Maple News reports that Canada welcomed more than 47,000 new permanent residents in November, setting a fresh monthly record for the third consecutive time. This figure is the highest on record since modern immigration data started in 1980 and reflects Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) intensified efforts to meet its ambitious 2021 target.
With this latest surge, Canada has admitted over 361,000 newcomers in the first eleven months of the year. Given the consistent pace—exceeding 45,000 landings per month since September—the country appears well-positioned to meet its goal of landing 401,000 permanent residents by the end of 2021.
A “landing” refers to the moment a foreign national officially attains permanent residency status in Canada. Before the pandemic, most landings involved immigrants arriving from abroad. However, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and delays, IRCC has focused on transitioning individuals already within Canadian borders—such as international students and temporary foreign workers—to permanent residency. This shift has helped mitigate pandemic-related challenges, such as travel disruptions and document processing delays.
A significant policy pivot has occurred as a result: while historically about 70% of new immigrants came from outside Canada, in 2021 that trend reversed. Roughly 70% of permanent resident landings this year have come from within the country. IRCC introduced several temporary public policies to facilitate this, including new immigration pathways launched in May for up to 90,000 international graduates and essential workers.
The agency has also prioritized candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) through targeted Express Entry draws. CEC applicants, who have prior work or study experience in Canada, were deemed more likely to successfully integrate and less likely to encounter pandemic-related delays.
Prior to the pandemic, Canada typically admitted around 25,000 to 35,000 immigrants each month, with peaks in the spring and summer. After a slow start to 2021, immigration levels picked up sharply from June onward. Each month since then has surpassed 35,000 landings, culminating in record-breaking numbers in September, October, and November.
Despite uncertainties posed by the emergence of the Omicron variant, IRCC remains committed to maintaining strong immigration levels. The department’s focus on domestic candidates appears to have insulated its operations from global disruptions, enabling it to stay on track with its planned targets.
Canada’s immigration strategy continues to play a central role in addressing demographic challenges and supporting the country’s economic recovery. As 2021 draws to a close, official figures for December will determine whether Canada achieves what would be its highest annual immigration intake in over a century.