Canada Accelerates Permanent Residence for 33,000 Temporary Workers in Rural Communities
The Government of Canada announced progress on the In-Canada Workers Initiative, aiming to grant permanent residence to up to 33,000 temporary workers in smaller communities by 2027. Between January and February 2026, 3,600 workers were already approved.
On May 4, 2026, the Government of Canada announced significant progress on the one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative, a program originally introduced in Budget 2025. The initiative is designed to accelerate permanent residence applications for up to 33,000 temporary workers who are currently contributing to the Canadian economy, with a specific focus on those living in smaller and rural communities facing labour shortages.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set a target to transition at least 20,000 workers to permanent residence status in 2026, with the remaining applicants expected to be processed in 2027. Early results indicate momentum: between January 1 and February 28, 2026, 3,600 workers were granted permanent residence under this initiative.
To be eligible for acceleration, workers must have applied through specific regional programs, including the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, community immigration pilots, caregiver pilots, or the Agri-Food Pilot. Additionally, applicants must have lived in smaller communities in Canada for two years or more. Notably, eligible applicants do not need to take any action; their applications are selected directly from existing inventories.
The initiative supports the government’s broader goal to reduce the share of temporary residents to less than 5% of the population by the end of 2027. It also aims to address labour shortages in key economic sectors, reduce existing application backlogs, and provide stability to temporary residents who contribute to local economies.
Regarding the Agri-Food Pilot, although the program has concluded, IRCC continues to process applications that were accepted before May 14, 2025. The initiative covers various regions, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as 18 selected Canadian communities involved in community immigration pilots.