Canada Plans Permanent Residence for 100,000 Workers

Canada has announced plans to grant permanent residence to up to 100,000 workers and their eligible family members already living in the country under a time-limited immigration measure.

The initiative will also cover up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in the country.

Another 12,600 people who have already been found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds are expected to benefit.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the measure on Tuesday, saying it would provide additional admission spaces in 2027 to speed up the processing of applications from people already living in the country.

According to the Canadian government, the workers’ category will be implemented in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to address regional labour needs.

The humanitarian category, meanwhile, is intended to fulfil existing commitments, keep families together and reduce application backlogs.

A backgrounder published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that the workers’ category would cover applicants under selected federal immigration programmes.

These include the Atlantic Immigration Program, Start-up Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker programmes.

Provinces and territories will also be able to nominate workers who meet their regional labour requirements through increased Provincial Nominee Programme allocations.

The government said the measure would benefit people who had already established themselves in Canadian communities but were waiting for decisions on their permanent residence applications.

In a statement accompanying the announcement, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the initiative would help Canada fulfil its existing immigration commitments while making the system more sustainable.

“Canada is building on its progress to return sustainability to our immigration system while honouring 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,” she said.

The announcement also provides for the processing of outstanding applications from Hong Kong residents and Ukrainians under previously established permanent residence pathways.

Hong Kong, Ukraine applications

The Canadian government said it planned to process all outstanding applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which closed to new applicants on August 31, 2026.

The applications are expected to result in up to 32,000 permanent resident admissions.

It also plans 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 result in up to 18,800 admissions.

Together, the two groups account for a potential 50,800 permanent resident admissions.

Reacting to the announcement, Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Agincourt, Jean Yip, said the decision followed years of advocacy alongside the Hong Kong community.

“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 know they will enrich our communities through their positive and lasting contributions to Canada,” she said.

Similarly, Member of Parliament for Markham—Unionville, Michael Ma, said the measure would provide greater certainty for applicants who had been waiting for decisions.

He said the government’s plan to conclude the outstanding applications by the end of 2027 would help families plan their future.

Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, Yvan Baker, also welcomed the initiative, saying it would support Canadian businesses by ensuring they had access to workers needed to remain competitive.

He added that granting permanent residence to people already contributing to the economy would allow them to pursue further training and professional qualifications.

Ukraine, Hong Kong communities welcome move

The National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alexandra Chyczij, welcomed the government’s decision to address the backlog of applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway by the end of 2027.

She said the organisation looked forward to continued discussions with the immigration minister on permanent residence options for Ukrainians already living in Canada under the CUAET visa.

A physician and community representative, Dr Henry Pang, also welcomed the decision, saying it would help address healthcare workforce needs.

He said clearing the Hong Kong application backlog would allow Canada to retain skilled healthcare workers already contributing to its economy and public services.

The Canadian government clarified that the measure would not create new immigration programmes or reopen pathways that had stopped accepting applications.

It added that eligible applicants would not need to take additional steps or contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to have their applications considered under the additional admission spaces.

The government also said the beneficiaries were already living and working in Canada and would therefore not represent new arrivals.

The initiative forms part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to return immigration to sustainable levels, improve application processing times and provide greater certainty for migrants awaiting decisions.