Canada Accelerates Permanent Residency for 200,000 Foreign Nationals

The Government of Canada announced a time-limited measure to accelerate permanent residence processing for up to 200,000 foreign nationals currently living in the country in 2027. This initiative is part of the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan and is designed to reduce application backlogs and address regional labor shortages.

The plan allocates 100,000 spaces for a workers' cohort, specifically targeting those in the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program. An additional 100,000 spaces are reserved for a humanitarian cohort, which includes spouses and children of citizens and applicants from Ukraine and Hong Kong under previously closed pathways.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab stated the measure aims to return sustainability to the immigration system while honoring commitments to those in need. These 200,000 spaces are separate from the regular 2027 permanent residence target of 380,000 admissions. The government clarified that the measure does not create new immigration pathways for individuals currently outside the country.