Canada targets 100,000 workers for permanent residency in new immigration plan

Canada is planning to grant permanent residency to up to 100,000 foreign workers and their eligible family members already living in the country under a time-limited measure aimed at addressing labour needs and clearing immigration application backlogs.

The initiative, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on Tuesday, forms part of the country's 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan.

The government said the measure would provide additional admission spaces in 2027 to speed up decisions for migrants who have already established themselves in Canadian communities but are awaiting permanent residency.

It also covers up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada.

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

According to the immigration department, the workers' category includes applicants under selected federal 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 be able to nominate workers who meet regional labour requirements through increased Provincial Nominee Programme allocations.

Canada's Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab, said the measure would help the country honour existing commitments while making its immigration 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,” she said.

Diab added that the initiative would provide greater certainty for people from Hong Kong and Ukraine who had been waiting for permanent residency decisions.

Under the plan, Canada intends to process all outstanding applications under its Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which closed to new applicants on August 31, 2026. The applications could result in up to 32,000 admissions.

The government also plans to conclude outstanding applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which stopped accepting new applications on October 22, 2024. The process is expected to result in up to 18,800 admissions.

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

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

She said the measure offered a path forward for individuals and families who had chosen to make Canada their home.

Another lawmaker, Michael Ma, representing Markham—Unionville, said completing the outstanding applications by the end of 2027 would give families greater certainty about their future.

Yvan Baker, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, said the initiative would also support businesses by ensuring access to workers needed to remain competitive.

“Honouring our existing commitments is not only the right thing to do, it will also strengthen Canada’s economy,” Baker said.

The National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alexandra Chyczij, welcomed the plan, particularly its commitment to addressing the backlog of family reunification applications by the end of 2027.

Similarly, Hong Kong community representative and physician, Dr Henry Pang, said clearing the backlog could help address Canada's healthcare workforce needs.

He said the measure would unlock valuable healthcare manpower already contributing to the country's economy and public services.

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

Applicants would also not need to take additional steps or contact the immigration department to be considered under the additional admission spaces.

It added that beneficiaries were already living and working in Canada and would therefore not constitute new arrivals.