Maple News reports that Canada welcomed approximately 15,100 new permanent residents in October 2020, a figure nearly identical to that of September. This marks the second-highest monthly intake since COVID-19 began affecting immigration flows earlier in the year.
Newly released data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) highlights the continued disruption to Canada’s immigration system due to the pandemic. Though October showed moderate recovery, the number of arrivals remains well below pre-pandemic levels.
To put this into perspective, Canada typically received between 25,000 and 35,000 new immigrants per month before the global health crisis. In October 2019, the country admitted over 31,000 newcomers—more than double this year’s count for the same month.
Between January and October 2020, Canada granted permanent residency to approximately 158,600 individuals. This strongly indicates that the country will fall short of the 200,000 mark by year’s end—an annual volume not seen since 1999. Just a year earlier, in 2019, Canada set a record by welcoming over 341,000 immigrants.
The steep decline is largely attributed to global travel restrictions, reduced operational capacity, delays in completing immigration procedures, and challenges faced by approved permanent residents in obtaining final documentation and entering the country.
June 2020 remains the strongest month for immigration during the pandemic, with 19,100 new residents admitted. However, overall numbers have yet to return to pace with immigration targets.
Despite current setbacks, Canada has made clear its commitment to immigration-led economic recovery. The federal government has announced ambitious intake plans for the coming years, aiming to admit over 400,000 new permanent residents annually to support population growth, labor market needs, and long-term prosperity.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments as Canada adapts its immigration strategy in response to ongoing global challenges.