Canada admitted 182,100 new permanent residents in the first half of 2026, reaching 40.8 per cent of its effective annual target of 446,000, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as reported by CIC News on Sunday.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

The figure covers admissions under Canada’s regular immigration programme as well as two one-time initiatives for protected persons and certain workers already living in the country.

Under Canada’s regular permanent residence target of 380,000 for 2026, IRCC admitted 155,800 new permanent residents between January 1 and June 30.

The figure was 34,200 below the 190,000 admissions required by the halfway point to remain on track for the annual target.

📌 Key Details

The economic immigration category recorded the largest shortfall.

The category, which includes programmes such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program, accounted for 89,200 permanent resident admissions by June 30.

This was against a full-year target of 239,800 and 30,700 below the pace required at the halfway point.

Family-class admissions, however, remained ahead of schedule.

Canada admitted 45,100 permanent residents through the family category during the first six months of the year, compared with a 2026 target of 84,000.

The figure was 3,100 above the pace required to meet the annual target.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria