Canada to Grant Permanent Residency to 200,000 Residents by End of 2027

The Canadian government has announced a temporary and exceptional program that will allow up to 200,000 current residents to transition to permanent residency by the end of 2027. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that this program includes two main groups. The first group consists of eligible workers under the Provincial Nominee Program, and the second group comprises applicants with humanitarian and family-based cases awaiting final decisions. According to the agency, 100,000 spots are allocated for workers engaged in various economic programs such as the Startup Visa, self-employed individuals, agriculture, food processing, and home caregiving. The families of these workers will also be included in the program. The remaining spots will be reserved for humanitarian and family-based applicants, including spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose applications are pending. Remaining cases from Hong Kong citizens and Ukrainians applying through special family pathways also fall under this category. Immigration Canada emphasized that this initiative differs from regular immigration programs and is not a general application pathway. It is a one-time measure designed to accelerate the processing of specific cases through 2027. Additionally, Afghan refugees with “supported person” status or those whose humanitarian applications have received initial approval may also be eligible to benefit from this opportunity if they meet the criteria.