The Canadian government plans to expedite permanent residency (PR) for 33,000 temporary foreign workers in 2026–2027. The initiative is part of the government's Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028, published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
What the new program entails
According to the plan, the government will launch a one-time program to transition from temporary to permanent status (TR-to-PR) for workers who are already in the country and have a work permit.
This applies to people who:
- are already working in Canada;
- have work experience in the country;
- pay taxes and have integrated into local communities;
- help support the economy and the labor market.
The program is expected to cover up to 33,000 people over two years — in 2026 and 2027.
Why Canada is launching this pathway
The initiative is part of the government's broader strategy to balance the immigration system. Canada aims to:
- reduce the proportion of temporary residents;
- keep those who are already working and integrated in the country;
- close the labor shortage in key sectors of the economy.
This approach allows the government to transfer some workers from temporary programs to permanent resident status without increasing the overall level of immigration.
Who can be selected
Although the final rules have not yet been announced, it is preliminarily expected that priority may be given to workers in:
- agriculture;
- transportation;
- the hotel and restaurant business;
- the care and social services sector;
- other industries with labor shortages.
When will the program open
The government has only announced the general framework:
- launch — 2026,
- program duration — until 2027,
- maximum number of applicants — 33,000.
Detailed application requirements, selection criteria, and application procedures are expected to be announced later.