The Canadian government announced a two‑year programme, running through 2026 and 2027, that will grant permanent residency to roughly 115,000 individuals who have already been recognised as needing protection.

Eligibility is limited to protected persons who have received formal recognition from either the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The initiative is a one‑off measure within the 2026‑2028 Immigration Levels Plan and will not become a permanent annual pathway.

Applicants who qualify will receive permanent resident status, providing longer‑term stability and the ability to contribute more fully to Canadian communities.

A separate, concurrent measure will fast‑track permanent residency for about 33,000 skilled temporary workers already employed in selected in‑demand sectors, especially in rural areas.

Both special programmes are part of a broader immigration target of 380,000 new permanent residents for 2026, a 4 % reduction from the previous year’s goal.

The plan also lowers targets for temporary residents, capping new international student arrivals at 155,000 and temporary foreign workers at 230,000.

Further information on application procedures and timelines is available on the IRCC immigration levels webpage, which was last updated on 14 October 2026.