PR granted to 33,000 workers in Canada, major relief for those with work permits

May 5, 2026

The Canadian government has decided to grant Permanent Residence (PR) to 33,000 people already working in the country under the “In-Canada Workers Initiative.” This initiative is specifically aimed at workers who support the economy by living in small towns and rural areas.

Who will benefit?
According to the government, PR will be granted only to those who have lived and worked in a rural or small community for at least two years. Applicants under programs such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration, Caregiver, or Agri-Food Pilot will receive priority. Fortunately, eligible individuals will not need to submit a new application; existing cases will be processed expeditiously.

Target to be completed by 2026-27
The government aims to grant PR to at least 20,000 workers in 2026, with the remaining cases to be completed by 2027. In the first two months of 2026 alone, 3,600 people have already benefited from it.

Impact on student visas, labor shortage to be addressed
While the new policy will provide relief to those working on work permits, student visa opportunities may be reduced. Only 155,000 students will be approved in 2026. The government’s aim is to address the labor shortage in rural areas and reduce the number of temporary residents.