In-Canada Workers Initiative: The 33,000-Worker PR Plan and Who Is Eligible

The In-Canada Workers Initiative is a one-time measure to move up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. It covers people who have already applied for PR through the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the community immigration pilots, the caregiver pilots or the Agri-Food Pilot, and who have lived in smaller communities for at least 2 years. IRCC says eligible applicants do not need to do anything. Their existing applications are moved through faster.

Key points

• Up to 33,000 workers to PR across 2026 and 2027, with at least 20,000 in 2026.
• Covers existing PR applicants in the PNP, AIP, community pilots, caregiver pilots and Agri-Food Pilot.
• Applicants must have lived in smaller communities in Canada for at least 2 years.
• No new application is needed.
• IRCC reported 3,600 transitions from January 1 to February 28, 2026, and says it will post progress monthly.

What IRCC announced

IRCC published the details in a news release on May 4, 2026. The initiative was first announced in Budget 2025, alongside the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

Its goal is to keep workers in rural areas and communities with labour gaps, in in-demand sectors, by finalizing their permanent residence sooner. It also supports the government’s target of bringing temporary residents below 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2027. Every worker who becomes a permanent resident reduces the temporary population without anyone leaving the country.

Who is eligible

Based on the IRCC release, you are covered if all of these apply:

Condition	Detail
Status	You hold a work permit in Canada
PR application	You have already applied for PR and your application is in IRCC’s existing inventory
Program	Your PR application is through the PNP, the Atlantic Immigration Program, a community immigration pilot (such as the Rural or Francophone Community Immigration Pilot), a caregiver pilot or the Agri-Food Pilot
Location	You have lived in a smaller community in Canada for at least 2 years

What “smaller community” means

The release refers to “smaller,” “rural” and “remote” communities but does not define a population threshold. IRCC has not published a list of qualifying places in the release. If you live in a large city such as Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, you should assume you are not in the target group unless IRCC says otherwise.

Who is not covered

• Express Entry applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trades programs. These are not among the programs listed in the release. Enhanced (Express Entry-linked) PNP applications are not specifically addressed either.
• People who have not yet applied for PR.
• Family class applicants, such as sponsored spouses.
• People who do not hold a work permit.

Why no application is needed

The initiative is about processing priority, not a new pathway. IRCC is choosing applications that already meet the criteria from its existing queue and finishing them sooner. There is no form, fee or portal. IRCC’s release does not say how, or whether, it will contact people whose files are prioritized.

In practice, this means you should:

• keep your PR application up to date (address, job, family changes)
• respond quickly to any IRCC request for documents, medical exams or biometrics
• keep your work permit valid, or maintain status, while you wait

Be cautious of anyone who offers to “register” you for the initiative or charges a fee to get you in. IRCC says no action is needed.

How it fits the Levels Plan

The 2026–2028 Levels Plan keeps total PR admissions at 380,000 a year while cutting temporary resident arrivals. The PNP target rose to 91,500 in 2026, the Atlantic Immigration Program target is 4,000 a year, and Federal Economic Pilots have 8,175 places in 2026. Transitions under this initiative count within those PR admissions. Our Levels Plan 2026–2028 breakdown has the full table.

Progress so far

IRCC reported that 3,600 workers became permanent residents under the initiative between January 1 and February 28, 2026, and said it was on track to reach at least 20,000 this year. IRCC said it would post progress monthly on its website. Check IRCC’s site for the latest count.

What this means if you are waiting

If you are in a qualifying program and a smaller community: you may see your file move faster than the posted processing times. There is no guarantee, and IRCC has not published individual timelines.

If you are in a qualifying program but in a large city: the initiative probably does not apply to you, and normal processing times apply.

If you have not applied for PR yet: this initiative will not help directly. Look at the regular routes: the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program or the rural and francophone pilots.

If your work permit is close to expiring while you wait, speak to a licensed lawyer or regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC) about your options. This article is general information, not legal advice.

What to do next

• Confirm which program your PR application was filed under and how long you have lived in your current community.
• Update your IRCC account with any changes and answer requests promptly.
• Do not pay anyone to “enroll” you. There is nothing to enroll in.
• Follow monthly progress and related changes on our updates page and the Canada hub.