The Canadian government has unveiled a new immigration plan that could grant permanent resident (PR) status to as many as 622,000 people in 2027. While maintaining its regular annual target for permanent immigration, the government has also introduced a special programme aimed at transitioning temporary residents already living in Canada to permanent resident status.
According to the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, released on November 5, Canada aims to welcome 380,000 new permanent residents through its regular immigration programmes in 2027. However, the number could reach a maximum of 422,000 within the established limits.
In addition, the government has introduced a special programme to transition up to 200,000 people currently living in Canada with temporary resident status to permanent residency by the end of 2027. When the maximum regular PR target and the special programme allocations are combined, the total could reach 622,000.
According to the details released by the Canadian government, the special programme will cover two groups, with up to 100,000 people allocated to each.
The first group will consist of skilled workers currently employed in Canada and their family members. The government plans to grant permanent residency to up to 100,000 people in this category. The federal government will work in coordination with provincial and territorial governments to implement the programme.
Eligible workers who have applied through federal and provincial immigration pathways, including Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), will be prioritised.
The second group will include people who have been living in Canada for an extended period and are awaiting permanent residency on humanitarian grounds. The government aims to transition up to another 100,000 people in this category to permanent resident status.
According to the government, the initiative is intended to provide relief to people who have been waiting for decisions for a long time, keep families together and fulfil existing humanitarian commitments.
Permanent Immigration Targets to Remain Unchanged for Three Years
Canada has maintained its annual target of 380,000 regular permanent residents for each of the three years—2027, 2028 and 2029. Economic immigration will account for 64.4 percent of total permanent resident admissions.
Similarly, the government plans to limit the annual arrival of new temporary workers and international students to 370,000. This will include 220,000 workers and 150,000 international students.
The government says the new plan is designed to manage immigration levels while meeting labour market demands, reducing pressure on housing, healthcare services and public infrastructure, and attracting skilled workers needed to support the economy.
The new programme could be of particular interest to Nepali workers holding Canadian work permits, skilled professionals, individuals awaiting decisions on permanent residency applications and eligible family members.
In particular, workers who qualify under Express Entry and provincial nominee programmes and are already contributing to Canada’s labour market could benefit from the initiative. The new arrangements may also be significant for individuals who have been waiting for decisions on humanitarian grounds for an extended period.
However, the special programme covering 200,000 people does not mean that all temporary workers, international students or other temporary visa holders will automatically receive permanent residency. Further implementation details will be needed to clarify who will qualify under each category, what selection criteria will apply and how the application process will work.
Canada’s new immigration plan prioritises maintaining stable levels of regular immigration while providing a pathway to permanent residency for temporary residents who are already established in the country. The policy is expected to bring a new dimension to Canada’s immigration system in the coming year.
