Canada has introduced a new immigration initiative that will allow 33,000 foreign workers to become permanent residents over the next two years. Toronto Star
Canada has started a new immigration program that will allow 33,000 foreign workers to become permanent residents. Officials launched the program quietly, and more information will come in the coming weeks.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed the development during a recent interview. She said the program has already begun, and the government plans to release full details in April.
The federal government first introduced the idea in the national budget last November. Later, officials included the measure in Canada’s annual immigration levels plan.
Focus on Workers in Needed Jobs
Government information shows that the program will run for two years. It targets temporary foreign workers who already work in Canada in sectors that face labour shortages.
The initiative will also pay special attention to workers who live in smaller and rural communities, where businesses often struggle to find enough employees.
Officials have not yet released the exact eligibility rules or instructions for submitting applications. Workers interested in applying may want to prepare documents such as language test results and proof of education while they wait for the official application process.
Relief for Temporary Residents
The new pathway arrives at a time when many temporary residents in Canada face expiring permits.
Most temporary residents hold work permits or study permits, and both documents only allow people to stay in Canada for a limited period. Each permit carries a specific expiry date.
Some individuals can apply to extend their permits. Others must leave the country when their authorized stay ends if they cannot renew their status.
The new program may offer a chance for many workers to stay in Canada permanently.
Government Moves to Reduce Temporary Residents
At the same time, the federal government has introduced several measures to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada.
Since early 2024, Ottawa has placed stricter controls on study permits and work permits. Officials aim to reduce temporary residents to less than five per cent of Canada’s population by 2027.
Authorities plan to reach that goal through two approaches. Some temporary residents will transition to permanent residence, while others will leave Canada once their permits expire.
New Limits on Study and Work Permits
The government began tightening immigration programs in 2024.
Officials introduced the country’s first yearly cap on study permit applications. They also ended eligibility for post-graduation work permits for students who completed certain programs offered through curriculum licensing agreements.
Later that year, the government paused some Labour Market Impact Assessment applications under the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in areas with high unemployment.
Ottawa also placed stricter rules on post-graduation work permits and spousal open work permits in an effort to lower the number of work permits issued over the next several years.
New rules now limit post-graduation work permits mainly to graduates in fields that Canada needs most, including healthcare and skilled trades. Graduates must also meet minimum language requirements through approved tests.
Spousal open work permits now apply mostly to spouses of highly skilled workers or those working in selected high-demand sectors.
Immigration Changes Already Showing Impact
Recent figures from Statistics Canada show that these measures have started to affect population growth.
Canada recorded slower population growth in 2025, followed by slight declines. This marked the first drop in population since modern records began in 1971, apart from a brief decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The country also saw major decreases in the number of international students and temporary workers entering Canada.
International student admissions dropped 60 per cent, falling from 293,000 to 115,000 in 2025.
Admissions of temporary foreign workers also fell sharply, dropping 47 per cent from 393,000 to 184,000.
Officials believe the new policies will help balance immigration while still supporting industries that rely on skilled workers.
