Temporary to Permanent Resident Pathways

This category encompasses time-limited public policies designed to facilitate the transition of temporary residents (workers and students) already in Canada to permanent residence. These policies are often responsive to immediate labour market needs and are subject to specific intake caps and deadlines.

Current Initiatives (2026-2027)

In-Canada Workers Initiative: On May 4, 2026, IRCC announced a one-time initiative to accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 workers in Canada to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. IRCC aims to transition at least 20,000 workers in 2026 and the rest in 2027. It is not a new application stream. IRCC is prioritising permanent residence applications that were already filed under the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the community immigration pilots, the caregiver pilots or the Agri-Food Pilot, from work permit holders who have lived in smaller communities in Canada for at least 2 years. Applicants do not need to take any action.

A parallel one-time, two-year initiative is intended to streamline the transition of approximately 115,000 protected persons in Canada to permanent residence. It applies to people with recognized protected status in Canada and their in-Canada dependants.

The 2027-2029 Levels Plan adds a time-limited measure for up to 200,000 people already in Canada in 2027, including up to 100,000 workers and their families nominated by provinces and territories. IRCC's November 5, 2026 release says provinces and territories can also identify workers who already applied under programs that are now closed to new applications, including the Start-up Visa Program, the Self-Employed Persons Program, the Agri-Food Pilot and the home care worker programs.

What this means for temporary residents:

• It works through existing applications. There is no separate application form or stream for the In-Canada Workers Initiative.
• It is aimed at work permit holders who have lived in smaller or rural communities for at least 2 years, not at recent graduates or French-speaking temporary residents as groups.
• A person who has not yet applied under one of the listed programs is not covered and would need to apply through a pathway that is currently open.