Canada Plans New Pathway to Permanent Residence for 33,000 Temporary Workers

The Government of Canada has announced plans for a new pathway to permanent residence for temporary workers already living in Canada. The initiative was introduced as part of the Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). While this news was announced in November 2025, it’s worth reminding individuals who are stuck without being able to obtain PR status that relief is on the way.

According to the government’s supplementary policy materials, Canada intends to accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence over a two-year period in 2026 and 2027. While detailed eligibility rules have not yet been released, the announcement signals a clear policy direction: prioritizing permanent residence for individuals who are already living and working in Canada.

A One-Time Initiative for In-Canada Workers

The initiative is described as a one-time measure designed to transition certain work permit holders to permanent residence more quickly.

Government documents indicate that the program will target workers who:

• have established strong roots in their communities
• are currently working and paying taxes in Canada
• are contributing to the Canadian economy, particularly in sectors with labour shortages

The policy will be implemented over two years (2026 and 2027) and will account for approximately 33,000 permanent resident admissions.

The government has also suggested that the initiative may focus on workers in in-demand sectors and rural areas experiencing labour shortages, although further program details are expected in future announcements.

Part of a Broader Immigration Strategy

The new pathway forms part of the government’s broader strategy to rebalance Canada’s immigration system. Recent policy changes have focused on managing the growth of temporary residents while still allowing pathways to permanent residence for individuals already contributing to the Canadian economy.

Under the current immigration plan:

• Canada intends to stabilize permanent resident admissions at approximately 380,000 per year
• The government also aims to reduce the share of temporary residents to below 5% of the population in the coming years

By facilitating permanent residence for workers already living in Canada, the government seeks to support labour market needs while reducing reliance on new temporary entrants.

How This Pathway May Work

Although IRCC has not yet released operational details, we expect that the initiative may resemble past temporary resident to permanent resident programs.

For example, Canada previously introduced a limited-time TR to PR pathway in 2021 that allowed essential workers and international graduates already in Canada to apply for permanent residence through a capped intake system.

It remains unclear whether the upcoming initiative will:

• operate as a stand-alone public policy stream
• be administered through Express Entry category-based selection
• or function as a hybrid pathway tied to specific occupations or regions

Additional details are expected from IRCC closer to the program’s implementation. We expect this program to operate outside of Express Entry.

As of this writing, keep in mind that:

• the program has not yet opened for applications
• eligibility criteria and application procedures have not been announced
• the pathway will likely prioritize individuals already integrated into Canada’s labour market and communities

Given the limited size of the initiative, early preparation will likely be important once further information becomes available.

Next Steps

The proposed transition of 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence reflects Canada’s growing emphasis on in-Canada immigration — selecting candidates who are already working, paying taxes, and contributing to local economies.

For many temporary foreign workers, this initiative will provide an additional pathway to permanent residence outside traditional programs such as Express Entry.

We expect IRCC to release more details regarding eligibility criteria, intake caps, and application procedures in the coming months.

Temporary workers who may benefit from this program should begin reviewing their immigration strategy early to ensure they are well positioned once the pathway opens.