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National Immigration Centre

Building the future of Canada’s immigration system

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Canada’s future prosperity depends on immigration. Optimizing our systems for attracting, selecting, and settling immigrants will maximize the benefits for both newcomers and Canadians. The National Immigration Centre (NIC) was established to strengthen Canada’s immigration system through independent, impartial, evidence-based research.

The NIC brings together senior leaders from diverse sectors, including government, legal and consultancy firms, regulatory bodies, service providers, and research organizations. NIC members help shape the research agenda and collaborate to drive meaningful improvements in Canada’s immigration system.

Our focus

The NIC is the only national research initiative of its kind, convening discussions and producing publications that address critical knowledge gaps affecting system-level decision-making and policy development. Its research focuses on critical elements of immigration, including selection, settlement services, and francophone immigration. The NIC draws on case studies, best practices, and robust cross-sectoral data to generate impactful, evidence-based findings that will inform the future of Canada’s immigration system.

Funding members

Atlantic Workforce Partnership
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Newcomer Centre of Peel
Ontario
PCPI Working together for progress

Research impact

Our research centre model creates collective impact, amplifying its reach and producing actionable insights. Our immigration research has influenced national policy development and community action. It is shaping media narratives and driving measurable changes in government strategy. These contributions demonstrate our pivotal role in advancing immigration policy through evidence-based insights and national thought leadership.

Centre research

Insights From the 2024 Canadian Immigration Summit—June 2025

Building Inclusive Communities Amid Immigration Shifts: Insights From the 2024 Canadian Immigration Summit In this research, we summarize the insights gathered from 230 immigration experts and 61 esteemed speakers at…
Topics: DEI Research, Immigration Research and Policy
People and Culture
Subject Matter: Challenges Faced by International Students, Employment Rate in Canada
Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Inclusive Practices in the Workplace, Innovation and Growth, Labour Market, Population Research, Post Secondary Education in Canada
Focus Area: Immigration
June 11, 2025 1 min read

Co-Creating to Advance Canada’s Immigration System: Insights from the Canadian Immigration Summit 2023—June 2024

This report highlights insights drawn from discussions at Canadian Immigration Summit 2023, which brought together immigration leaders to workshop solutions to pressing challenges in Canada’s immigration system. What are the…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Business Research, Canadian Territories
Challenges Faced by International Students, DEI in the Workplace, Economy Analysis, Education in Canada, Employment Rate in Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Practices in the Workplace, Labour Market, Migrant Workers in Canada, Northern Canada, Organizational Culture, Post Secondary Education in Canada, Provincial Research, Workplace Barriers
Focus Area: Immigration
June 3, 2024 1 min read

Where to? Mapping Immigrants’ and Non-permanent Residents’ Settlement in Canada

This interactive map allows governments, settlement service providers, and other service providers to see trends in the immigrant and temporary resident populations in their regions from 2016 to 2021. Knowing…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Canadian Cities, Immigrants Coming to Canada
Population Research, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada
Focus Area: Immigration
February 29, 2024 1 min read
woman smiling, student, immigrant, person smiling

From Student to Immigrant? Multi-step Pathways to Permanent Residence

The number of international students in Canada doubled between 2000–01 and 2009–10. The pace of growth has accelerated further since 2010. But Canada lacks a strategy to coordinate between granting…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy, Skills and Workforce Development
Subject Matter: Challenges Faced by International Students, Education in Canada
Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigration Policies in Canada, Migrant Workers in Canada, Post Secondary Education in Canada
Focus Area: Immigration
October 20, 2022 1 min read
immigrant worker talking with colleague

The “Canadian Experience” Disconnect: Immigrant Selection, Economic Settlement, and Hiring

“Canadian experience” has no consistent definition, reducing the efficacy of the immigration system and leading immigrants to invest in activities with unreliable economic returns. Comparing those who recently arrived in…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Economy Analysis, Immigrant Labour Integration
Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Labour Market, Migrant Workers in Canada, Organizational Culture, Salary Research, Workplace Barriers
Focus Area: Immigration
October 4, 2022 1 min read
Osoyoos Okanagan Valley British Columbia Canada Landscape

Making Rural Immigration Work: Settlement Services in Small and Rural Communities

To make a life in a new community, immigrants need job opportunities and infrastructure. This impact paper looks at the challenges that small and rural communities face in attracting and,…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Canada Budget, COVID 19 Impact
Economy Analysis, Emerging Technologies, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Industry Analysis, Innovation and Growth, Population Research, Rural and Remote Communities in Canada
Focus Area: Immigration
March 31, 2022 2 min read

Valued Workers, Valuable Work: The Current and Future Role of (Im)migrant Talent

Canada’s economic immigration system focuses on highly educated immigrants, but this does not always correspond with the labour demand in essential sectors. This impact paper suggests several possible solutions. Document…
Topics: Immigration Research and Policy, People and Culture
Subject Matter: COVID 19 Impact, Economy Analysis
Future of Work, Human Resources Management, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigrants in the Workplace, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Industry Analysis, Labour Market, Migrant Workers in Canada, Organizational Culture, Salary Research, Workplace Barriers
Focus Area: Immigration
October 29, 2021 1 min read

Immigration Beyond the GTA: Toward an Ontario Immigration Strategy

This report discusses how developing an Ontario Regional Immigration Strategy could improve the province’s efforts to ensure a broader distribution of newcomers in support of economic development. Document Highlights The…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Immigration Research and Policy
Provincial Economic Analysis
Subject Matter: Business Research, Canadian Cities
Challenges Faced by International Students, Economy Analysis, Employment Rate in Canada, Housing Market Forecast, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigration Policies in Canada, Inclusive Growth, Labour Market, Ontario, Organizational Culture, Population Research, Workplace Barriers
Focus Area: Immigration
August 29, 2019 1 min read

Can’t Go it Alone: Immigration Is Key to Canada’s Growth Strategy

By 2030, all 9.2 million of Canada’s baby boomers will reach retirement age. This briefing explores various solutions to help strengthen our labour force and economy. Document Highlights By 2030,…
Topics: DEI Research, Immigration Research and Policy
Indigenous Communities
Subject Matter: Artificial Intelligence, Corporate Innovation
Disability in the Workplace, Economic Forecast, Economy Analysis, Emerging Technologies, GDP Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigration Policies in Canada, Impact of Automation on Employment, Inclusive Growth, Indigenous Employment, Jobs at Risk of Automation, Labour Market, Population Research, Salary Research
Focus Area: Immigration
May 3, 2019 1 min read

Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System

Document Highlights On May 30–31, 2018, Signal49 Research hosted its fourth annual Canadian Immigration Summit in Ottawa. The event featured 410 participants from across Canada, including federal immigration minister Ahmed…
Topics: Canadian Economic Analysis, Immigration Research and Policy
Subject Matter: Atlantic Canada, Economic Forecast
Economy Analysis, Emerging Technologies, Employment Rate in Canada, Immigrant Labour Integration, Immigrants Coming to Canada, Immigration Policies in Canada, Impact of Automation on Employment, Industry Analysis, Innovation Economy, Labour Market, Population Research, Provincial Research
Focus Area: Immigration
August 20, 2018 1 min read

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Help shape the future of Canada by supporting independent, evidence-based Canadian immigration research.

Join a powerful network of leaders working to transform Canada’s immigration system. Through a shared investment model, your funding goes further, enabling deeper insights, broader collaboration, and stronger policy influence. Together, we can create research that not only informs dialogue but also drives meaningful change. 

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Make Canada’s future bright by enabling evidence-based immigration research.