OTTAWA: The Canadian federal government has released specific details regarding its plan to transition temporary residents into permanent residents (PR). Part of the “In-Canada Workers Initiative” first announced in the November 2025 budget, the program aims to grant permanent residency to 33,000 temporary workers by 2027. However, the government clarified in a May 4 press release that this is not a new application window, but rather an effort to fast-track those already in the system.
Instead of opening new pathways, the initiative focuses on accelerating the processing of existing applications from individuals who have applied through regional programs. This includes the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), and various pilot programs such as the Agri-Food Pilot and Caregiver Pilot. To qualify for this expedited processing, the government has introduced a key requirement: applicants must have lived in a smaller community (outside major metropolitan areas) for at least two years.
This announcement has come as a disappointment to thousands of temporary residents who were hoping for a broad, one-time program similar to the 2021 “TR-to-PR” pathway. By focusing strictly on existing inventories and rural areas, the government has effectively excluded workers currently residing in major urban centers like Toronto or Vancouver. Immigration Minister Lena Diab previously indicated that priority would be given to those in rural regions who are already paying taxes and filling critical labor gaps.
The initiative is part of a larger strategy to reduce the proportion of temporary residents in Canada to below 5% of the total population by 2027. According to government data, the program is already in motion; approximately 3,600 workers were granted PR under this initiative in the first two months of 2026. Officials aim to approve 20,000 cases this year, with the remaining 13,000 expected to be completed in 2027.
