Recovery Begins: Canada Immigration Increases To 11,000 In May

Canada welcomed nearly 11,000 new permanent residents in May, the first sign of recovery since coronavirus restrictions severely limited arrivals.

Despite international travel restrictions and the closure of the Canada-U.S. border, permanent resident admissions rose 165 percent compared to April, when just 4,130 newcomers were welcomed.

While the increase is a sign of the start of the recovery, it is also an indication that immigration officials are processing virtual permanent resident arrivals in increasing numbers.

Officials were able to process 5,000 virtual arrivals in a week in June, showing their ability to maintain numbers despite the crisis.

New 'arrivals' can either be candidates already in Canada transitioning from a temporary status, or those from overseas who were approved before March 18 and are therefore exempt from travel restrictions.