TR to PR 2026: Canada's One-Time In-Canada Workers Initiative

The 2025 federal budget and the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan promised a one-time measure to move up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence over 2026 and 2027. The Immigration Minister said in March 2026 that it had quietly launched.

In May 2026, IRCC described it as the In-Canada Workers Initiative. It supports rural and remote communities with labor shortages by accelerating permanent residence for workers who are already there. IRCC aims to move at least 20,000 workers to PR in 2026 and the rest in 2027. Between January 1 and February 28, 2026, 3,600 workers were granted PR under the initiative.

It is not a new program you can apply to. Instead, IRCC is prioritizing permanent residence applications already in its queue from people who:

• Have been living in smaller communities in Canada for 2 years or more, and
• Applied through one of these programs:
  • Provincial Nominee Program
  • Atlantic Immigration Program
  • The community immigration pilots (Rural and Francophone)
  • The caregiver pilots (Home Care Worker pilots)
  • The Agri-Food Pilot (now closed)

IRCC says: "Applicants do not need to take any action."

In an April 2026 interview, the Immigration Minister said the measure excludes all Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). Statistics Canada defines 41 CMAs, which together hold about 84% of Canada's population. They include:

If you live and work in one of these metropolitan areas, this measure is unlikely to help you, even if you have a pending application under an eligible program. Look at Express Entry and your province's PNP streams instead.

No. In 2021, Canada ran a separate TR to PR pathway that accepted new applications for a few months from essential workers and international graduates. That pathway is closed.

The 2026 initiative does not open a new application window. Be careful with anyone who offers to "submit your TR to PR 2026 application" for a fee. See scam protection.

• Keep your temporary status valid. Apply to extend your work permit before it expires; see extend your status, maintained status, and the Bridging Open Work Permit.
• Keep your address and contact details up to date in your IRCC account.
• Respond quickly to requests for medical exams, biometrics, or documents.
• Check your application status online and see the IRCC processing times tool.

Start with the program that fits your situation. If you already live in a smaller community, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, Atlantic Immigration Program, or a regional PNP stream may be the fastest route. IRCC has not said whether applications submitted now will be included in the initiative. In larger cities, Express Entry, especially the Canadian Experience Class, is the main route.

The federal government has also promised other 2026 measures, including a construction worker pathway and a pathway for H-1B holders. Their status is still changing.