The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) welcomes the 2026 federal budget: Masters of Our Destiny, which includes the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan.
We are pleased to see the Budget recognize that “A well-managed system for attracting talent helps Canada meet its economic needs while supporting sustainable growth for all” and that the levels plan focuses on stability, maintaining many of the key targets for 2027 and 2028 set out in the 2026 plan, including: the aim to welcome 150,000 new international student arrivals per year over the next three years.
Preserving these targets through to 2029 sends an important signal to Canadians, international students, and partners around the world that Canada is committed to a sustainable, stable, and predictable immigration policy. This stability is critical for communities welcoming international students, educational institutions planning for the future, and students who make significant financial and personal investments based on clear pathways and reliable policies.
As global competition for top talent intensifies, this signal alone will not be enough to attract the talent Canada needs to address acute labour shortages and build the talent pipeline it needs to fulfill its national strategies in defence, AI, critical minerals, food security, infrastructure building and nuclear energy.
With a limited number of new international study visas available each year, each of these 150,000 spaces matter. Each represents an opportunity to fill a critical workforce need, launch a new business, advance research and innovation, strengthen local communities, or contribute to long-term economic growth.
According to the most recent available data, Canada welcomed just over 65,000 new international student arrivals between January and August 2026 — putting the country on track to only reach about half of its annual target by year-end. As Canada looks to build the workforce required for long-term prosperity, international education must remain a central pillar of our talent strategy.
CBIE looks forward to working with its member institutions, federal and provincial/territorial governments, industry partners and communities across the country to sustainably and successfully attract and retain top student talent, strengthen labour market alignment, and ensure community and regional needs are met. Our future economic prosperity depends on it.