Immigration Canada: What to watch in 2025

If, like me, you follow immigration policies in Canada closely, you have surely noticed that 2025 is shaping up to be a year of big changes. Between new restrictions, pilot programs and regional adjustments, there is a lot to digest. Don't panic, I'll explain everything in this article so that you are fully prepared!

Canada downsizes: fewer permanent and temporary residents

First big news: Canada has decided to reduce its immigration targets. In 2025, the country plans to welcome 395,000 new permanent residents, which is much less than what was initially planned. And that's not all: a large part of these admissions will concern people already here as temporary residents (international students or foreign workers).

Speaking of temporary residents, there too, the screw is being tightened. The government wants to reduce their proportion to 5 % of the total population by 2026. Result? Approximately 445,000 fewer temporary residents in 2025 and 2026. That's a lot, right? But the goal is clear: to ease the pressure on housing and infrastructure.

International students: stricter rules

If you are a student or planning to be one, here is what you need to know. Canada has set a cap of 437,000 study permits for 2025. That's 10 % less than in 2024! And if you're in a master's or doctoral program, get ready to provide a provincial or territorial attestation letter (LAT/LAP) to validate your request.

Another new feature: students can now work up to 24 hours per week off campus during classes (compared to 20 hours before). Good news for those who juggle between studies and finances!

But be careful: changing schools is becoming more complicated. If you want to move from one school to another, you will have to apply for a new study permit. This is not something to be taken lightly!

Work permits: restrictions that sting

For temporary foreign workers, things are also getting tougher. Employers can no longer hire more than 10 % of foreign workers in low-wage jobs. And if you are in the high-wage bracket, know that a minimum hourly wage increased by 20 % is now required.

As for spouses and children of foreign students or workers, they can no longer obtain an open work permit as easily as before. The criteria are now very strict: the main worker must hold a highly qualified position or the student must be enrolled in a specific program (such as a master's or doctorate).

Game-changing pilot programs

Fortunately, not everything is restrictive! New pilot programs are emerging to meet certain specific needs:

• Visit Agri-food pilot program accepting applications until May 14, 2025.
• Two new programs for home care workers provide permanent residency upon arrival in Canada.
• A rural community pilot program offers a pathway to permanent residency for those moving to rural areas.

These initiatives show that Canada remains open to targeted profiles despite general restrictions.

Quebec: significant adjustments

If you have plans to immigrate to Quebec, be aware that the province is temporarily suspending certain selections in its main programs (PEQ and PRTQ) until June 30, 2025. These programs will be replaced by a new device called the Qualified Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).

Quebec also continues to adjust its quotas to better manage the influx of immigrants while responding to the specific needs of the local labor market.

Measures to strengthen the integrity of the system

The Canadian government is also focusing on combating fraud and strengthening the migration system:

• Acceptance letters for international students are now subject to increased verification.
• Under the Express Entry system, additional points for a job offer will be eliminated from spring 2025.

These measures aim to ensure that only serious and qualified candidates obtain their place in Canada.

Express entry in all this

In 2025, the Express Entry system, Canada's main economic immigration channel, is undergoing significant changes to better meet the country's economic and social priorities. Here is a summary of the main changes and their impact:

1. Increased importance of Express Entry

• Express Entry's share of overall admissions increases from 22.8 % in 2024 to 31.5 % in 2025, despite an overall reduction in immigration targets.
• The number of admissions under federal economic programs (managed by Express Entry) increases to 124,590 in 2025, compared to 110,770 in 2024.

2. Removal of points for job offers

• Starting in spring 2025, candidates will no longer receive additional points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for a valid job offer. This measure is intended to reduce fraud related to Labor Market Impact Studies (EIMT).
• Candidates will need to focus on other factors like language skills, education and work experience to improve their CRS score.

3. Introduction of new categories

• The Express Entry system is divided into two new subcategories:
• Federal Economic Priorities : 41,700 admissions targeting priority sectors such as health care, skilled trades and French-speaking candidates.
• Focus on Canada : 82,890 admissions for candidates already present in Canada (Canadian Experience Program, PNP aligned with Express Entry, etc.).

4. Emphasis on French-speaking candidates

• Candidates with a proficiency in French will benefit from additional points and specific draws. This reflects Canada's commitment to promoting the French language and attracting more bilingual immigrants.

5. Drawings based on priority professions

• Targeted draws will continue to focus on in-demand sectors such as:
• Health care.
• Skilled trades.
• Education and other sectors identified according to the needs of the labor market.

6. Impact on CRS scores

• The removal of points for job offers could result in a drop in the CRS scores needed to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, competition remains high, particularly for candidates under the Canadian Experience Program (CEC), where CRS scores could exceed 510.

Quebec, which always tries to play alone

1. Permanent immigration targets

• Quebec plans to admit between 48,500 and 51,500 permanent immigrants in 2025, a figure stable compared to 2024.
• Including admissions from the “Quebec Graduates” component of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), the total could reach up to 66,500 admissions.
• Priority is given to French-speaking economic immigration, with a proportion of 93 % of the main applicants knowing French in this category.

2. Temporary suspension of two key programs

To avoid an explosion in admissions and allow for strategic thinking, two major programs are suspended until June 30, 2025 :

• The “Quebec Graduates” component of the PEQ : As of October 31, 2024, no new applications are accepted in this stream. However, applications submitted before this date will continue to be processed.
• The Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) : This program has been replaced by the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) from November 29, 2024, but no invitation will be issued in this context before July 2025.

These suspensions are aimed at limiting admissions and aligning policies with the next multi-year immigration planning.

3. Maintaining the temporary foreign workers component

• Unlike the two suspended streams, the “Temporary Foreign Workers” stream of the PEQ remains active and constitutes the only path to permanent residence for certain categories until June 30, 2025.
• This makes it possible to meet the immediate needs of the Quebec labour market while maintaining control over permanent admissions.

4. New pilot programs

Quebec continues to test targeted initiatives to meet specific needs:

• Pilot program for food processing workers : This program accepts up to 600 requests in 2025.
• Pilot program for beneficiary attendants : Also limited to 600 requests, it aims to attract essential workers into the care sector.

These programs provide a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers in priority sectors.

5. Emphasis on francisation

The government makes a point of strengthening the place of French among new arrivals:

• Implementation of Francisation Quebec to increase the supply of French courses before and after the arrival of immigrants.
• Objective: to aim for a selection composed entirely of people who have mastered French in economic programs.

Key dates to remember

To make sure you don't miss anything in 2025, here are some important dates:

• February 28 : End of the policy allowing visitors to apply for a work permit without leaving Canada.
• May 14 : Deadline to apply for the Agri-Food Pilot Program.
• June 30 : End of the temporary suspension of the PEQ and PRTQ programs in Quebec.
• October : Announcement of new immigration targets for the following years.

Conclusion

There you have it, you know everything about the changes planned in Canada's Immigration Plan for 2025! Even if some measures seem restrictive, they reflect the government's desire to better manage migration flows while meeting the country's economic and social needs.

My advice? Stay informed by regularly following official Immigration announcements, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (RCC) and prepare your files carefully. With a little planning and a good dose of patience, your immigration project can always become a reality!