Major Immigration Relief: Canada Plans to Grant Permanent Residency to 2 Lakh Existing Residents by 2027
What Happened
Canada has announced a one-time immigration measure to help up to 200,000 temporary residents already living in the country transition to permanent residency by the end of 2027. Announced as part of Budget 2026 and the 2027–29 Immigration Levels Plan, the initiative includes 100,000 places for eligible workers and their families, and another 100,000 for specific humanitarian and family-related categories. The workers' category will cover selected existing immigration pathways, including eligible Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program candidates. The additional PR places will be separate from Canada's regular annual target of 380,000 permanent residents.
Key Takeaways
The announcement offers an opportunity for eligible temporary workers and other selected residents to secure permanent status without relying solely on regular immigration quotas. It could particularly benefit Indian nationals already working in Canada, but this is not an automatic PR offer for all temporary visa holders. Eligibility will be restricted to specified categories, and applicants should wait for detailed government instructions.
Sources
The Indian Express, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada