Canada Plans Permanent Residency for 100,000 Workers, Families

Canada is introducing a temporary measure to grant permanent residency to up to 100,000 workers already living in the country and their eligible family members, as part of a broader effort to clear outstanding immigration applications.

The initiative, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Tuesday, also makes provision for up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in the country to obtain permanent residency.

An additional 12,600 people who have already been deemed eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds are also expected to benefit.

According to the Canadian government, the initiative will provide additional admission spaces in 2027 to speed up decisions on applications from people already residing in the country.

The workers’ category will be implemented in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to address regional labour requirements. The humanitarian category, meanwhile, is intended to fulfil existing commitments, keep families together and reduce application backlogs.

A background document published by IRCC stated that eligible workers include applicants under selected federal immigration programmes, such as 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 receive increased Provincial Nominee Programme allocations, allowing them to nominate workers who meet their specific labour market needs.

The government said the measure was designed to support people who had already established themselves in Canadian communities but were still awaiting decisions on their permanent residence applications.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the initiative was part of efforts to make Canada’s immigration system more sustainable while fulfilling commitments to people in need.

She explained that the temporary arrangement, introduced alongside the immigration levels plan, would speed up the government’s commitments to applicants from Hong Kong and Ukraine, giving them greater certainty as they continue building their lives in Canada.

The announcement also covers outstanding applications under previously established permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents and Ukrainians.

The Canadian government plans to process all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which stopped accepting new applicants on August 31, 2026. These applications are expected to account for up to 32,000 permanent resident admissions.

It also intends to conclude processing of outstanding applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which closed to new applicants on October 22, 2024. The applications are expected to result in up to 18,800 admissions.

Together, the two categories represent a potential 50,800 permanent resident admissions.

Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Agincourt, Jean Yip, welcomed the development, describing it as the outcome of five years of advocacy alongside the Hong Kong community.

She said the decision provided a way forward for individuals and families who had chosen to make Canada their home, adding that their contributions would benefit communities across the country.

Another lawmaker, Michael Ma, who represents Markham—Unionville, said the measure would offer greater certainty to applicants who had endured lengthy waiting periods.

Ma noted that uncertainty over immigration decisions had made it difficult for affected families to plan their futures. He described the completion of the remaining applications by the end of 2027 as an important step towards fulfilling Canada’s commitments.

He also pledged to continue working with the immigration minister and affected communities.

Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, Yvan Baker, said the initiative would benefit Canadian businesses and the wider economy by giving employers access to workers already contributing to the country.

He added that securing permanent residence would give applicants greater certainty to pursue training and professional qualifications, enabling them to make further contributions to the economy.

Baker said the immigration levels plan complemented ongoing reforms aimed at making the country’s immigration system more sustainable while allowing existing residents to contribute more fully.

Ukraine and Hong Kong communities welcome decision

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

She expressed appreciation to the immigration minister for engaging with the Ukrainian community, including discussions about permanent residence options for Ukrainians living in Canada under the CUAET visa programme.

Chyczij also expressed her organisation’s willingness to continue discussions with the minister.

A physician and community representative, Dr Henry Pang, said the measure had renewed hope among Hong Kong residents awaiting permanent residence decisions.

Pang argued that clearing the backlog would not only fulfil the government’s commitments but also make additional healthcare professionals already living in Canada available to contribute to the country’s healthcare workforce and public services.

He also acknowledged the efforts of the government, Hong Kong organisations and other supporters who had advocated for the affected applicants.

IRCC clarified that the temporary arrangement would not establish new immigration programmes or reopen pathways that had already stopped accepting applications.

It also stated that eligible applicants would not be required to submit additional documents or contact the department to be considered under the additional admission spaces.

The government maintained that those covered by the initiative were already living and working in Canada and contributing to its communities and economy, meaning they would not count as new arrivals.

The measure is part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to bring immigration to more sustainable levels, improve application processing times and provide greater certainty for people awaiting decisions.