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A diverse group of workers walking together in a Canadian town in autumn, illustrating Canada's time-limited measure to help workers become permanent residents.

Canada’s Time-Limited Measure for Workers: Up to 100,000 PR Spaces Through the PNP in 2027

A diverse group of workers walking together in a Canadian town in autumn, illustrating Canada's time-limited measure to help workers become permanent residents.
November 13, 2026

Canada’s Time-Limited Measure for Workers: Up to 100,000 PR Spaces Through the PNP in 2027

On November 12, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab shared more details on the time-limited measure for workers first announced in Budget 2026. Provinces and territories are being offered optional, extra Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) space to move up to a combined 100,000 workers already living in Canada, plus their families, to permanent residence in 2027. If you are a worker living in Canada, or you are waiting on a permanent residence application under a closed or paused federal programme, this could affect you.

Key points

  • Provinces and territories will be offered additional PNP allocations to move up to a combined total of 100,000 workers and their families to permanent residence in 2027.
  • The extra space is optional. Each province or territory decides how much of it to use.
  • IRCC says the allocations are meant to be used by March 31, 2027.
  • Provinces can also identify workers who have already applied for permanent residence and are waiting, including through the Atlantic Immigration Program and closed federal programmes such as the Start-up Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker programs.
  • Separate spaces are set aside for Hong Kong pathway applicants, Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway applicants, people already found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, and spouses, partners and dependent children of citizens and permanent residents living in Canada.
  • No new programs are created and no closed pathways reopen. IRCC says applicants do not need to do anything or contact IRCC.

What the time-limited measure for workers changes

This measure offers provinces and territories extra PNP allocations on top of their regular ones. The goal, according to IRCC, is to help provinces keep workers who are already established in their communities and meeting local labour market needs.

The federal government says that by retaining workers already established in communities, the measure supports employers and communities facing labour shortages without adding significant new pressures on housing and community infrastructure.

In the minister’s words, retaining “high-value, established workers” can help support economic growth and help businesses thrive.

The measure was presented alongside the 2027 to 2029 Immigration Levels Plan. IRCC also notes that it is separate from the In-Canada Worker Initiative announced in Budget 2025.

Who is affected

Workers already living in Canada

The main group is workers living in Canada who are established in their communities and meeting a province’s or territory’s labour market needs. Provinces will choose how much of the extra space to use for these workers. IRCC has not yet published details on how each province will select workers or which occupations or sectors, if any, will be prioritised.

People with permanent residence applications already in process

Provinces and territories will also be able to identify workers in their jurisdiction who have already applied for permanent residence and are still waiting for a decision. IRCC names:

If you have a pending file in one of these streams, your province or territory may identify you under this measure. It does not reopen these programs to new applicants.

Other groups with set-aside spaces

Under the same time-limited measure, IRCC will also help these groups move to permanent residence:

Group Up to Notes from IRCC
Provincial and territorial workers and their families (extra PNP space) 100,000 combined Optional for provinces; allocations intended to be used by March 31, 2027
Spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada 45,000 Living in Canada
Hong Kong permanent residence pathways applicants 32,000 Pathways closed to new applications in August 2026
Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway applicants 18,800 Closed to new applications in October 2024
People already found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds 12,600 Already found eligible

Families with a spouse or child in Canada

The 45,000 spaces for spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada are important news for families already here. IRCC says applicants do not need to take any action for their applications to be processed under these additional spaces.

What did not change

  • No new programs. You cannot apply directly to the measure. IRCC says it does not create new programs.
  • No reopened pathways. IRCC says the measures do not re-open closed pathways, such as the Hong Kong pathways and the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.
  • No action required by applicants. IRCC says people do not need to do anything or contact IRCC for their applications to be processed under these extra spaces.
  • Provinces decide. The PNP space is optional, and each province or territory chooses how much of it to use.

What it means in practice

Because each province or territory chooses how much extra space to use, the place where you live and work matters.

The timeline is also tight. Allocations are intended to be used by March 31, 2027, to support transitions to permanent residence in 2027. IRCC has not yet published details on individual provincial plans.

For people with pending applications in closed federal programmes, this is a possible route to a decision. The announcement does not say it guarantees approval.

What to do now

  1. Do not send IRCC a new request. IRCC has said applicants do not need to do anything or contact IRCC.
  2. Keep your records up to date. Make sure your contact details and documents are current on any application you already have in process.
  3. Watch your province’s official immigration website. Provinces will decide how to use the extra space. Follow the PNP programme where you live, for example the BC PNP if you are in British Columbia.
  4. Look at other options too. The announcement does not mention Express Entry or regular PNP streams, so it is worth checking whether you qualify for those as well.
  5. Be careful with offers that sound too good. IRCC says applicants do not need to do anything, so be wary of anyone who offers to “secure” a space for a fee.

What is still unknown

  • Which provinces and territories will accept the extra space, and how much each will use.
  • How provinces will identify eligible workers, and whether certain occupations, sectors or regions will be favoured.
  • How the space will be split between new nominations and pending federal applications.
  • Exact processing timelines for the set-aside groups.

IRCC has not yet published details on these points.

How Manuleaf can help

From our office in Surrey, Manuleaf Immigration works with workers, employers and families on provincial nominee programs, Express Entry and family sponsorship. Our licensed consultant, Mandeep Kaur Bambrah (RCIC #R706879), can review where you stand today and which pathways may fit your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to apply for the time-limited measure for workers?

No. IRCC says these measures do not create new programs, and applicants do not need to do anything or contact IRCC for their applications to be processed under the additional spaces. Provinces and territories decide how much of the extra PNP allocations to use.

How many workers can become permanent residents under this measure?

Provinces and territories are being offered optional extra Provincial Nominee Program space to move up to a combined total of 100,000 workers and their families to permanent residence in 2027. Each province chooses how much of that space to use.

I applied under the Start-up Visa Program or Agri-Food Pilot. Does this help me?

It may. IRCC says provinces and territories can identify workers in their jurisdictions who have already applied for permanent residence and are waiting for a decision, including through the Start-up Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot, home care worker programs and the Atlantic Immigration Program. The measure does not re-open closed pathways.

Is my spouse's application included?

IRCC will help transition up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada. IRCC says applicants do not need to do anything for their applications to be processed under these spaces.

Is this the same as the In-Canada Worker Initiative?

No. IRCC says this measure is separate from the In-Canada Worker Initiative announced in Budget 2025.

Official sources

Not sure how this affects your plans? Book a consultation with Mandeep Kaur Bambrah, RCIC #R706879, at Manuleaf Immigration in Surrey, BC. Call (604) 200-1167 or start a free assessment.

This article is general information based on official Government of Canada announcements, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often; check your own situation with a licensed consultant.