Canada has announced a temporary immigration measure that will allow up to 100,000 workers and their eligible family members already residing in the country to obtain permanent residency.
The initiative, unveiled by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is part of the government’s efforts to speed up pending immigration applications, address labour shortages and reduce processing backlogs.
Under the plan, up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in the country will also be considered for permanent residency.
An additional 12,600 individuals who have already qualified for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds are expected to benefit from the initiative.
The government said the additional admission spaces would be made available in 2027 to fast-track applications from migrants who are already established in Canada.
The workers’ category will be implemented in partnership with provincial and territorial governments to address specific labour demands across different regions. Meanwhile, the humanitarian component is expected to support existing commitments, keep families together and ease application backlogs.
According to an IRCC background document, eligible workers include applicants under selected immigration programmes such as the Atlantic Immigration Program, Start-up Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot and Home Care Worker programmes.
Provincial and territorial governments will also receive increased Provincial Nominee Programme allocations to recommend workers whose skills match their regional economic needs.
Canada’s Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to improving the country’s immigration system while honouring existing obligations to migrants.
She explained that the temporary measure would help deliver on commitments to people from Hong Kong and Ukraine, providing them with greater certainty as they continue building their lives in Canada.
The government also plans to clear outstanding applications under two existing immigration pathways for Hong Kong residents and Ukrainians.
For Hong Kong applicants, Canada expects to process all remaining applications under its permanent residency pathways, which stopped accepting new applications on August 31, 2026. The applications could result in up to 32,000 permanent resident admissions.
Similarly, the government intends to conclude pending applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which closed to new applicants on October 22, 2024. This category is expected to account for another 18,800 admissions.
Together, the two pathways could result in 50,800 additional permanent resident admissions.
The announcement has received positive reactions from representatives of both communities, who described it as an important step towards providing certainty for families who have been waiting for immigration decisions.
The National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alexandra Chyczij, welcomed the move, saying it would help address outstanding applications under the family reunification pathway.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong community representative Dr Henry Pang said clearing the backlog would also help Canada benefit from skilled workers, particularly in the healthcare sector, who are already contributing to the country’s economy and public services.
The Canadian government clarified that the measure would not introduce new immigration programmes or reopen pathways that have stopped accepting applications.
It added that eligible applicants would not need to submit additional requests or contact IRCC, as their existing applications would automatically be considered under the additional admission spaces.
The initiative is part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to make immigration more sustainable, improve application processing and provide greater certainty for people already living in the country.
