The Canadian government has announced a temporary immigration initiative aimed at granting permanent residency to up to 100,000 workers already living in the country, alongside provisions for thousands of their family members and other migrants awaiting decisions.
The measure, announced Tuesday by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is part of a broader effort to reduce immigration application backlogs, fulfil existing commitments and improve processing times.
Under the initiative, up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada are expected to receive permanent residency.
Another 12,600 individuals who have already been deemed eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds will also benefit.
The government said additional admission spaces would be provided in 2027 to accelerate the processing of applications from people already established in Canadian communities.
The workers’ category will be implemented in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to address regional labour shortages and support economic development.
Eligible applicants include those who have submitted applications 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 to nominate workers who meet their specific labour market requirements.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to making the immigration system more sustainable while honouring previous promises to migrants.
She explained that the measure would accelerate permanent residency decisions for people from Hong Kong and Ukraine, providing greater certainty as they continue building their lives in Canada.
The government also announced plans to clear outstanding applications under two existing immigration pathways.
For Hong Kong residents, Canada intends to process all remaining applications under its permanent residence pathways, which closed to new applicants on August 31, 2026. The applications are expected to result in up to 32,000 permanent resident admissions.
Similarly, all outstanding applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which stopped accepting new applications on October 22, 2024, are expected to be processed, potentially resulting in another 18,800 admissions.
Together, the two pathways account for approximately 50,800 potential permanent resident admissions.
Several Canadian lawmakers and community representatives have welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important step towards providing certainty for migrants who have waited years for permanent residency decisions.
Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Agincourt, said the decision followed five years of advocacy alongside the Hong Kong community.
She expressed appreciation to affected families for their patience and resilience, noting that their contributions would continue to enrich Canadian communities.
Michael Ma, MP for Markham—Unionville, also welcomed the initiative, saying the commitment to finalise outstanding applications by the end of 2027 would help families plan their futures.
Meanwhile, Yvan Baker, MP for Etobicoke Centre, said the initiative would strengthen Canada’s economy by helping businesses retain workers and enabling migrants to pursue professional training and qualifications.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress also welcomed the government’s decision to address the backlog under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.
Its National President, Alexandra Chyczij, said the organisation looked forward to continued discussions with the immigration minister on permanent residency opportunities for Ukrainians living in Canada.
Dr Henry Pang, a physician and Hong Kong community representative, said clearing the backlog would also help Canada retain valuable healthcare professionals already contributing to its economy and public services.
The government clarified that the initiative would not establish new immigration programmes or reopen pathways that had stopped accepting applications.
It also stated that eligible applicants would not need to submit additional documents or contact IRCC to be considered under the additional admission spaces.
According to the government, the beneficiaries are already living and working in Canada, meaning the initiative would not result in additional net new arrivals.
The measure forms part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to restore sustainability to the country’s immigration system, reduce processing delays and provide greater certainty for applicants.
