Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released long-awaited mid-year data for 2025, revealing that while immigration levels dropped in the first half of the year compared to recent years, Canada is still poised to exceed its permanent resident target.
Between January and June 2025, 207,650 new permanent residents were admitted, down from 255,950 over the same period in 2024 and 263,425 in 2023. Despite the decline, Canada is projected to welcome about 415,000 newcomers by year’s end, surpassing the official goal of 395,000.
The delayed release of immigration data—months later than usual—has sparked criticism from opposition leaders and policy analysts who accuse the government of withholding information as numbers fell across most newcomer categories. They argue the delay has hindered public debate about immigration’s impact on housing, healthcare, and the labour market.
Even with the mid-year dip, Canada remains on course to exceed its 2025 immigration plan, underscoring both the continued demand for residency and the government’s commitment to high immigration levels.