365,000 in 2027

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

• 10% limit on the number of temporary foreign workers that can be hired under the low-wage stream.

• 20% cap to employers in the high-demand sectors, in agriculture, construction, food - fish processing, and healthcare.

• Hourly wage for temporary foreign workers to increase to 20%, related to high-wage stream.

International Students

• 10% decrease from the 2024 target of 485,000 new study permits

• Intake cap for 2025 is 437,000 study permits.

• Off-campus work is now 24 hours per week.

• Financial proof-of-funds required increased from $10,000 to $20,635.

Temporary Resident Cap

• Temporary residents limit to 5% of Canada’s total population in 2026.