Canada plans permanent residency for 100,000 workers and their eligible family members who are already settled within the country, federal immigration officials confirmed this week.
The initiative operates as a special time-limited transition measure under Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that the dedicated allocation will accelerate decisions for temporary residents who have already submitted permanent residence files but remain stuck in processing queues.
Federal officials designed the policy to provide stability to regional employers while easing pressure on temporary visa programs.
Targeted Pathways for In-Country Workers
The workers’ cohort targets candidates who have already built ties in Canadian communities and work in essential economic sectors.
Eligible participants include applicants who filed under key federal economic streams, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Agri-Food Pilot, the Start-up Visa Program, the Self-Employed Persons Program, and federal home care worker pilots.
In addition, provincial and territorial governments will receive expanded allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program. These expanded quotas allow provinces to nominate qualifying temporary workers already filling persistent regional job vacancies.
Families and Humanitarian Streams Included
The broader transition plan also addresses long-standing family and humanitarian files awaiting final resolution.
Alongside the 100,000 worker spaces, IRCC is dedicating room in 2027 for up to 45,000 in-Canada spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Another 12,600 spaces will go to applicants already approved on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
The department will also finalize remaining files under closed humanitarian pathways, processing up to 32,000 admissions under the Hong Kong stream and up to 18,800 under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.
No New Applications Required
Immigration authorities emphasized that the backlog-reduction measure does not create an open-intake program or an immigration amnesty.
Foreign nationals cannot submit new applications under this initiative. IRCC confirmed that department officers will draw directly from files already in the system, meaning candidates do not need to hire third-party representatives or file new paperwork to qualify.
Officials cautioned applicants against immigration scams or unverified online claims promising paid fast-track access into the cohort.
Broader Shift in Immigration Strategy
The transition initiative reflects Ottawa’s wider shift toward stabilizing population growth while protecting economic capacity.
Under the 2027–2029 plan presented by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, Canada will maintain its core permanent resident admission target at 380,000 annually. Meanwhile, temporary resident arrivals will stabilize at 370,000 per year, divided between 220,000 temporary workers and 150,000 international students.
By granting permanent status to people who already live, work, and rent homes in Canada, the government aims to support the workforce without adding immediate new demand to housing markets and public healthcare systems.
