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In the initial three months of 2024, Canada received 121,620 new permanent residents. Out of these, 52,720 settled in Ontario, while only 17,745 chose British Columbia as their new home.
Although it is too early to draw any conclusions from the first quarter alone, it is worth noting that 145,495 new permanent residents arrived in Canada during the first quarter of 2023.
This suggests that immigration to Canada has slowed down in early 2024 compared to last year.
Nevertheless, the numbers for the first quarter of 2024 are still higher than those for the same period in 2022, when 113,805 new permanent residents were welcomed.
New PR Admissions in the First Quarter and Annual Immigration Targets
| Year | First Quarter New PRs | Annual Immigration Targets |
| 2024 | 121,620 | 485,000 |
| 2023 | 145,495 | 465,000 |
| 2022 | 113,805 | 431,645 |
| 2021 | 70,495 | 401,000 |
| 2020 | 69,140 | 341,000 |
| 2019 | 65,955 | 330,800 |
| 2018 | 80,005 | 310,000 |
| 2017 | 72,835 | 300,000 |
| 2016 | 86,235 | 300,000 |
| 2015 | 51,125 | 260,000 to 285,000 |
Additionally, between January and March, a total of 135,291 authorizations and visas were issued for permanent residents. In comparison, 156,272 were issued during the same period in 2023.
Under the Express Entry system, the largest federal economic immigration category, 36,635 new permanent residents were admitted. This represents a 6% increase from the 34,555 new permanent residents admitted in the first quarter of 2023.
Province-Wise New Permanent Residents Admitted in Q1 2024
Ontario, the most populous province in Canada, was the top destination for new permanent residents, welcoming 52,720 individuals in the first three months of 2024. This accounted for approximately 44% of all new permanent residents in the country.
Manitoba, Newfoundland Labrador, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan experienced the largest declines in new permanent resident admissions.
| Province/Territory | Q1 2024 New PRs | Q1 2023 New PRs | Percentage Change |
| Canada | 121,620 | 145,495 | -16.41% |
| Ontario | 52,720 | 60,860 | -13.37% |
| British Columbia | 17,745 | 24,495 | -27.56% |
| Alberta | 15,360 | 17,155 | -10.46% |
| Quebec | 13,355 | 16,065 | -16.87% |
| Manitoba | 5,680 | 8,855 | -35.85% |
| Saskatchewan | 5,610 | 7,395 | -24.13% |
| New Brunswick | 3,995 | 2,940 | +35.88% |
| Nova Scotia | 3,995 | 3,935 | +1.52% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1,405 | 2,045 | -31.30% |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,330 | 1,275 | +4.31% |
| Yukon | 295 | 345 | -14.49% |
| Northwest Territories | 115 | 125 | -8.00% |
| Nunavut | 10 | 10 | unchanged |
Transition of Temporary Residents to Permanent Residents (Q1 2024)
The number of temporary residents transitioning to permanent residency has seen a decline in various categories in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
- The number of temporary residents with prior study permit holder status who became permanent residents decreased by 2,370, or 24.82%, dropping to 7,180.
- Similarly, 21,190 temporary residents with prior Post-graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Holder Status transitioned to permanent residency, marking a decline of 17.90% (4,620) from 25,810 in the first quarter of 2023.
Temporary Resident Status Transition Data
| Temporary Resident Status | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | Percentage Decline |
| New PRs with Prior IMP Work Permit Holder Status | 45,565 | 54,830 | -16.90% |
| New PRs with Prior Post-graduate Work Permit Holder Status | 21,190 | 25,810 | -17.90% |
| New PRs with Prior Study Permit Holder Status | 7,180 | 9,550 | -24.82% |
| New PRs with Prior Temporary Foreign Worker Program Work Permit | 3,710 | 4,140 | -10.39% |
Top Source Countries for New Permanent Residents (Q1 2024)
India remains the leading source country for new permanent residents admitted at the beginning of 2024.
Indian nationals constituted 31% of new permanent resident entrants, followed by individuals from China, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and Nigeria, rounding out the top five.
Below are the numbers of new permanent residents admitted from the top 10 source countries:
| Country | Q1 2024 New PRs |
| India | 37,880 |
| China | 8,135 |
| Philippines | 7,990 |
| Afghanistan | 5,025 |
| Nigeria | 4,690 |
| Cameroon | 3,725 |
| Iran | 3,570 |
| Pakistan | 2,630 |
| United States | 2,480 |
| Eritrea | 2,360 |
These figures represent the top source countries for new permanent residents admitted in the first quarter of 2024.
What are Targets for Canada’s Yearly Immigration Intake?
In 2024, the target is to welcome 485,000 immigrants. Subsequently, the plan is to maintain a steady intake of 500,000 permanent residents annually for both 2025 and 2026.