Canada plans permanent residency for up to 200,000 temporary residents by 2027

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government will move up to 200,000 people living in Canada on temporary status to permanent residency by the end of 2027, in a one-time measure on top of the annual immigration target.

Canada will grant permanent residency to up to 200,000 temporary residents already living in the country by the end of 2027, under a one-time measure that comes on top of its regular immigration targets.

The measure will be split evenly into two streams: one for workers eligible for Express Entry or provincial nominee programs, and one for people in Canada on humanitarian grounds, including Ukrainians who have lived there for years. Provinces and territories will be able to decide how many people from the worker stream they take on to meet regional labor needs. Ottawa has set aside 302 million Canadian dollars over four years starting in 2027-28.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada graphic on the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan

Prime Minister Mark Carney said those who will qualify have effectively already been permanent residents of their communities. "It's the right thing to do," he told reporters. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the plan, saying immigration numbers should be far lower while housing, health care and jobs catch up.

The new 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan keeps annual targets at 380,000 new permanent residents and 370,000 new temporary residents, including 220,000 workers and up to 150,000 international students, through 2029. Economic immigrants will make up more than 64% of permanent admissions. As of July 1, Canada had fewer than 2.8 million non-permanent residents, 6.7% of the population, and the government aims to cut that share to 5% by the end of 2027.

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