Announcement of the “In-Canada Workers Initiative,” a New Policy for Workers in Canada | Focus on “Priority Processing” of Existing Applications

Canada’s immigration department (IRCC) has released the first concrete details regarding the long-anticipated “In-Canada Workers Initiative,” a temporary measure that many foreign workers had hoped would become a new TR to PR pathway similar to the 2021 program.

The initiative was originally announced in the federal government’s 2025 budget and aims to transition up to 33,000 temporary foreign workers to permanent residence between 2026 and 2027.

However, according to the announcement made during a press conference on May 4, 2026, the initiative is currently focused primarily on prioritizing the processing of permanent residence (PR) applications that have already been submitted through existing immigration programs, rather than opening a brand-new PR pathway.

IRCC stated that eligible applicants may include existing work permit holders who have already submitted PR applications under programs such as:

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) 
• Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) 
• Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) 
• Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
• Agri-Food Pilot 

Rather than requiring a new application process, IRCC explained that it will identify eligible cases from existing PR inventories and prioritize their processing internally.

Applicants are not required to take any additional action at this time.

One of the key eligibility considerations mentioned by IRCC is that applicants must have lived in a smaller Canadian community for at least two years.

Recent government comments have also suggested that large metropolitan areas may not be the primary focus of this initiative, reflecting Canada’s growing emphasis on supporting regional immigration and addressing labour shortages outside major cities.

This aligns with IRCC’s recent expansion of community-focused immigration programs such as RCIP and FCIP, which are designed to encourage long-term settlement in smaller and rural communities across Canada.

Many temporary residents had anticipated that the government would introduce a new application-based pathway similar to the popular 2021 TR to PR program, which allowed many workers and international graduates already in Canada to apply directly for permanent residence.

At this stage, however, the “In-Canada Workers Initiative” appears to function mainly as a fast-tracking mechanism for existing PR applications rather than a new intake-based immigration stream.

As a result, the announcement has led to disappointment among some foreign workers who had been hoping for a broader new pathway.

According to IRCC, approximately 3,600 individuals had already received permanent residence under this initiative as of early 2026, representing roughly 18% of the government’s 2026 target of 20,000 admissions.

The federal government plans to continue processing additional eligible applications throughout 2026 and 2027.

This announcement further demonstrates the Canadian government’s current immigration direction: prioritizing individuals who are already contributing to Canada’s workforce and establishing long-term roots in regional communities.

In recent years, regional immigration pathways have become increasingly important, and factors such as where applicants live and work may continue to play a larger role in future immigration opportunities.

Rather than waiting in hopes of a future TR to PR program, temporary residents may benefit from exploring currently available pathways such as PNP, AIP, RCIP, and other regional immigration programs as early as possible.

At Visa JP Canada, we help clients identify immigration strategies that best match their individual circumstances and long-term goals in Canada. If you are considering your permanent residence options, our team would be happy to assist you.