The ICC’s First In-Person Citizenship Ceremony of 2023 at Halifax’s VIA Rail Station
10.02.2023
The Institute for Canadian Citizenship Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony in Halifax
By Adiba Hasan
As immigration continues to be the central debate in Canadian politics, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) admitted 471, 550 new permanent residents (PR) in 2023, surpassing the targeted PR admissions.
2023 Actual Admissions: 471,550
Citizenship in 2023
While policies emphasize the admission of temporary residents and new PRs, citizenship tends to receive less attention. The ICC has taken the lead on tracking monthly citizenship numbers through the ICC Immigration Dashboard and has also published reports that demonstrate a decline in naturalization rates.
The ICC Immigration Dashboard shows there were 379,448 new citizens in 2023. It is worth noting that IRCC does not publish an annual target for citizenship as they do with PR targets.
New Citizens in 2023: 379,448
Immigration Trends
In 2023, the number of new citizens remained relatively stable with just a 1% increase from 2022, which works out to an additional 3,838 new citizens. By comparison, PR admissions experienced an 8% increase over the same time period.
PR by Province: 12-Month Comparison
Ontario attracted the highest number of immigrants, admitting 206,725 new PRs in 2023, an 11% increase from the previous year. Quebec experienced a 23% decline in PR admissions as the province admitted 52,790 PRs in 2023 and 68,715 in 2022. While not significantly lower, Nova Scotia admitted 11,810 PRs, 840 applicants less than the previous year.
Immigration Category
Most PRs were admitted under the Economic and Family immigration categories, surpassing the target set for 2023. The refugee category reached 98% of its target, and the “other” category reached 89% of its target.
Additionally, the following table shows the percentage increase in PR admissions in the categories in 2023 compared to 2022:
| Category | 2023 PR Admisions | 2022 PR Admissions | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic | 272,620 | 255,670 | +7 |
| Family Class | 109,580 | 97,290 | +13 |
| Refugees | 74,975 | 74,300 | +0.9 |
| Other | 14,200 | 10,150 | +40 |
Top 3 Source Countries for PR in 2023
The ICC Immigration Dashboard highlights the diverse backgrounds of people who settle in Canada. In 2023, India (139,715 PRs), China (31,770), and the Philippines (26,945) resumed their positions as the top source countries for PR admissions, repeating a pattern observed in 2021. India has consistently been the top source country for PR admissions between 2021 to 2023.
The new source countries that emerged in 2022 were Afghanistan (23,745 PRs) and Nigeria (22,135 PRs), which remain in the top 5 source countries in 2023.
Emerging Source Countries
2023 also saw a significant growth in PR admissions from African nations, reflecting the changes in global immigration dynamics. The source countries that saw an increase in the number of PRs admitted were Cameroon, with an 87% increase from 2022, Congo, DRC, 63% increase, and Eritrea, 40% increase.
Every year, IRCC reveals its immigration levels plan that sets targets for the number of PRs that will be admitted through different categories in the forthcoming three years. As we continue to analyze and report, the immigration levels plan aims to welcome 485,000 new PRs in 2024, increasing to 500,000 PRs in 2025 and 2026. Separately, Quebec released its immigration target levels, which are set to admit 50,000 PRs in 2024 and 2025.
At the moment, IRCC has not published annual targets for new citizens.
Share Your Thoughts
- In the global competition for skilled labour, how should Canada adjust its immigration selection policies to attract talent?
- How can Canadian immigration policies be adapted to more effectively recognize and utilize the credentials and experiences of international professionals, addressing underemployment issues among immigrants?
Track the changing trends in immigration through the ICC’s immigration dashboard. At the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, our commitment is to make Canada accessible to newcomers. Through programs like Canoo and our various research efforts, we hope to collaboratively build pathways to enrich Canada’s diverse immigrant population.
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