The Government of Canada is planning to welcome between 260,000 and 285,000 new permanent residents in 2015, an increase of approximately 19,000 planned admissions over last year. The Family Class category will account for almost 25 percent of new immigrants to Canada in 2015.
The 2015 levels plan reaffirms the Government of Canada’s commitment to bringing families together, by maintaining a high level of admissions space under the Family Class category. Reuniting immediate family members continues to be Canada’s first priority under the Family Class immigration stream, and with this year’s plan, Canada will welcome up to 68,000 new permanent residents in this category. By prioritizing applications from spouses, partners and dependent children, Canada continues to have the most generous family reunification program in the developed world.
This level of admissions would maintain the current rate of backlog reduction in the Parents and Grandparents category and assure the continued progress that began under the 2011 Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification. By the end of 2015 it is expected that backlogs will have been reduced by more than 70 percent.
Highlights:
- Planned admissions under the Family Class category will be maintained for 2015.
- Up to 48,000 spaces for sponsored spouses, partners and children will be available.
- Up to 20,000 spaces for Parents and Grandparents will be available.
