New data released on April 13 shows a total of 23,375 new permanent residents were welcomed to Canada in February.
According to recent data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), including the 24,665 permanent residents welcomed in January, a total of 48,040 have obtained permanent residency in the first two months of the year alone. For comparison, Canada was able to welcome 50,600 new immigrants in the first two months of 2020.
Prior to the pandemic, Canada was able to welcome between 25,000 to 35,000 permanent residents a month.
As Canada continues to recover from the pandemic, it can be expected that the IRCC’s data release results for March 2021 will be markedly better than last year’s. Immigration has stabilized dramatically since the disruption caused by the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020.
It is likely that the trend of a large number of new permanent residents being welcomed into the country every month will continue, as the IRCC has also remained consistent in sending out invitations to Express Entry applicants in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates from these categories have an easier time accomplishing the permanent residency application as they are already likely to have settled in Canada.
As of this announcement, Canada continues to remain on track to accomplishing their goal of welcoming 401,100 new immigrants this 2021. While the IRCC is currently focused on inviting candidates who have already settled in the country, economic immigration is still a high priority. Once the global situation regarding the coronavirus improves, the IRCC may restart draws for the Express Entry categories focused on foreign skilled workers.
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