Canada announces new details for TR to PR pathway under In-Canada Workers Initiative

Temporary workers in Canada have received a significant update, as the federal government has clarified new rules under its In-Canada Workers Initiative, commonly known as the TR to PR pathway.

Under this initiative, priority is being given to workers who meet two key criteria. First, applicants must have already applied for PR through an eligible immigration program such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP), Caregiver pilots, or the Agri-Food Pilot.

Second, applicants must have lived in smaller or rural communities in Canada for at least two years.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that the process will begin using existing applications rather than accepting new ones. This means individuals who have already applied for permanent residence (PR) will have their cases prioritized and fast-tracked. Progress updates will be published monthly on IRCC’s official website.

IRCC clarified on May 4, 2026, that this is a one-time initiative announced in Budget 2025. The plan aims to transition a total of 33,000 workers to permanent residence across 2026 and 2027. Of these, at least 20,000 are targeted for 2026, with the remaining to be completed in 2027. So far, approximately 3,600 workers have already received PR between January and February 2026.