The Canadian government has announced plans to transition up to 100,000 workers already living in the country and their eligible family members to permanent residents under a time-limited immigration initiative scheduled for 2027.

The measure, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), forms part of a broader strategy to accelerate the processing of outstanding immigration applications and provide greater certainty for migrants who have established lives in the country.

Under the initiative, the government will allocate up to 100,000 additional permanent residency spaces to workers who have applied through selected immigration programmes or qualify through the Provincial Nominee Programme.

Eligible categories include applicants under the Start-up Visa Programme, Self-Employed Persons Programme, Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker pathways, as well as workers nominated by provincial and territorial governments to address regional labour needs.

The government said the initiative would prioritise people already contributing to Canadian communities, particularly those in smaller communities and sectors experiencing labour shortages.

A separate allocation will also support family reunification and humanitarian commitments. This includes up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as 12,600 applicants whose humanitarian and compassionate applications have already received approval in principle.

The government also plans to conclude outstanding applications under permanent residency pathways for Hong Kong residents and Ukrainians with family members in Canada.

These include up to 32,000 admissions through the Hong Kong pathways and 18,800 through the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the initiative would help the government fulfil existing commitments while restoring sustainability to the country's immigration system.

She added that the measure would provide greater certainty for people already contributing to Canadian communities and allow them to continue building their lives in the country.

The government clarified that the initiative would not establish new immigration programmes or reopen pathways that had closed to fresh applications. Eligible applicants would also not need to submit separate applications or contact the immigration department to be considered.

The initiative is part of Canada's 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan and is intended to reduce outstanding applications while balancing labour market requirements with the country's immigration targets.