Number of Kenyans Gaining Canadian Permanent Residence Rises by 51% in Seven Months

Kenyan nationals secured 1,010 Canadian permanent residence grants between January and July 2026, up from 670 during the same period in 2025, even as Canada recorded an overall decline in new permanent residents.

Figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show that Canada granted permanent residence to 222,625 people in the first seven months of 2026, down from 246,580 a year earlier. Despite the national decline, several African countries recorded increases in the number of their citizens obtaining permanent resident status.

Nigeria remained Africa’s leading source of permanent residents, with 11,565 grants between January and July 2026. This represented an increase of 1,115 compared with the same period in 2025, reinforcing the country’s position among the major contributors to Canada’s immigration intake.

Sudan also recorded significant growth, with permanent residence grants rising to 3,640, an increase of more than 1,000 from the previous year. Uganda recorded one of the sharpest increases, with the number of its citizens granted permanent residence nearly tripling, although the total remained lower than those of the continent’s largest source countries.

East African countries featured prominently among those reporting gains. Kenya’s total rose by more than 50 per cent, from 670 to 1,010. Burundi and Rwanda also recorded strong growth, while Tanzania experienced one of the continent’s largest percentage increases despite having a smaller number of grants. Zimbabwe similarly registered a year-on-year rise.

The figures indicate that more applicants from parts of East Africa are obtaining permanent residence in Canada. Possible routes include education, skilled migration and transitions from temporary residence to permanent status. However, the published figures do not identify the specific immigration programmes responsible for the increases.

Several African countries recorded declines. Cameroon, which remains one of Africa’s major sources of permanent residents in Canada, experienced a significant reduction in grants compared with 2025. Eritrea also reported a substantial fall, while Morocco, Tunisia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Algeria, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritius recorded decreases.

The differing results reflect variations in migration patterns across the continent. Applicants’ eligibility, qualifications, professional experience and ability to meet programme requirements can influence the number of people who obtain permanent residence. The figures do not necessarily indicate that Canada has introduced country-specific limits to explain the changes.

IRCC’s statistics count people who were granted permanent resident status during the reporting period, regardless of where they were living when their status was approved. Some may already have been in Canada on study permits or temporary work permits before becoming permanent residents.

The figures therefore do not represent the number of people who physically arrived in Canada from each country between January and July. Instead, they measure the number of individuals who obtained permanent resident status during those months, including people who transitioned from temporary to permanent residence.

Canada continues to use immigration programmes to attract workers and address labour market needs. Express Entry remains one of the main routes for skilled workers seeking permanent residence, with selection criteria that include education, language proficiency and professional experience.

For applicants from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, the latest figures show an increase in the number obtaining permanent residence despite the overall decline in Canada’s immigration intake. However, the available data do not establish whether the growth resulted from higher demand for particular skills, changes in applicant numbers or increased success under specific immigration programmes.