Canada plans permanent residency for 100,000 workers, family members

Detailed summary

Canada is introducing a time-limited measure to transition up to 100,000 workers and their eligible family members already living in the country to permanent residents, as part of…

Canada is introducing a time-limited measure to transition up to 100,000 workers and their eligible family members already living in the country to permanent residents, as part of a wider plan to process applications for thousands of other migrants and families awaiting decisions.

The measure, 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 Canada to obtain permanent residence.

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

The Canadian government said the measure would provide additional admission spaces in 2027 to accelerate the processing of applications from people already living in the country.

It said the workers’ cohort would be implemented in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to address regional labour needs, while the humanitarian cohort would help fulfil existing commitments, keep families together and reduce application backlogs.

According to a backgrounder published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the workers’ category includes people who have already applied 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 waiting for permanent residence decisions.

In a statement accompanying the announcement, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said, “Canada is building on its progress to return sustainability to our immigration system while…

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