Top 10 Source Countries of New Canadian Immigrants in the First Half of 2023

With a broad range of nations contributing to its expanding population, Canada continues to be a popular immigration destination. Building on a pattern seen in recent years, Canada received a sizable 263,180 new immigrants in the first half of 2023.

New Permanent Residents by Country in the First Half of 2023

The list of top sources of new permanent residents for the first half of 2023 paints a global picture of migration to Canada:

1. India: Tops the list of new permanent residents in Canada with a significant 84,425 individuals choosing Canada as their new home.
2. China: Particularly the People’s Republic of China, stands as a prominent source country, contributing 18,760 new permanent residents to Canada.
3. Philippines: Makes a substantial contribution with 14,450 Filipinos becoming new permanent residents in Canada.
4. Nigeria: Shows continued growth in its presence with 10,180 Nigerians becoming new permanent residents in Canada.
5. Afghanistan: Joins the ranks with 7,670 individuals from Afghanistan choosing Canada as their new permanent residence.
6. United States of America: Reflecting the appeal of Canada, 6,675 individuals from the USA become new permanent residents in Canada.
7. Pakistan: Contributes significantly with 6,355 Pakistanis making Canada their new permanent home.
8. Eritrea: Eritrea contributes significantly to Canada’s immigrant population, with 5,910 individuals from Eritrea choosing Canada as their new permanent residence.
9. France: France also makes a noteworthy contribution, with 5,750 individuals from France becoming new permanent residents in Canada.
10. Iran: 4,840 individuals from Iran chose Canada as their new permanent residence, adding to the diverse immigrant population. This data reflects the diverse origins of those choosing to make Canada their new home.

Citizenship Applicants on the Rise From January to June 2023

The number of people applying for citizenship in Canada is also increasing, with 177,415 of them being processed between January and June 2023. Notably, among the top five nations influencing this trend are Syria, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, and India. Even if the rate of citizenship enrolment is still slightly lower than it was the year before, when 232,120 new citizens were welcomed in the same period, it still shows a strong desire to become a Canadian citizen.

New Citizens by Country

Here’s a breakdown of the number of new citizens from various nations in the first half of 2023:

1. India: 35,608
2. Philippines: 17,012
3. Nigeria: 7,470
4. Syria: 6,986
5. Pakistan: 6,818
6. Iran: 5,605
7. People’s Republic of China: 5,288
8. United States of America: 3,932
9. Iraq: 3,170
10. Brazil: 3,003

Canada’s Surging Popularity as an International Student Destination in 2023

Canada is becoming more and more popular among students from around the world, not just for immigration but for studying too. In the first half of 2023, a whopping 434,899 new students came to Canada. Many of them came from India, showing that Canada is seen as a great place to get an education. Nigeria, the Philippines, China, and Nepal are also sending lots of students to Canada. This is a big increase from the previous year when Canada approved 292,376 new study permits during the same period.

Here’s a list of the top countries sending students to Canada:

1. India: 175,021
2. Nigeria: 43,482
3. Philippines: 21,902
4. China: 14,976
5. Nepal: 12,776
6. Algeria: 8,269
7. Iran: 7,906
8. Cameroon: 7,690
9. Ghana: 7,137
10. Senegal: 6,978

Visitor Visas for Various Countries

The IRCC has given the green light to a total of 987,877 visitor visas during the first two quarters of 2023. This number represents a modest decrease of only 14% compared to the total of 1,154,945 visitor visas issued throughout the entire year of 2022.

Specifically, 299,062 individuals from India have been approved for visitor visas, according to the IRCC’s most recent data.

Visitor Visas Approved by IRCC

The list below shows the number of visitor visas approved by the IRCC for various countries during the period from January to June 2023:

1. India: 299,062
2. People’s Republic of China: 103,707
3. Ukraine: 97,057
4. Nigeria: 57,208
5. Philippines: 45,265
6. Pakistan: 29,070
7. Iran: 27,123
8. Socialist Republic of Vietnam: 24,319
9. Algeria: 22,486
10. Jamaica: 15,444

Please keep in mind that this data only applies to foreign nationals traveling for tourism or to spend time with family and friends. It does not include TRVs given to temporary foreign employees, foreign students, diplomats, or other specified groups.

Canada’s Immigration Trends

Over the past five years, Canada has seen a consistent inflow of new permanent residents. Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 1,690,480 new permanent residents arrived in the country. Canada is poised to continue this trend, with plans to welcome a record-breaking 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, already having received 263,180 newcomers in the first half of the year. This showcases Canada’s continued allure as a destination for those seeking new opportunities and a diverse, welcoming society.