In 2021, Canada has set a new high for immigration by welcoming 401,000 people
The IRCC met its aim by focusing on converting temporary residents to permanent residents who were in Canada during the pandemic
For the second time since its founding in 1867, Canada has welcomed over 400,000 new permanent immigrants in 2021.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada just confirmed this in a press release (IRCC).
The administration also revealed that the country had set a new high for permanent resident landings in a single year.
The only previous occasion Canada reached 400,000 immigrants were in 1913, but with the outbreak of World War I, immigration to the country began to decline in the years following.
Prior to the epidemic, Canada had set a target of 341,000 additional immigrants by 2020. Due to the pandemic, it only landed 184,000 people last year. However, it announced that it will target the entry of 401,000 additional permanent residents in 2021 as part of its post-pandemic economic recovery plan.
Due to a technicality, IRCC was able to reach its Immigration Levels Plan aim this year. A landing can happen when a temporary citizen of Canada sees their legal change in status to permanent residence, or when someone comes to Canada from another country and gains permanent resident status. Prior to the pandemic, the majority of new immigrants were from other countries. This year, though, IRCC has concentrated on achieving its newcomer goal by transferring individuals already in the country. The logic has been that those who are already in Canada are less likely to be affected by COVID-related delays that could prevent them from becoming permanent residents.
About 30% of new economic-class immigrants were already in the nation when they gained permanent status before the pandemic, while 70% came from abroad. In 2021, this will be reversed, with around 70% of passengers arriving from within Canada and 30% from abroad.
The IRCC has changed its operations to help more temporary residents become permanent residents.
Among the changes is the holding of Express Entry draws targeted at Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, as well as the establishment of six streams in May to provide paths to permanent residence to up to 90,000 foreign students and immigrant workers in Canada.
Prior to COVID, Canada received between 25,000 and 35,000 immigrants every month, with numbers peaking in the spring and summer months. This year, Canada got off to a poor start before picking up steam in June. Since June, Canada has regularly landed over 35,000 new legal immigrants each month, with recent months exceeding 45,000 landings.
One of IRCC’s key aims in 2021 is to meet the 401,000 newcomer target. Following the issuing of a new mandate letter, IRCC will widen its goals now that the department has attained its aim.
“Last year, we set an ambitious goal,” immigration minister Sean Fraser said in a statement released Monday. We got there today. Our country is experiencing a historic moment as we welcome the largest number of newcomers in a century. I’d like to express my gratitude to all of my department’s personnel, particularly our Operations Sector, who made this happen. Canada was founded on immigration, and we will continue to welcome the immigrants that the country requires to thrive. I’m looking forward to seeing how our 401,000 new neighbours contribute to communities across the country.”
Canada plans to accept 411,000 new immigrants in 2022 and 421,000 new immigrants in 2023 under the Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023. By February 10, 2022, Fraser will present the new Immigration Levels Plan. According to Fraser, the new plan might have even greater objectives for 2022 and 2023.