Permanent residence admissions in Canada fell during the first seven months of 2026, but the decline was not evenly distributed among countries of citizenship.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada recorded 222,625 people granted permanent resident status between January and July 2026, compared with 246,580 during the same period in 2025.
That represents a reduction of 23,955 people, or about 9.7% year over year.
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Canada’s permanent residence total falls below 2025 pace
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 380,000 permanent residents for 2026.
Separately, the federal government is operating two one-time initiatives for people already in Canada or already on a pathway to permanent residence.
IRCC reported 188,800 permanent residents admitted under the regular levels plan through July 2026.
The department also reported 33,900 admissions through the one-time initiatives during the same period, although independently rounded figures may not add precisely to the country-of-citizenship total.
| Measure | January to July 2025 | January to July 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total PRs granted | 246,580 | 222,625 | -23,955 |
| Year-over-year change | — | -9.7% | |
| Indian citizens granted PR | 68,690 | 53,285 | -15,405 |
| Nigerian citizens granted PR | 10,450 | 11,565 | +1,115 |
Turkey posts the largest increase among major citizenship groups
Turkey recorded the largest absolute increase among the countries highlighted in the IRCC data.
The number of Turkish citizens granted permanent residence rose from 1,050 in the first seven months of 2025 to 2,995 during the same period of 2026.
That was an increase of 1,945 people, or approximately 185.2%.
Uganda also recorded a sharp percentage increase, with admissions rising from 395 to 1,100, a gain of approximately 178.5%.
Iranian citizens received 5,495 permanent residences during the 2026 comparison period, up from 4,175 in 2025.
Nigeria remained one of Canada’s largest citizenship groups for new permanent residents and moved into fourth place after increasing from 10,450 to 11,565.
Mexico, Sudan, Syria and Iraq also recorded notable gains, while Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda posted smaller but significant increases.
| Country of citizenship | 2025 PRs | 2026 PRs | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1,050 | 2,995 | +1,945 |
| Uganda | 395 | 1,100 | +705 |
| Iran | 4,175 | 5,495 | +1,320 |
| Nigeria | 10,450 | 11,565 | +1,115 |
| Mexico | 3,265 | 4,140 | +875 |
India accounts for most of the national decline
The sharpest reduction involved Indian citizens, who remained Canada’s largest country-of-citizenship group for permanent residence admissions.
Admissions to Indian citizens dropped from 68,690 in January to July 2025 to 53,285 in the same months of 2026.
The decrease of 15,405 people accounted for approximately 64.3% of Canada’s total year-over-year decline.
India’s share of all permanent residences also fell from approximately 27.9% to 23.9%.
China recorded a 12% decline, falling from 13,490 to 11,870 admissions.
The Philippines remained in second place despite a smaller reduction of about 2%, from 16,325 to 16,005.
France recorded one of the steepest percentage declines among countries with at least 5,000 admissions in the 2025 comparison period, falling 41.8% from 7,385 to 4,295.
Eritrea, Tunisia, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Haiti and the United States also recorded notable decreases.
Why a country can gain share while losing admissions
The Philippines illustrates why raw admission totals and national share can tell different stories.
Although admissions to Philippine citizens fell by approximately 2%, the country’s share of Canada’s total rose from about 6.6% to 7.2% because the national total declined more quickly.
Pakistan followed a similar pattern, with a modest reduction in admissions but a slightly larger proportional share of the overall intake.
This distinction matters when assessing changes in Canada’s immigration composition.
What the figures do and do not show
IRCC’s figures count people who were granted permanent resident status in Canada according to their recorded country of citizenship.
They do not show how many people physically travelled to Canada from each country.
Many new permanent residents were already in Canada as international students, temporary workers, protected persons or other temporary residents before receiving permanent status.
The country data also does not identify which immigration category caused a particular increase or decline.
As a result, the figures alone cannot establish whether changes were driven by economic immigration, family sponsorship, refugee resettlement, humanitarian programs or another pathway.
IRCC rounds most values to the nearest five and suppresses values between zero and five, so small differences may not reconcile exactly across tables.
What happens next for Canada’s 2026 intake
IRCC’s official 2026 snapshot shows 188,800 admissions under the regular levels plan through July, alongside additional admissions under the two one-time initiatives.
The in-Canada workers initiative is intended to accelerate permanent residence for up to 33,000 workers over 2026 and 2027.
A separate initiative is processing applications from up to 115,000 eligible protected persons and their in-Canada dependants over the same two-year period.
Final annual results will depend on admissions recorded during the remaining months of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many permanent residents did Canada grant from January to July 2026?
Canada granted permanent resident status to 222,625 people between January and July 2026, according to IRCC country-of-citizenship data.
Which country recorded the largest increase in Canadian permanent residence admissions?
Turkey recorded the largest increase among the countries highlighted, rising from 1,050 admissions in January to July 2025 to 2,995 in the same period of 2026.
How much did Indian-citizen permanent residence admissions fall?
Admissions to Indian citizens fell by 15,405, from 68,690 to 53,285, accounting for approximately 64.3% of Canada’s overall decline.
Does the data show how many people moved to Canada from each country?
No. The data records people granted permanent resident status by country of citizenship, and many may already have been living in Canada before receiving PR.
What is Canada’s permanent resident target for 2026?
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 380,000 permanent residents for 2026, with additional admissions possible through two one-time initiatives.
Fact-Checked: Key figures and the 2026 admission framework were checked against IRCC’s official permanent residence data and Government of Canada immigration planning information.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not immigration or legal advice.