Immigration Announcement
Top 10 Cities in Canada with Highest Number of Illegal Immigrants – A Data-Led 2025 Snapshot
Canada welcomes millions of newcomers through legal pathways every year. Yet a parallel reality exists: people who fall out of status and keep living and working in our cities. This guide looks at where they are most likely to live, why they’re there, and what local policies mean for access to services. We use “undocumented” as the preferred term, while keeping the SEO phrase Top 10 Cities In Canada With Highest Number of Illegal Immigrants in key spots so readers can find this resource.
Why This Matters Now
- Labour shortages persist in construction, care work, food services, and logistics.
- Policy talks about the regularization and enforcement continuing nationwide.
- Cities carry much of the load: health access, schooling for kids, housing, transit.
How We Ranked the Top 10 Cities In Canada With the Highest Number of Illegal Immigrants
Because undocumented residents aren’t counted directly, we combine:
- Census immigrant share by CMA (as a proxy for inflows/networks)
- Local “access without fear” or sanctuary-style policies
- Media, academic, and service-provider signals about underground work and access barriers
- National estimate range (hundreds of thousands) to keep city estimates conservative and non-specific
Important: Rankings are directional, not exact counts.
Quick Table: Where Undocumented Residents are Most Likely Concentrated
| Rank | City / CMA | Why here (at a glance) | Policy signal |
| 1 | Toronto | Largest newcomer hub; deep job networks, big informal labour market | Access to services policy since 2013 |
| 2 | Vancouver | High inflows via study/work; hospitality & care work | Access Without Fear framework |
| 3 | Montréal | Large diasporas; manufacturing & services | Sanctuary city tools; community clinics |
| 4 | Calgary | Construction cycles; service growth | Strong newcomer services |
| 5 | Edmonton | Construction, manufacturing, services | Community-led supports |
| 6 | Ottawa–Gatineau | Government & tech support roles | Inclusive agencies, regional programs |
| 7 | Winnipeg | Manufacturing, agriculture, services | Province-wide newcomer supports |
| 8 | Hamilton | Construction, healthcare, legacy industry | Regional settlement network |
| 9 | Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | Tech + advanced manufacturing | Settlement agencies with job links |
| 10 | London | Education, healthcare, services | Strong community organizations |
City Snapshots (What Stands Out)
1) Toronto
- Labour pull: construction, cleaning, food services, delivery.
- Networks: large diasporas ease housing and job leads.
- Policy: access to select city services regardless of status.
2) Vancouver
- Entry paths: study/work permits that later lapse.
- Work: hospitality, domestic care, renovation trades.
- Policy: Non-reporting guidelines help reduce fear when seeking services.
3) Montréal
- Language factor: French adds a barrier but also offers integration routes.
- Work: factories, services, seasonal roles.
- Policy: sanctuary tools; NGO health access programs.
4) Calgary
- Sector pull: construction and hospitality; oil-linked cycles.
- Risk: Job volatility can trigger loss of status.
- Support: active community agencies.
5) Edmonton
- Work: construction, manufacturing, retail/services.
- Reality: cash jobs common; health access patchy.
- Support: community centres and legal aid partners.
6) Ottawa–Gatineau
- Economy: public sector support, tech, retail.
- Barrier: high rents and limited entry-level roles.
- Help: regional orgs for settlement and rights education.
7) Winnipeg
- Sectors: manufacturing, agri-food, logistics.
- Pull: stable costs, close-knit communities.
- Support: provincewide newcomer infrastructure.
8) Hamilton
- Shift: industrial base to diversified healthcare and trades.
- Work: construction and plant work; hospital support roles.
- Support: networks tied to nearby GTA.
9) Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo
- Mix: tech campuses plus factories and suppliers.
- Barrier: housing costs; limited formal credentials.
- Support: employment bridges, training grants.
10) London
- Sectors: education, healthcare, services.
- Pull: student inflows; mid-size affordability.
- Support: strong non-profits and clinics.
Economic Reality vs. Legal Risk
Contributions
- Fills gaps in care, construction, cleaning, delivery, and food services.
- Pays rent, transit, and consumption taxes; stabilizes small businesses.
Risks
- Wage theft and unsafe worksites.
- Limited access to primary care; delayed treatment raises costs later.
- Family separation fears; children’s schooling disrupted by mobility.
Policy Ideas Cities are Testing
- “Access without fear” intake: decouple municipal services from status checks.
- Wage recovery hotlines: support when pay is withheld.
- Community health partnerships: low-barrier clinics, vaccine access.
- School liaison teams: stable enrollment for kids, no matter status.
- Construction & care work audits: focus on safety and fair pay.
What Residents, Employers, and Readers Can Do
- Residents: support local clinics, legal aid, and food banks.
- Employers: verify status, pay fairly, and use legal hiring routes.
- Students/temporary workers: track permit dates; renew early; keep proof of funds/insurance.
- If you lost status: seek a licensed RCIC or lawyer about restoration, TRP, or other options.
The Top 10 Cities In Canada With Highest Number of Illegal Immigrants ranking is a directional map, not a census. It blends statistics, policy cues, and community signals to highlight where solutions matter most.
Better data will help, but cities already carry the day-to-day work—schools, clinics, transit, housing. Keeping people safe, paid, and healthy is not just humane; it keeps local economies moving. In that sense, discussing the Top 10 Cities in Canada with the Highest Number of Illegal Immigrants is really about how we keep Canadian cities working for everyone.
