Canada has fast-tracked permanent residence applications for up to 33,000 temporary residents through a one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced Monday. The measure, proposed in the federal government's 2025 budget, aims to transition eligible temporary residents to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027.
"This initiative is designed to promote economic growth and address labour shortages in key sectors where they are most needed — in smaller Canadian communities," Diab said in a statement. "By transitioning temporary residents who are already living and contributing to their communities to permanent residence, we're providing the certainty and the stability needed to maintain and grow vibrant local economies".
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is initially fast-tracking eligible applications from existing inventories of work permit holders who have already applied for permanent residence. To qualify, workers must have applied through the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the community immigration pilots, the caregiver pilots, or the Agri-Food Pilot, and must have been living in smaller communities in Canada for two years or more.
The IRCC estimates these individuals have already established "strong roots" where they live and are effectively contributing to the Canadian economy. "Through these criteria, IRCC will grant permanent residence to applicants across a range of in-demand sectors in rural areas and communities with labour gaps," the agency stated.
Ottawa plans to admit at least 20,000 workers as permanent residents through the initiative this year, with the remainder admitted in 2027. Minister Diab previously revealed a soft launch of this measure in March.
According to government data, as of February 28, 2026, over 1.4 million people held work permits in Canada. From January to February 2026, 31,860 temporary residents became permanent residents.
