The slowdown comes as Canada works to bring immigration down after years of record intake, according to IRCC.3 min readJul 28, 2026 11:38 PM IST First published on: Jul 28, 2026 at 11:38 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookPermanent residency admissions from India fell from 49,115 to 36,910 over the first five months of the year. (File Photo)Canada’s move to slow down immigration is hitting Indian applicants hardest, according to new data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The department admitted 147,260 new permanent residents between January and May this year, down from 168,800 in the same period in 2025, a fall of just over 12.5 per cent.How much has India’s share dropped?Permanent residency admissions from India fell from 49,115 to 36,910 over the first five months of the year, a drop of nearly 25 per cent, according to IRCC data.Of the overall decline of 21,540 permanent residents, more than 57 per cent came from the fall in Indian admissions alone.Also read Canada study permit processing times 2026: What Indian students need to knowWhy has India been hit the hardest?Experts say this isn’t surprising, since Indians have long made up the largest share of Canada’s permanent resident intake. Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies, told the National Post that when a government sharply cuts a stream where one country makes up a disproportionate share, that country ends up absorbing a disproportionate share of the reduction.“Canada has moved from rapid immigration expansion to a deliberate, government-driven contraction,” Jedwab said, according to National Post.Story continues below this adThe latest numbers continue a broader downward trend. (File Photo)Earlier data from the first quarter of the year had already shown India accounting for 48 per cent of the overall decline in permanent residency admissions, and the latest figures suggest that share has grown further over the following two months.What is Canada’s target for immigration?The slowdown comes as Canada works to bring immigration down after years of record intake, according to IRCC. The department has said it is committed to returning immigration to sustainable levels, aiming to stabilise the number of new permanent residents each year to below 1 per cent of Canada’s population beyond 2027.Most Read1Kidnapped in Mali, Indian-origin diamond trader released after family pays Rs 44 crore ransom2Several feared dead in Japan after 7.1 magnitude earthquake triggers mall explosion3Seattle shooting: 3 killed, 5 injured near iconic Space Needle4Trump rebukes Netanyahu on plans to share Iran intel: ‘Why didn’t you just tell it to me’57.1 earthquake hits southern Japan, tsunami advisory issued6Iran war in 10 points: Trump’s threat, Tehran’s denial, Khamenei’s warningAlso read Canada immigration changes in July 2026: What it means for Indian students, workers, and PR seekersIRCC has also said its priority is granting permanent residency to people already living, working and contributing within Canada.How does this compare with previous years?The latest numbers continue a broader downward trend, according to IRCC. Canada welcomed 393,530 new permanent residents in 2025, down 19 per cent from 483,655 in 2024. Indian admissions fell sharply over the same period too, dropping from 127,375 in 2024 to 98,770 in 2025.Story continues below this adThis marks a sharp reversal from the growth seen in recent years. Indian permanent resident admissions rose from just 42,875 in 2020 to a record 139,790 in 2023, before beginning to decline as Canada tightened its immigration targets, IRCC data shows.AdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Advertisement