Canada will give up to 200,000 temporary residents already living in the country a chance to become permanent residents by the end of 2027, under a time-limited measure announced in Budget 2026 on 5 November. It is the single biggest new permanent residence opportunity in this month’s immigration announcements — and it is aimed squarely at people who are already living, working and settled in Canada.
The measure is split into two halves. The workers cohort covers up to 100,000 people already in Canada, plus their families, who are eligible for Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program. The humanitarian cohort covers up to 100,000 people, many of whom have been waiting years for a decision. Budget 2026 backs the measure with $302.3 million over four years, starting in 2027–28.
Not a new program — and nothing to apply for yet
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been clear about what the measure is not. It is not a new pathway, and there is no new form, portal or opening date. The spaces sit on top of the regular levels plan — which holds permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year through 2029 — and will be filled from existing applications and nominations, not from a fresh intake.
That means applicants do not need to file anything new, and IRCC has warned people to beware of anyone offering to sell them a spot. What is still missing is the detail applicants want most: IRCC has not published eligibility criteria for either cohort, has not said whether people will be selected from existing inventories, and has not given a step-by-step process.
First groups already moving
On 10 November, IRCC confirmed the first concrete use of the measure: it will process all remaining permanent residence applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway — expected to result in up to 18,800 admissions — and all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, expected to result in up to 32,000 admissions, by the end of 2027.
For the workers cohort, IRCC has named people awaiting decisions under programs now closed to new applications, such as the Start-up Visa, the Self-Employed Persons program, the Agri-Food Pilot and certain home care worker programs, as well as people eligible through provincial nominations. A regular Express Entry profile alone has not been identified as qualifying for this special measure.
The announcement lands in a month of major immigration change, from Prince Edward Island’s unscheduled draw of 192 workers to the new rural immigration program. For the hundreds of thousands of temporary residents already building lives in Canada, the message is to keep status valid and files current — and to watch Ottawa closely as the details emerge.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.