Last year, the government admitted 257,515 new Canadian permanent residents. This figure falls within the government’s target admissions range for 2012, which stood between 240,000 and 265,000 permanent resident visa issuances. In the past seven years, Canada’s intake of permanent residents averaged approximately 30,250 more per year than in the previous decade.

“Canada has been welcoming not only the highest sustained level of immigrants in Canadian history, we also have, on a per-capita basis, among the highest immigration rates in the world,” announced Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. “Immigration is a key part of the government’s plan to grow our economy, spur job creation, and ensure long-term prosperity for all Canadians.”

Immigrants become Canadian permanent residents through a number of programs, including the Federal and Quebec Skilled Worker Programs, the Canadian and Quebec Experience Classes, and Provincial Nomination Programs.

In addition to its overall record-breaking year, Canada issued a record number of visas to nationals of China, India, and the Philippines. In recent years, Canada received the highest amounts of immigrants from these three countries.