Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident pathway

by Michael Scott

On March 6, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced that Canada has launched a new, one-time Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident pathway for 33,000 foreign workers in Canada to transition to Permanent Residence over 2026 and 2027. This initiative is intended to address the status of temporary residents already in Canada, particularly those in in-demand occupations or rural areas to secured permanent residence. If you are one of the applicants with expiring status, the pathway may be the answer you are looking for. The details are limited at the time, but some things have been announced.

The new pathway is a response to the plight of numerous temporary residents who are coming to the end of their legal status. In 2025 a reported 2.1 million temporary residents had their permits expire and a further 1, 9 million are expected to expire in 2026. The numbers have raised concerns about a growth of undocumented residents if the migrants remain inside the country after their status expires and could become a class of hidden immigration TNTs (tago nang tago).

The new pathway offers a way to address this issue for workers who are already living and working in Canada. Prime Minister Carney has pledged to reduce the number of temporary residents inside Canada to below five per cent of Canada’s total population by 2027. The TR to PR pathway was originally included as part of Canada’s planning framework for Canada’s 2026 - 2028 Immigration Levels Plan intended to support persons living in Canada, to expand on the 115,000 protected persons currently living in Canada. The pathway was one way to rectify the number of temporary residents currently inside the country.

Some of the key details of the TR to PR measure have been released. The pathway is intended to offer 33,000 spots for the 2026 and 2027 operational years. The target group, in general terms, are temporary foreign residents who are currently working in Canada filling gaps in the Canadian labour force, often in rural areas. The department states that the initiative has been “soft-launched,” but the full detailed eligibility and requirements have not yet been released. More information about the application process is expected to follow in April.

Interested parties can start to prepare for the opening of application submissions. It would be wise for potential applicants to start preparing their documents, especially proof of Canadian work experience, English or French language tests, and educational documents. If you have documents related to Canadian equivalencies, this would be beneficial. Ensure that you have proof of your continuing legal status in the country and watch the official IRCC website in April 2026. The pathway is something that will prioritize applicants currently living and working in Canada rather than inviting any overseas recruitment. Watch for additional information about the pathway. It may be something you qualify for to address the issue of remaining inside the country as a permanent resident.

Michael Scott is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, R525678) who has 30 years of experience with Immigration Canada and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. He currently works as a licensed consultant with Immigration Connexion International Ltd. Contact him at 204-691-1166 or 204-227-0292. E-mail: mscott.ici@gmail.com.