Big immigration news has emerged from Canada. The country plans to offer permanent residency to as many as 200,000 eligible temporary residents who are already based there by the end of 2027. The move comes as part of Canada's 2026 federal budget and its 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the scheme is designed to hold on to workers, tackle local labour shortages, and clear heavy application backlogs.
Workers and humanitarian cases
The plan targets two clear groups. Half of the quota, up to 100,000 places, is set aside for workers and their families. Authorities will team up with provinces and territories to spot candidates who fill regional labour gaps, including through the Provincial Nominee Program.
Those already in the pipeline through federal routes, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program, Start-up Visa Program, Agri-Food Pilot, and home care worker pathways, could also benefit.
The other 100,000 places are reserved for humanitarian and family cases. This includes applicants waiting years for decisions, those applying on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, certain Ukrainian and Hong Kong pathways, and family reunification files.
Eligibility and budget details
Officials made it clear that permanent residency will not be automatic. Hopefuls must still satisfy all the requirements of their specific immigration routes.
These extra spots will sit on top of Canada's regular targets, which aim for 380,000 permanent resident admissions and 370,000 temporary arrivals each year from 2027 to 2029. To roll out the plan, the government has proposed setting aside C$302.3 million over four years.
