Canada welcomed 15,000 immigrants in November 2020

For the third time in 2020, Canada welcomed roughly 15,000 new immigrants in a single month. The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that Canada welcomed 15,300 new permanent residents in November 2020. November’s numbers were on par with the previous months’, October and September, numbers.

Without a pandemic happening, Canada usually welcomes around 25,000 to 35,000 new immigrants a month. Since the travel restrictions were created in March 2020, the numbers have been significantly lower than usual. From the beginning of 2020 to the end of November, Canada welcomed 174,000 immigrants. It is likely that the December numbers will be like previous months, meaning Canada had less than 200,000 new immigrants in 2020. This would be the first time this happens since 1999.

June 2020 had the most arrivals of just over 19,000 new permanent residents during the pandemic. As vaccines roll out, the government hopes to be able to welcome more immigrants. Invitations and Express Entry draws are still happening throughout the pandemic, hoping to bring skilled workers, families, and temporary residents to Canada. IRCC is continually introducing new policies to help immigrants come to Canada.

IRCC has created a 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to welcome 400,000 new immigrants per year. IRCC expects that roughly 60% of those individuals will be invited through pathways such as Express Entry.