Mainland Chinese immigrants purchased an estimated C$5.7 billion in Canadian homes last year, remaining active despite a federal ban on foreign property buyers.

Mainland Chinese immigrants purchased an estimated C$5.7 billion (US$4 billion) worth of residential property in Canada last year. This activity highlights their role as a significant group of non-local investors in the Canadian housing market, even as the federal government maintains a ban on most foreign home purchases.

Impact of the foreign buyer ban

In 2023, the Canadian government implemented a ban on most foreign nationals purchasing homes to address rising property prices. While the restriction was initially set for two years, it has since been extended through 2027. However, the policy includes exemptions for students, foreign workers, and permanent residents. Daniel Ho, managing director at the property portal Juwai IQI, noted that once a citizen of China or another country obtains permanent resident status, they are no longer considered foreign for the purpose of buying property. He stated that these individuals are able to purchase homes like any other resident.

Trends in permanent residency

Official data indicates that mainland China was the fourth-largest source of new permanent residents in Canada in 2025, with 21,115 arrivals. The top three sources were India with 98,830, the Philippines with 25,230, and Cameroon with 22,925. In 2024, the rankings were slightly different, with India leading at 127,320 new permanent residents, followed by the Philippines at 32,300 and China at 29,950.