CANADA TO GRANT PERMANENT RESIDENCE TO 100,000 MIGRANT WORKERS, FAMILIES
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Canadian government has announced a time-limited immigration measure to grant permanent residence to up to 100,000 migrant workers and their eligible family members already living in the country.
The initiative will also cover up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as 12,600 people already found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the measure on Tuesday, saying additional admission spaces would be provided in 2027 to accelerate the processing of applications from people already residing in the country.
According to the government, the workers’ category will be implemented in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to address regional labour shortages, while the humanitarian category will help fulfil existing commitments, keep families together and reduce application backlogs.
A backgrounder published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada listed beneficiaries 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 receive increased Provincial Nominee Programme allocations to nominate workers who meet their regional labour requirements.
Canada’s Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab, said the initiative was part of efforts to make the country’s immigration system more sustainable while honouring existing commitments to migrants.
“Canada is building on its progress to return sustainability to our immigration system while honouring the commitments we made to those in need.
“The time-limited measure announced with our levels plan will allow us to deliver faster on our promises to people from Hong Kong and Ukraine, giving them certainty as they continue to build their lives and contribute to our country,” she said.
The announcement also provides for the processing of outstanding permanent residence applications from residents of Hong Kong and Ukrainians under previously established immigration pathways.
The government said it intended to process all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which closed to new applicants on August 31, 2026. The applications are expected to result in up to 32,000 admissions.
It also plans to conclude outstanding applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which stopped accepting new applications on October 22, 2024. The applications are expected to account for up to 18,800 admissions.
Together, the two pathways are expected to result in up to 50,800 permanent resident admissions.
Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Agincourt, Jean Yip, welcomed the decision, saying it followed five years of advocacy alongside the Hong Kong community.
She said the development would provide a path forward for individuals and families who had chosen to settle in Canada, adding that their contributions would enrich local communities.
Similarly, the Member of Parliament for Markham—Unionville, Michael Ma, said the measure would provide greater certainty for applicants who had been waiting for decisions.
He said finalising the outstanding applications by the end of 2027 would help families plan their futures and demonstrate the government’s commitment to the Hong Kong community.
The Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, Yvan Baker, said the initiative would also benefit Canadian businesses and the wider economy by giving employers access to workers already contributing to the country.
He added that permanent residence would provide migrants with the certainty needed to pursue professional training and qualifications, enabling them to make greater contributions to the economy.
The National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alexandra Chyczij, also welcomed the decision, particularly the plan to address the backlog under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway by the end of 2027.
Chyczij thanked the immigration minister for engaging with the Ukrainian community, including on permanent residence options for Ukrainians living in Canada under the CUAET visa programme.
A physician and community representative, Dr Henry Pang, said clearing the Hong Kong pathway backlog would also help address healthcare workforce needs.
He noted that many members of the community were already contributing to Canada’s economy and public services, adding that granting them permanent residence would strengthen the country’s workforce.
The Canadian government clarified that the initiative would not establish new immigration programmes or reopen pathways that had stopped accepting applications.
It said eligible applicants would not need to take additional steps or contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to have their applications considered under the additional admission spaces.
The government added that the beneficiaries were already living and working in Canada, meaning the measure would not represent new arrivals into the country.
The initiative forms part of Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which is aimed at returning immigration to sustainable levels, improving application processing times and providing greater certainty for applicants.
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