Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has instituted a plethora of adjustments that will impact all newcomers to Canada in 2024.
The recently unveiled Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026 indicates that Canada is set to receive a total of 485,000 permanent residents (PRs) in 2024. Accompanying this rise in immigration levels, Canada is anticipated to introduce updates across various programs and capitalize on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the client experience.
Category-based Express Entry draws were initiated in 2023 to aid Canada in identifying foreign nationals best suited to address the country’s most pressing labor gaps and demographic needs. For 2024, IRCC is expected to continue with category-based draws but may revise the focus categories chosen for 2023 based on the dynamic needs of Canada’s labor market.
The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are poised to become the largest immigration pathway in 2024 and are subject to new multi-year plans. These new PNP developments will provide prospective newcomers with a clearer understanding of their options for immigrating to their desired province or territory due to better planning by each regional government.
Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) targets are set to increase to 32,000 in 2024, if IRCC can improve intake management and the alignment of application inputs and outputs.
Enhancements to Canada’s International Student Program include a reformed Letter of Acceptance (LOA) verification system and a planned review of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program in 2024, with the intention to better calibrate it to the needs of the country’s labor market.
IRCC has pledged to incorporate more technology and AI into the immigration system to reduce processing times, improve the client experience, and strengthen fraud detection and worker protections. Additionally, a new advisory board inclusive of individuals with lived experience in immigration will be established to strengthen policy and program development. Furthermore, Canada’s immigration department will introduce a Chief International Talent Officer to improve the alignment between the country’s immigration system and its national labor market and sectoral strategies.
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