Canada continues to bring its immigration system to sustainable levels while focussing immigration on the areas where it has the greatest impact. This includes supporting rural and remote communities that are experiencing labour shortages in key economic sectors.

 Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, announced progress on the department’s one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative, as announced in Budget 2025, which accelerates the transition of up to 33,000 workers in Canada to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. These individuals have already established strong roots in their communities and are contributing to a stronger Canadian economy.

As part of this initiative, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is initially accelerating eligible applications from existing inventories of work permit holders who have applied for permanent residence. These eligible workers are already supporting their smaller and rural communities’ labour and economic needs, and they have applied through the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the community immigration pilots, the caregiver pilots or the Agri­Food Pilot; and have been living in smaller communities in Canada for 2 years or more

Through these criteria, IRCC will grant permanent residence to applicants across a range of in-demand sectors in rural areas and communities with labour gaps.

Progress on the In-Canada Workers Initiative is tracked on our website and will be updated monthly.