Canada’s immigration policy is set for another growth spurt. According to details first reported by Business Today on December 2, 2025, the forthcoming Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028 will open multiple new permanent-residence (PR) streams and accelerate transitions for up to 33,000 temporary work-permit holders. Ottawa’s goal is to convert more foreign workers already in the country—especially those in sectors facing acute labour shortages—into permanent residents.
The federal government last used a time-limited TR-to-PR pathway in 2021; it filled within a day. Officials say the new initiative will differ by offering rolling intakes, clearer documentation rules, and sector-specific targets. Streams under development include an accelerated route for U.S. H-1B visa holders, a construction-worker pathway linked to the national housing plan, and a permanent successor to the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot for skilled refugees. Together, these channels could admit more than 115,000 people between 2026 and 2028.
![Ottawa Plots New PR Pathways and 33,000 Fast-Track Work Permits for 2026]()
For employers, the measures promise relief from chronic vacancies. Open-work-permit holders in Canada will be able to lock in permanent status faster, reducing churn and recruitment costs. At the same time, IRCC is signaling stricter caps on new temporary entrants, meaning companies that already employ foreign talent should encourage eligible staff to join the new PR programs early.
Immigration lawyers advise HR teams to start gathering proof of Canadian work experience, language test results and Educational Credential Assessments now. Government guidance on fees and quotas is expected in Q1 2026, but early preparation will give candidates an edge when the portals open. The announcement also suggests that Express Entry category-based draws will remain competitive; employers may prefer the dedicated sectoral streams, which promise lower Comprehensive Ranking System thresholds.
Strategically, the initiative underlines Canada’s shift from volume growth to targeted retention. By prioritising workers who have already integrated into local labour markets and paid Canadian taxes, Ottawa hopes to bolster economic productivity while easing housing-supply pressures associated with newcomers arriving directly from abroad. Multinationals should review their assignment policies to leverage these pathways and support affected employees through the transition.
The federal government last used a time-limited TR-to-PR pathway in 2021; it filled within a day. Officials say the new initiative will differ by offering rolling intakes, clearer documentation rules, and sector-specific targets. Streams under development include an accelerated route for U.S. H-1B visa holders, a construction-worker pathway linked to the national housing plan, and a permanent successor to the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot for skilled refugees. Together, these channels could admit more than 115,000 people between 2026 and 2028.
For employers, the measures promise relief from chronic vacancies. Open-work-permit holders in Canada will be able to lock in permanent status faster, reducing churn and recruitment costs. At the same time, IRCC is signaling stricter caps on new temporary entrants, meaning companies that already employ foreign talent should encourage eligible staff to join the new PR programs early.
Immigration lawyers advise HR teams to start gathering proof of Canadian work experience, language test results and Educational Credential Assessments now. Government guidance on fees and quotas is expected in Q1 2026, but early preparation will give candidates an edge when the portals open. The announcement also suggests that Express Entry category-based draws will remain competitive; employers may prefer the dedicated sectoral streams, which promise lower Comprehensive Ranking System thresholds.
Strategically, the initiative underlines Canada’s shift from volume growth to targeted retention. By prioritising workers who have already integrated into local labour markets and paid Canadian taxes, Ottawa hopes to bolster economic productivity while easing housing-supply pressures associated with newcomers arriving directly from abroad. Multinationals should review their assignment policies to leverage these pathways and support affected employees through the transition.
