Canada has introduced a new one-time immigration pathway that will allow 33,000 temporary foreign workers to become permanent residents.
According to a report published by the Toronto Star on March 6, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed that the program has already been launched quietly, with additional details expected to be announced in April.
The pathway was first mentioned in the federal budget in November last year and was later confirmed in Canada’s official Immigration Levels Plan.
According to the government, this two-year initiative will focus on temporary foreign workers currently employed in high-demand sectors across Canada, particularly those working in rural and smaller communities.
At present, the Canadian government has not yet released the full eligibility criteria or official application instructions for this program.
However, foreign workers who may be interested in applying are encouraged to begin preparing key documents in advance. These may include language test results and educational credential proof, which are commonly required in permanent residence applications.
Program Introduced as Many Temporary Visas Near Expiry
The new pathway comes at a time when a large number of temporary residents in Canada are approaching the expiry of their legal status.
Most temporary residents hold work permits or study permits, which are issued for a limited duration. Once these permits expire, individuals must either apply for an extension or leave Canada if they are no longer eligible to remain.
Government’s Plan to Reduce Temporary Resident Numbers
Since January 2024, the Canadian federal government has implemented several measures to reduce the number of temporary residents in the country. The goal is to bring temporary residents to below 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027.
This strategy involves two main approaches:
- Transitioning eligible temporary residents to permanent residence
- Reducing the intake of new temporary residents
To achieve this, the government has introduced several policy changes over the past two years.
In January 2024, Canada implemented its first-ever cap on study permit applications and restricted eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) for certain programs delivered through curriculum licensing agreements.
Later in September 2024, the government paused the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) under the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in regions experiencing high unemployment.
During the same month, new restrictions were also placed on PGWP and Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs) to significantly reduce the number of work permits issued.
From November 2024, PGWP eligibility became limited mainly to graduates from programs linked to high-demand fields such as healthcare and skilled trades, while bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates remained exempt from this requirement. Applicants were also required to meet minimum language proficiency standards.
Starting January 2025, spousal open work permits for international students were restricted to spouses of students enrolled in doctoral programs, master’s programs of at least 16 months, or select professional programs such as engineering, medicine, nursing, law, and dentistry.
Similarly, spousal open work permits for foreign workers were limited to spouses of workers in high-skilled occupations (TEER 0 and 1) and certain in-demand occupations under TEER 2 and 3, including healthcare, construction, and natural resources.
Impact of the New Policies
According to population data released by Statistics Canada, these measures have significantly reduced the number of temporary residents entering the country.
In 2025, Canada experienced a slowdown in population growth followed by slight declines, marking the first decrease in population since modern records began in 1971, apart from a brief drop during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The number of international student admissions dropped by 60%, falling from 293,000 in 2024 to 115,000 in 2025.
At the same time, admissions of temporary foreign workers decreased by 47%, declining from 393,000 to 184,000.
The newly introduced TR to PR pathway is expected to help some temporary workers transition to permanent residency while supporting Canada’s labour market needs.
