Canada still welcomes hundreds of thousands of permanent residents a year, but its immigration system has tightened. Under the government's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to admit 380,000 permanent residents in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028, down from earlier targets, and to cut the number of new temporary residents sharply. About two-thirds of permanent admissions are economic immigrants. This guide explains the main routes in 2026, what they cost and how to improve your chances.

Express Entry: the main route for skilled workers

Express Entry manages applications for three federal programmes: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You create an online profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on age, education, skilled work experience and English or French ability. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Since 2023, IRCC has also held category-based draws that target people with specific attributes, such as strong French, or experience in healthcare, trades and other shortage occupations. Candidates in these categories can be invited with lower scores than in general draws.

How to raise your CRS score

  • Language: high scores on approved tests such as IELTS General, CELPIP, TEF Canada or TCF Canada are the fastest way to gain points. Good French adds substantial extra points even for English speakers.
  • Education: get your foreign degree assessed through an Educational Credential Assessment.
  • Canadian experience: a year of skilled work in Canada adds significant points.
  • Provincial nomination: a nomination through a provincial programme linked to Express Entry adds 600 points, effectively guaranteeing an invitation.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Each province and territory runs its own Provincial Nominee Program to meet local labour needs, often favouring people with a job offer or previous study or work in the province. Streams open and close frequently, so check each province's official site.

Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program helps employers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador hire foreign workers and graduates. You need a job offer from a designated employer, but language and education requirements are more flexible than in Express Entry.

Start-up Visa: suspended

Canada's Start-up Visa programme, once a popular route for founders, stopped accepting new applications in 2026 after its backlog grew to tens of thousands of people and processing times stretched to many years, as reported by Fragomen. The government has said it plans a new entrepreneur pilot; check IRCC's Start-up Visa page for the latest status before planning around it.

Family sponsorship

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor spouses, partners and dependent children. The parents and grandparents programme is capped and uses a lottery-style invitation process. Sponsors must commit to supporting the person they sponsor financially.

Study and work routes

International students at designated institutions may qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years, and that Canadian work experience can later count towards Express Entry. However, Canada has capped study permits and tightened work permit eligibility since 2024, so studying is no longer a near-automatic path to residency.

What it costs

  • Government fees: as of April 30, 2026, the processing fee is C$990 per adult and the right of permanent residence fee is C$600 per adult, according to IRCC's fee schedule as reported by CIC News.
  • Proof of funds: Federal Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades applicants without a valid job offer must show settlement funds, which IRCC updates each year — over C$15,000 for a single person.
  • Extras: language tests, credential assessments, medical exams and police certificates add several hundred dollars more.

Step by step: applying through Express Entry

1. Check eligibility for at least one programme using IRCC's online questionnaire, and estimate your score with the official CRS tool. 2. Take an approved English or French test and get an Educational Credential Assessment for degrees earned outside Canada. 3. Create your Express Entry profile. It stays in the pool for up to 12 months. 4. If invited, submit a complete application for permanent residence within 60 days, with police certificates, medical exam results and proof of funds. 5. Pay the fees, provide biometrics, and wait for a decision. Once approved, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence to present when you land.

Common reasons for refusal include incomplete work experience letters, proof of funds that is borrowed or has not been held long enough, and differences between the profile and the documents submitted. Many applicants hire a licensed consultant or lawyer; if you do, check they are registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants or a provincial law society.

Working in Canada before permanent residence

Some people first come on a temporary work permit and apply for permanent residence later through the Canadian Experience Class. Employer-specific permits usually require the employer to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment showing no Canadian was available for the job, while international mobility programmes such as International Experience Canada (working holiday permits for young people from partner countries) and some free trade agreements do not. A year of skilled Canadian work experience can then add significant CRS points and make you eligible for the Canadian Experience Class. The government's reduced targets for temporary residents mean these permits are harder to get than before, so check the latest rules on the IRCC website.

Processing times and settling in

IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications within about six months of receiving a complete application, but times vary; check the official processing times tool. Popular destinations include Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Calgary and Ottawa, but housing costs in Toronto and Vancouver are among the highest in North America. Many newcomers find more affordable homes and good jobs in cities such as Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax and Québec City. Free government-funded settlement services help with job searching, language classes and paperwork.

Is Canada still a good choice?

Yes, for skilled workers with strong language scores, and especially for French speakers and people in healthcare or trades. But competition is higher than a few years ago, some routes have closed, and the cost of housing is a real challenge. Start with a realistic CRS estimate using IRCC's official tool, improve your language scores, and look closely at provincial programmes where you may be a better fit.