News Immigration
Canada set an immigration record in 2022, welcoming more than 431,000 people

It’s official — Canada welcomed a record number of immigrants in 2022, according to new data from the federal government.

Ottawa planned to welcome 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022, and Sean Fraser — minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship — announced today that the goal had been reached. That surpassed the previous record, set in 2021, and returned Canada to a level not seen since 1913, it said.

And the numbers are expected to continue growing, with the federal government setting a target of 465,000 for 2023.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed about 5.2 million applications for permanent residence, temporary residence and citizenship. That’s double the number of applications processed in 2021, it said.

“Today marks an important milestone for Canada, setting a new record for newcomers welcomed in a single year. It is a testament to the strength and resilience of our country and its people,” said Fraser. “Newcomers play an essential role in filling labour shortages, bringing new perspectives and talents to our communities, and enriching our society as a whole. I am excited to see what the future holds and look forward to another historic year in 2023 as we continue to welcome newcomers.”

The federal government said immigration accounts for almost 100 per cent of Canada’s labour force growth. About 75 per cent of the country’s population growth comes from immigration and, by 2036, immigrants will represent up to 30 per cent of the population. That’s up from 20.7 per cent in 2011.

Ottawa has committed an additional $50 million in 2022-2023 for IRCC to address application backlogs and speed up processing, it said.