Canada Announces Time-Limited Measure to Accelerate Permanent Residence Processing for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers
On November 10, 2026, the Government of Canada announced a time-limited measure within its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan to process existing permanent residence applications for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers already in Canada, targeting up to 32,000 admissions from closed Hong Kong pathways and up to 18,800 from the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.
On November 10, 2026, the Government of Canada announced a time-limited measure within its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, proposed in Budget 2026, to accelerate the processing of existing permanent residence applications for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers already living in the country. The initiative aims to clear backlogs from previously closed immigration pathways without creating new programs or reopening those that have ended.
The measure targets all remaining applications under the permanent residence pathways for eligible Hong Kong nationals, which were introduced in 2021 and stopped accepting new applications on August 31, 2026. Processing these applications is expected to result in up to 32,000 admissions. It also covers remaining applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which launched on October 23, 2023, and closed to new applications on October 22, 2024, potentially resulting in up to 18,800 admissions.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab met with leaders of Canada’s Ukrainian and Hong Kong communities on Saturday, November 7, 2026, ahead of the announcement. According to the government, applicants processed under this measure are already living and working in Canada and do not represent net new arrivals. The initiative is designed to reduce processing and wait times, provide certainty regarding status for thousands of individuals, strengthen the economy by ensuring businesses have access to needed workforce, and allow individuals to pursue training and professional qualifications more effectively.
The time-limited measure operates in addition to Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other category targets and does not displace other vulnerable populations, such as resettled refugees. Alongside the backlog clearance, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will help transition several other groups already in the country. This includes up to 12,600 people found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada, and up to 100,000 workers in Canadian communities along with their eligible family members, in collaboration with provinces and territories.
Applicants affected by the measure do not need to take any action for their applications to be processed.