According to Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, Canada is on track to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021.

The federal government revealed in a new interview with Reuters that Canada welcomed approximately 39,500 new immigrants in July 2021, exceeding the 35,700 admitted in June.

Canada intends to welcome 401,000 new immigrants per year, beginning in 2021 in line with the Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023. This annual target was set at 341,000 newcomers prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is pursuing the most ambitious immigration plan in Canadian history, with the goal of welcoming more newcomers to help Canada's post-COVID economic recovery. So far this year, Canada has admitted approximately 184,000 newcomers.

The levels of visitors welcomed in July and June were higher than usual, ranking among the highest monthly totals in Canadian history. They reflect Canada's need to play catch-up if it is to meet its target this year. To meet the target, IRCC will need to bring in an additional 217,000 newcomers in the remaining five months of 2021, which works out to 43,400 newcomers per month on average.

IRCC has several factors working in its favour, allowing it to meet or come close to meeting its levels goal by the end of the year.

First, approximately 23,000 additional Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) holders can now move to Canada as a result of the relaxation of travel restrictions on June 21st.

Furthermore, anyone who has recently been granted permanent residence can now relocate to Canada.

Third, IRCC has been holding major Express Entry draws throughout 2020 and this year, prioritising Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates because 90% of them live in Canada. By the end of 2021, IRCC should have completed the permanent residence landing process for a significant number of such candidates.

Even if IRCC manages 40,000 monthly landings to end the year, it will fall just short of its target of 385,000 immigrants, which would still be the second highest total in Canadian history. In 1913, approximately 401,000 immigrants were welcomed, setting a new record.

It is safe to say that 2021 will be one of the most exciting times in history to begin the immigration process to Canada, and if you and your family are seriously considering making the move to the Great White North, there is no better Registered Immigration Consultancy to begin the process with than New World Immigration.