What is it?
The census puts people into three groups by immigrant status: non-immigrants, immigrants and non-permanent residents.
An immigrant is a person who is, or has ever been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident. People who later became Canadian citizens by naturalization are still counted as immigrants.
The three groups
| Group | Who | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Non-immigrant | A Canadian citizen by birth | A second-generation person born in Toronto |
| Immigrant | A permanent resident, or a person who became a citizen after getting permanent residence | Someone who got permanent residence and then citizenship |
| Non-permanent resident | A person from another country living in Canada with a work or study permit or a refugee claim, and family living with them | An international student, or someone working on a work permit |
In the 2021 Census, immigrants are people admitted to Canada on or before May 11, 2021.
Recent immigrants and neighbourhood numbers
- Period of immigration means when the person first got landed immigrant or permanent resident status.
- In the 2021 Census, a recent immigrant is a person whose period of immigration is 2016 to 2021.
- The immigrant share in our neighbourhood guides is the part of people in private households who are immigrants. The place of birth list shows which countries the immigrants were born in.
- International students and people on work permits are not immigrants. They are counted separately as non-permanent residents.
What the law and official sources say
Quotes are copied word for word. The "In plain words" lines are our explanation, not an official translation.
'Immigrants' includes persons who are, or who have ever been, landed immigrants or permanent residents. Such persons have been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Immigrants who have obtained Canadian citizenship by naturalization are included in this category.In plain wordsIn plain words: immigrants are people who are or were permanent residents. People who became citizens by naturalization are included.
Source: www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810030701 · checked Nov 5, 2026
Immigrant status refers to whether the person is a non-immigrant, an immigrant or a non-permanent resident. Period of immigration refers to the period in which the immigrant first obtained landed immigrant or permanent resident status.In plain wordsIn plain words: immigrant status is which of the three groups a person is in, and period of immigration is when they first got permanent residence.
Source: www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810030701 · checked Nov 5, 2026
'Non-permanent residents' includes persons from another country with a usual place of residence in Canada and who have a work or study permit or who have claimed refugee status (asylum claimants).In plain wordsIn plain words: non-permanent residents are people from another country who live in Canada with a work or study permit, or who have claimed refugee status.
Source: www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810030701 · checked Nov 5, 2026
Common questions
Do people leave the immigrant count when they become citizens?
No. The census still counts people who became citizens by naturalization as immigrants. Only citizens by birth are non-immigrants.
Are international students immigrants?
No. People living here on a study or work permit are counted as non-permanent residents. They become immigrants once they get permanent residence.
Guides that use this term
Sources checked
- Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0307-01, Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth (2021 Census), footnotes · checked Nov 5, 2026
- City of Toronto Open Data, Neighbourhood Profiles · checked Nov 5, 2026