Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed March 6 that the long-promised temporary residence to permanent residence (TR-to-PR) pathway is now active, opening the door for 33,000 foreign workers already in Canada to obtain permanent residence. Although the department has not yet released a formal program guide, the minister told the Toronto Star that applications are already being accepted and that more detailed details will be released in April. (immigrationnewscanada.ca)
The pathway – first envisioned in the 2026-28 Immigration Levels Plan – targets workers in high-demand sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, transportation, health and nursing jobs, with a particular focus on rural communities. The places will be distributed between 2026 and 2027, giving Ottawa a tool to reduce the rapidly increasing number of temporary residents while meeting labor market needs. Government data shows that more than two million temporary residence permits will have expired in 2025 and another 1.9 million will expire in 2026, creating strong pressure for transition options. (immigrationnewscanada.ca)
For foreign workers looking to keep their status updated as they prepare for this transition, VisaHQ can be a useful resource. The dedicated Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) allows users to check eligibility, renew travel documents and consult experts. This will help applicants stay compliant while obtaining the documentation required for the new TR to PR pathway.
Policy analysts say the “soft launch” reflects IRCC’s shift toward a two-tier immigration model, in which new arrivals first enter on temporary permits and later transition. More than half of all new permanent residents in 2025 were already in the country; The new pathway formalizes this trend and helps the government meet the Prime Minister’s mandate to reduce the proportion of the non-permanently resident population to below 5 percent by 2027.
For employers, the program offers a lifeline: Many temporary residents whose work permits expire this quarter can now seek permanent residency instead of leaving the country. Immigration lawyers are urging their clients to promptly provide evidence of their community ties, tax history and language scores, warning that the 2021 TR to PR pilot was completed in a single day. Applicants must also maintain their status valid; Those who fall out of status are not eligible.
If fully implemented, the pathway will provide Canada with the most targeted economic class enrollment since the launch of Express Entry in 2015 – and could become the template for future sector-specific programs that directly tie permanent residency to proven labor shortages. (immigrationnewscanada.ca)