Federal and provincial worker retention measure
Canada Offers Provinces Space to Transition Up to 100,000 Workers to PR
Canada will offer provinces and territories additional 2027 space to transition up to 100,000 established workers and their family members to permanent residence.
What was announced
IRCC announced on November 12, 2026 that provinces and territories will be offered optional additional Provincial Nominee Program space to transition workers who are already established in Canada and meeting regional labour-market needs. The measure is intended to support up to a combined total of 100,000 workers and their eligible family members becoming permanent residents in 2027.
Each province or territory will decide how much of the additional space it uses and which established workers best meet its needs. The additional allocations are intended to be used by March 31, 2027. IRCC has not created a direct federal application intake through this announcement, and provincial selection criteria, eligible occupations, application procedures and timing may differ by jurisdiction.
Provinces and territories may also identify workers in their jurisdictions who have already applied for permanent residence and are waiting for a decision. IRCC specifically refers to applicants under the Atlantic Immigration Program and certain closed federal programs and pilots, including the Start-up Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker programs.
The worker-retention measure is separate from the In-Canada Worker Initiative announced in Budget 2025. It also forms part of a broader time-limited measure for people already living in Canada. The November 12 release does not guarantee that every province will participate or that every temporary worker will qualify.
What this may mean for applicants
Temporary workers should not submit a new application or assume eligibility based only on this federal announcement. Watch for instructions from the province or territory where you live and work, keep your immigration status valid, and make sure your employment, language, education and work-experience records are current. Eligibility will depend on the provincial pathway and selection rules that are published for the additional spaces.