Canada to Grant Permanent Residency to 100,000 Workers and 45,000 Family Members

Canada has announced a time-limited measure to grant permanent residency to up to 100,000 workers already living in the country and their eligible family members, as part of efforts to clear immigration application backlogs and improve processing times.

The initiative, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on Tuesday, also provides for up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in the country to obtain permanent residence.

Another 12,600 people who have already been found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds are expected to benefit.

The government said additional admission spaces would be provided in 2027 to accelerate decisions on applications from people already living in Canada.

Workers and Families to Benefit

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the workers' category will be implemented in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to address regional labour needs.

It covers applicants under selected federal immigration programmes, including 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 be able to nominate workers who meet their regional labour requirements through increased Provincial Nominee Programme allocations.

The government said the measure would help people who had already established themselves in Canadian communities but were still waiting for permanent residence decisions. The humanitarian category is also expected to fulfil existing commitments, keep families together and reduce application backlogs.

Canada to Clear Hong Kong and Ukraine Applications

The announcement also provides for the processing of outstanding applications from Hong Kong residents and Ukrainians under previously established permanent residence pathways.

Canada plans to process all remaining applications under its Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which closed to new applicants on August 31, 2026. The applications are expected to result in up to 32,000 admissions.

It also intends to process outstanding applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which stopped accepting new applications on October 22, 2024. The applications are expected to result in up to 18,800 admissions.

Together, the two pathways account for a potential 50,800 permanent resident admissions.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the measure would help Canada honour existing commitments while giving people from Hong Kong and Ukraine greater certainty as they build their lives in the country.

She added that the initiative formed part of the government's efforts to restore sustainability to Canada's immigration system.

Community Leaders Welcome Decision

Several Canadian lawmakers and community representatives welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important step towards resolving long-standing immigration delays.

Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Agincourt, said the decision followed five years of advocacy alongside the Hong Kong community and would provide a path forward for individuals and families seeking to make Canada their permanent home.

Michael Ma, MP for Markham—Unionville, said completing the outstanding applications by the end of 2027 would give families greater certainty and help them plan for the future.

Yvan Baker, MP for Etobicoke Centre, said resolving the backlog would also benefit Canadian businesses by helping them retain workers already contributing to the economy.

The National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alexandra Chyczij, also welcomed the plan to address outstanding applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.

Meanwhile, physician and community representative Dr Henry Pang said clearing the Hong Kong pathway backlog could help Canada make better use of healthcare professionals already living and contributing to the country.

No New Applications Required

The Canadian government clarified that the measure would not create new immigration programmes or reopen pathways that had already closed to new applicants.

Eligible applicants will not need to take additional steps or contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to have their applications considered under the additional admission spaces.

It also stressed that the people covered by the initiative were already living, working and contributing to Canada, meaning they would not count as net new arrivals.

The measure is part of Canada's 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to bring immigration to sustainable levels, improve application processing times and provide greater certainty for people waiting for decisions.

Punch Newspapers