RismadarVoice Reporters
November 12, 2026
The Canadian government has announced a temporary immigration measure that could enable up to 200,000 eligible migrants already living in the country to obtain permanent residency by the end of 2027.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) disclosed further details of the initiative on November 10, explaining that it would accelerate the processing of existing applications and fulfil outstanding immigration commitments.
Under the arrangement, up to 100,000 workers and eligible family members could transition to permanent residency through selected immigration programmes, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments.
Another 100,000 admission spaces are intended for humanitarian and family-related applications, including spouses, dependent children and individuals awaiting decisions under previously established immigration pathways.
The government said the measure would accommodate up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
It also provides for up to 12,600 applicants already found eligible for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
Canada further plans to process outstanding applications under its Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, potentially benefiting up to 32,000 people.
The pathways stopped accepting new applications on August 31, 2026.
Similarly, up to 18,800 applicants could benefit under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which closed to new applications in October 2024.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the initiative would help Canada honour existing commitments while providing greater certainty to migrants who had established their lives in Canadian communities.
The government explained that eligible workers could include applicants under selected business immigration, agricultural, home care and provincial nomination programmes.
It emphasised that the initiative does not establish new immigration pathways or reopen programmes that have stopped accepting applications.
Applicants with existing eligible applications are not required to submit new requests or contact IRCC specifically to benefit from the additional processing spaces.
The measure forms part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which maintains an annual permanent resident admissions target of 380,000.
Canadian authorities said the initiative would support employers, reunite families and reduce application backlogs without creating equivalent numbers of new arrivals, since beneficiaries are already living in the country.
However, permanent residency is not automatic, and applicants must continue to meet the eligibility requirements of their respective immigration programmes.
