Canada is launching a time-limited measure to move up to 100,000 workers, along with their eligible family members who already live in the country, to permanent residence as part of a broader plan to process applications from thousands of other migrants and families awaiting decisions.
Announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on Tuesday, the measure also allows up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada to obtain permanent residence.
A further 12,600 people who have already been deemed eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds are also expected to benefit.
The Canadian government said the measure would add admission spaces in 2027 to speed up processing of applications from people already living in the country.
It said the workers’ cohort would be carried out with provincial and territorial governments to meet regional labor needs, while the humanitarian cohort would help fulfill existing commitments, keep families together, and cut application backlogs.
According to a backgrounder published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the workers’ category covers people who have already applied under selected federal immigration programs, including the Atlantic Immigration Program, Start-up Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot, and home care worker programs.
Provinces and territories will also be able to nominate workers who meet their regional labor requirements through larger Provincial Nominee Program allocations.
The government said the measure would assist people who had already settled in Canadian communities but were awaiting permanent residence decisions.
In a statement released with the announcement, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said, “Canada is building on its progress to return sustainability to our immigration system while honoring the commitments we made to those in need.
“The time-limited measure announced with our levels plan will allow us to deliver faster on our promises to people from Hong Kong and Ukraine, giving them certainty as they continue to build their lives and contribute to our country.”
The announcement also provides for processing outstanding applications from Hong Kong residents and Ukrainians under permanent residence pathways established earlier.
The Canadian government said it aimed to process all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which stopped accepting new applicants on August 31, 2026.
The applications are expected to lead to up to 32,000 admissions.
It also intends to process all remaining applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which stopped accepting new applications on October 22, 2024.
The applications are expected to lead to up to 18,800 admissions.
Together, these two groups represent a potential 50,800 permanent resident admissions.
Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Agincourt, said, “After five years of advocacy alongside the Hong Kong community, I am proud that we have achieved a path forward for the individuals and families who choose to call Canada home.
“I thank them for their patience and resilience. I am confident that they will strengthen our communities through the positive and lasting contributions they make to Canada.”
Michael Ma, the Member of Parliament for Markham Unionville, stated that the measure would give applicants who had been awaiting decisions greater certainty.
“Through my work with Hong Kong pathway applicants and their families, I have heard how difficult it is to plan for the future while waiting for a decision. I thank the community for its persistent, respectful advocacy.
“Finalizing all remaining applications by the end of 2027 is an important step toward honoring Canada’s commitment and giving families greater certainty.
“I will continue working with the minister and those who have already built lives and contributed so much to Markham–Unionville and communities across Canada,” he said.
Yvan Baker, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, stated that the measure would also support Canadian businesses and the economy.
“Honoring our existing commitments is not only the right thing to do, it will also strengthen Canada’s economy by ensuring Canadian businesses have access to the workforce they need to compete and by providing people the certainty they need to pursue the training and professional qualifications that will help maximize their contributions to Canada.
“The new immigration levels plan complements the reforms that we are making to restore sustainability to our immigration system while enabling people already contributing to Canada’s economy to contribute even more,” he said.
The government stated that the measure would not establish new immigration programs or reopen pathways that had been closed to new applications.
Applicants would not have to take any extra steps or contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in order for their applications to be considered under the additional spaces.
It further noted that those covered by the measure were already living, working, and contributing to Canada and would therefore not count as net new arrivals.
The measure is part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which the government said was intended to bring immigration back to sustainable levels while improving processing times and giving applicants greater certainty.
