- محمد امام عبد الرحيم
- Canada immigration, Canada levels plan, certified translation, Express Entry, IRCC
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Canada must publish its Immigration Levels Plan for 2027–2029 in the fall of 2026, and the Immigration Minister has said it will arrive in November. The plan sets how many people Canada plans to admit as permanent residents and how many temporary residents, including students and workers, it will welcome each year. At the time of writing (25 October 2026), the 2027–2029 figures had not been published.
So what should an Egyptian applicant do while waiting? This guide explains what is official today, what government statements suggest may change, and how to get your documents ready now, because paperwork takes the same time whatever the final targets turn out to be.
What is official today: the 2026–2028 plan
According to the Government of Canada’s levels page, the current 2026–2028 plan sets these targets:
| Category | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New permanent residents | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
| Temporary resident arrivals (all types) | 385,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| International student arrivals | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
Economic immigration makes up about 64% of permanent resident admissions in 2027 and 2028 under this plan, and the Francophone share outside Quebec rises from 9% to 10.5% by 2028. These are the numbers on the official site today. The new plan will replace them for 2027 and 2028 and add 2029.
What may change in the 2027–2029 plan
No figures are public yet, but there are clear signals about direction:
- The Immigration Minister, Lena Diab, said on 16 October 2026 that levels “could be going up” and that Canada needs people, without giving numbers, and confirmed the plan will be released in November.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney told the New York Times, as reported by the Canadian Press on 29 September 2026, that the government is weighing when to resume “some controlled increase” in the population.
- The public consultation that IRCC ran from 12 May to 14 June 2026 included three government commitments: temporary residents below 5% of the population by 2027, permanent resident admissions below 1% of the population from 2027, and Francophone immigration reaching 12% of permanent resident admissions by 2029.
- The Conservative immigration critic has said her party will oppose any increase, so the debate will continue after the plan is tabled.
Treat all of this as direction, not as a decision. Do not rely on any website, including ours, that quotes 2027–2029 numbers before they appear on canada.ca.
What it means for Egyptian applicants
Permanent residence. Most Egyptians who immigrate to Canada do so through economic programs such as Express Entry. A higher target usually means more invitations over the year, but invitations still go to the highest-ranked candidates, so a complete and consistent profile matters more than the headline number.
Study permits. The student numbers in the current plan are far below earlier levels. If you plan to study in Canada in 2027, check the provincial attestation and permit requirements on the IRCC website for your intake, and do not assume the new plan will make them easier.
Temporary work. Worker admissions are the largest part of temporary arrivals. Any change will matter most to applicants whose employer needs a work permit.
A simple timeline for the next few months
Because the plan is expected in November, a sensible order of work for an Egyptian applicant looks like this:
- Now: collect originals of your civil, education and work documents and check that names and dates match your passport.
- Before the plan is published: request documents that take time, such as the criminal record certificate and experience letters on company letterhead.
- After the plan is published: read the official numbers, see which programs are affected, and adjust your strategy with a licensed immigration professional if needed.
- Before you submit: have every Arabic document translated and checked once more against the originals.
Doing the slow steps first means you can act quickly when invitations or intakes open.
Prepare your documents now
The final targets will not change the paperwork IRCC asks for. Egyptian applicants usually need some or all of the following, and most are in Arabic:
- Civil documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce or death certificates where relevant
- Education documents: degree certificates and transcripts, including for an Educational Credential Assessment
- Work documents: experience letters and employment contracts
- Police certificates: the Egyptian criminal record certificate
- Financial documents: bank statements and proof of funds
IRCC’s translation rules in plain words
According to IRCC, a document that is not in English or French must be submitted with:
- an English or French translation of the document
- a scan of the original document (or of a certified photocopy, if the translation was made from one)
- proof that the translator is certified: IRCC defines a certified translator as a member in good standing of a professional translation association, in Canada or abroad, shown by a seal or stamp with the translator’s membership number
IRCC accepts an affidavit from the translator, sworn before a notary public or equivalent, only when the translation cannot be done by a certified translator. A family member, a representative or a consultant cannot translate your documents for you, even if they are a translator. Rules can differ slightly between application types, so check the guide for your program.
Practical tips to avoid delays:
- Match names exactly to your passport on every document. Egyptian names can be transliterated several ways, so decide on one spelling and use it everywhere.
- Translate everything on the page: stamps, seals, handwritten notes and margin text.
- Keep dates consistent between your experience letters, your CV and your application forms. Mismatches are a common reason for requests for more information.
- Start early with police certificates and attestation. Some documents have validity periods, so plan the order of steps.
COT provides certified translation of these documents from Arabic into English. Before you order, tell us which program you are applying under so we can confirm what we can provide for it, because IRCC’s rules on certified translators and affidavits matter. For a step-by-step view, read our guide to certified translation for Canadian immigration. If you are applying through Express Entry as a doctor, see our guide for Egyptian doctors applying through Express Entry.
How to follow the announcement
- Check the levels page on canada.ca for the official numbers once the plan is tabled in Parliament.
- Read the IRCC news releases for details on each program.
- Be careful with social media posts that quote numbers before the official release.
Frequently asked questions
When will the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan be released?
The Immigration Minister has said it will be released in November 2026. IRCC’s own committee material says it will be tabled in fall 2026. Check canada.ca for the exact date.
Will Canada accept more permanent residents in 2027?
That has not been decided in any published document yet. Government statements suggest an increase is possible, but only the official plan will give the numbers.
Do I have to wait for the new plan before I apply?
No. Eligibility rules for programs such as Express Entry are separate from the levels plan. Preparing your profile and documents now puts you in a stronger position whatever the targets are.
Does IRCC need a translation of my Arabic documents?
Yes. Documents that are not in English or French must come with an English or French translation and a scan of the original. IRCC asks for a certified translator’s stamp with a membership number, or an affidavit from the translator only when a certified translator cannot do the work.
Can COT translate my documents for a Canadian application?
COT offers certified translation from Arabic into English. Tell us which Canadian program you are applying under, send your documents on WhatsApp, and we will confirm what we can provide, the price and the timing before we start.
Preparing a Canadian application? COT, Consulting Office for Translation, has provided certified translation in Cairo since 1992, with branches in Maadi, Mohandessin and Downtown and online service across Egypt. Send your documents on WhatsApp 01111760177 or call the same number.
This article is for general information. Immigration targets and rules change, so check canada.ca and the IRCC website for the latest official information before you apply.
