Canada speeds up PR for eligible in-Canada workers, i.e., the federal government has shared new details about its In-Canada Workers Initiative. This program is often called the TR to PR pathway.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that the program will give faster priority to some workers who already applied for permanent residence.
These workers must have applied under certain programs and must have been living in smaller communities in Canada for at least two years.
IRCC also said that applicants do not need to take any new steps. The department will review and move forward with eligible applications that are already in the system.
These updates were shared in a press release on May 4.
The In-Canada Workers Initiative is a one-time program. It aims to move up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. The government first announced this plan in the federal budget last year.
Programs Included In The Initiative
The government is focusing on workers who applied through certain immigration programs.
These include:
-
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
- Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)
- Caregiver pilots
- Agri-Food Pilot
The government said this program will support workers in key sectors. Many of these jobs are in rural areas where there are labour shortages.
Note: Some applicants under these programs may also be able to get Bridging Open Work Permits while they wait for a decision.
Progress So Far
The government has already started approving applications under this initiative.
Between January 1 and February 28, 2026, IRCC approved permanent residence for 3,600 workers. This is about 18% of the target for 2026.
The government plans to approve at least 20,000 applications in 2026. The remaining approvals are expected to take place in 2027.
About The TR To PR Pathway
The TR to PR pathway is a special, one-time program.
It was first announced in Budget 2025. The goal is to help temporary workers become permanent residents.
This program is also part of a larger plan. The government wants to reduce the number of temporary residents to less than 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027.
The program mainly focuses on workers already in Canada who are in jobs that are needed.
It also gives attention to workers living in smaller communities.
Earlier this year, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said that the program had already started.
In another update, the minister explained that the program would not include large cities. This means major urban areas are not part of this initiative.
The latest update shows that the program is designed to speed up decisions for applications that have already been submitted.
Focus On Rural Immigration
The focus on rural areas is part of a larger trend in Canada’s immigration plans.
The government has been taking steps to support smaller communities in recent years.
Earlier in 2026, new rules were introduced under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
These rules make it easier for rural employers to hire and keep workers.
Under these rules, employers in rural areas can:
- Hire up to 15% of their workforce through the program
- Keep more low-wage workers than the usual limit allows
These changes apply only in regions that have agreed to take part in the program.
In addition, IRCC launched two new pilot programs last year:
- The Rural Community Immigration Pilot
- The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
These programs aim to fill labour gaps in smaller communities.
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