Immigration Levels Plan 2027-2029: What IRCC Is Planning and How to Prepare from the Maghreb

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is preparing to update its multi-year planning with the Immigration Levels Plan 2027-2029. This federal document sets the exact number of permanent residents the country plans to welcome each year, along with the breakdown across main categories: economic class, family reunification, and humanitarian pathways. It also sets targets for temporary residents, particularly international students.

For an applicant based in Morocco, Algeria, or Tunisia, this plan is not just an Ottawa budgeting exercise. It directly sets the volume of invitations sent in the Express Entry pool, the minimum cut-off scores required during category-based rounds, and the priority given to French speakers. At AMRI Consulting, a private advisory firm based in Rabat and Montreal, we see the real-world impact of these guidelines every week. The immigration files we handle are supervised, in partnership, by Mr. Mohammed El Habib Cherdoud, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC #R532955, Quebec license #11852, verifiable on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants public register).

IRCC Priorities for 2027-2029: Confirmed Focus on Francophone Immigration

Federal government consultations confirm a clear direction: strengthening Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. The federal government has committed to increasing the proportion of French-speaking immigrants admitted outside the province of Quebec. You can review the main directions of this immigration policy directly on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (canada.ca) website.

For graduates and professionals across the Maghreb, this focus brings a practical opportunity. IRCC regularly holds targeted draws for candidates who demonstrate solid French proficiency. Reaching level 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB 7) in all four skills adds a direct bonus of up to 50 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, while opening access to specific rounds where cut-off scores stay well below general draws.

Permanent Residence: Understanding the Express Entry System

The federal Express Entry system remains the main route to permanent residence for skilled workers. Even so, many applicants make mistakes that delay their plans by months or lead to outright refusals.

Strict Language Requirements

Canadian immigration authorities do not accept local certificates, university French degrees, or DELF/DALF tests. IRCC accepts only the following designated tests:

• For French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
• For English: IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, or PTE Core (the Academic version is never accepted for permanent residence).

Book your test sessions several months in advance. Testing centers in Casablanca, Rabat, Algiers, and Tunis frequently have long wait times for exam dates.

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

If you earned your bachelor's degree, master's degree, or engineering diploma outside Canada, you must have your credentials assessed by an IRCC-designated organization, such as WES (World Education Services) or ICAS. This administrative step typically takes between 6 and 12 weeks: ordering official transcripts from your universities, having them sent in sealed envelopes, and waiting for the comparative report.

Professional Fees for Express Entry

At AMRI Consulting, our service fees for Express Entry are set transparently:

• $5,000 CAD for a single applicant;
• $8,000 CAD for a couple (children included).

Payment follows clear milestones tied to your file's actual progress: an initial consultation at $100 CAD (credited toward your contract), Stage 1 upon opening your file ($900 CAD), Stage 2 upon receiving your Invitation to Apply - ITA ($2,000 CAD), and Stage 3 upon full submission of your permanent residence application ($2,000 CAD). Government fees required by IRCC (permanent residence fees, biometrics) and medical exams are separate costs that you pay directly to the respective authorities.

Study Permits and the FMSCSP Program

Direct economic immigration through Express Entry does not suit every profile, especially recent high school graduates or young professionals without enough work experience. In these cases, pursuing higher education in Canada is a practical alternative.

A North African baccalaureate holder (secondary school completion) enters an undergraduate university program (a Canadian bachelor's degree). Moving to a master's degree (graduate level) requires a completed undergraduate degree, while doctoral studies require a recognized master's degree.

Why We Recommend Université de Moncton

For university plans, we primarily guide our clients toward Université de Moncton in New Brunswick. We are not an official partner or an affiliated institution: we recommend it because of its reputable French-language programs, tuition fees that remain much lower than in major hubs across Ontario or British Columbia, and its location in New Brunswick, Canada's only officially bilingual province.

Université de Moncton takes an active part in the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP). This federal pilot is open to citizens of International Organisation of La Francophonie member countries, which includes Morocco, Tunisia, and Mauritania. Its practical benefits include:

• Direct processing without a separate Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), within annual allocated quotas;
• Reduced proof-of-funds requirements compared to standard IRCC rules for temporary residents;
• A direct pathway to permanent residence after graduation.

Keep the language requirements in mind: while IRCC requires CLB 5 for this pilot program, Université de Moncton sets its own academic admission threshold at CLB 7 in French.

To learn more about academic steps and available programs, visit our page on university studies in Canada. Our team assists with university admission applications free of charge; students only pay the university's application fee and their tuition.

Our professional fees for handling a complete Study Permit file are $5,000 CAD: initial consultation at $100 CAD, Stage 1 upon opening ($2,400 CAD), and Stage 2 upon receiving the official decision ($2,500 CAD).

Available Services and Scope of Our Practice

To maintain full transparency, our firm limits its practice to areas where regulations and our framework allow thorough oversight:

• Express Entry (skilled workers);
• Study Permits;
• Family Sponsorship ($3,500 CAD: initial consultation at $100 CAD, $1,650 CAD upon opening, $1,750 CAD upon decision).

We do not handle closed work permits, job searches, job offers in Canada, visitor visas, or standalone provincial nominee programs. You can review all our working terms on our page detailing our fees and service packages.

Please note that AMRI Consulting is an independent private firm. We do not issue visas, guarantee processing times, or promise test scores: the final decision rests solely with IRCC immigration officers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use my DELF B2 results for an Express Entry application?

No. IRCC systematically rejects DELF and DALF certificates. To claim points for French proficiency in a federal file, you must take either TEF Canada or TCF Canada. These tests evaluate listening, reading, speaking, and writing, and their scores convert directly to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).

Does the 2027-2029 Plan mean Canada is closing its doors to workers from the Maghreb?

No, Canada is not closing its borders, but it is adjusting how it selects candidates. Total numbers are capped, and selection rules now favor specific profiles: verified French skills, experience in high-demand fields (healthcare, skilled trades, STEM), or degrees earned in Francophone communities outside Quebec. Well-prepared, complete files continue to receive invitations.

How long does it take to prepare a complete file before submitting a profile?

Expect to spend between 3 and 6 months gathering every document. This includes registering for and taking official language tests, receiving your Educational Credential Assessment (such as WES), and collecting detailed employment records (pay slips, CNSS/CNAS statements, and employer reference letters matching National Occupational Classification - NOC codes).

Take the Next Step on Your Project

Preparing for upcoming targets in the Immigration Levels Plan starts with an honest review of your options. Fill out our free online eligibility test to get a preliminary calculation of your CRS score and see which programs match your background.

To organize your steps clearly, book a one-on-one initial consultation for $100 CAD. We deduct this fee directly from your contract balance if you choose to work with us. Our teams in Rabat and Montreal are ready to assist you at every stage.