IRCC Policy Update — June 4, 2026
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Correction — July 19, 2026: An earlier version incorrectly stated that the 2026 permanent resident target was 395,000. The official 2026 target is 380,000, with a range of 350,000–420,000. The 395,000 figure is the upper end of the 2026 temporary resident new-arrivals range; that category's target is 385,000.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026, with a focus on economic immigration; it also aims to reduce Canada's temporary resident population to under 5% of the total population by the end of 2027.
Permanent residence fees increased on April 30, 2026, and Canadian passport fees rose on March 31, 2026 — adults applying for a 10-year passport from within Canada now pay $163.50.
IRCC is accelerating PR processing for up to 33,000 in-Canada workers in smaller communities through the In-Canada Workers Initiative (announced May 4, 2026), operating outside Express Entry by speeding up existing applications under regional and pilot programs.
What You Should Do
- If you submitted a PR application under a regional or pilot program and live in a smaller community, check whether your application qualifies for accelerated processing under the In-Canada Workers Initiative — review the EY Tax Alert at taxnews.ey.com/2026-1002 for the list of qualifying programs.
- If you have not yet paid PR application fees and submitted before April 30, 2026, verify the new fee amounts at canada.ca/immigration-fees to ensure your payment is complete and correct.
- If you need a new Canadian passport, note the new fees ($163.50 for a 10-year adult passport from within Canada) and the new 30-business-day processing guarantee in effect as of April 1, 2026 — apply at canada.ca/passport.
- If you are a co-op student, review the April 9, 2026 IRCC notice on simplified co-op work permit requirements at canada.ca/ircc-notices to confirm you meet the updated eligibility criteria.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The 2026–2028 plan targets 385,000 new temporary resident arrivals in 2026, declining to 370,000 in 2027–2028, and commits to reducing Canada's temporary population to under 5% of total population by end of 2027.
PR Card Processing Efficiency: IRCC accelerated PR processing for up to 33,000 in-Canada workers in smaller communities via the In-Canada Workers Initiative, operating outside Express Entry by prioritizing existing applications under regional and pilot programs.
Service Fee Adjustments: PR application fees increased on April 30, 2026; Canadian passport fees rose March 31, 2026, with a 10-year adult passport now costing $163.50 — the first passport fee increase since 2013.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — September 7, 2026
Sep 7, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — September 3, 2026
Sep 3, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — August 31, 2026
Aug 31, 2026
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