PR & Citizenship Update — May 29, 2026
Friday, May 29, 2026
IRCC confirmed on May 4, 2026 that its In-Canada Workers Initiative will fast-track PR processing for up to 33,000 temporary workers in 2026–2027, specifically targeting applicants already in the PR inventory who have lived in smaller Canadian communities for at least two years and applied through PNP, Atlantic Immigration Program, Rural Community Immigration Pilot, Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, Caregiver Pilots, or the Agri-Food Pilot.
Applicants do not need to take any action to be considered — IRCC will select eligible applications from existing inventories. The initiative operates outside of Express Entry.
New PR card issuance takes approximately 18 days as of early 2026, reflecting improved processing efficiency.
What You Should Do
- If you applied for PR through PNP, Atlantic Immigration Program, Rural Community Immigration Pilot, Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, Caregiver Pilots, or the Agri-Food Pilot and have lived in a smaller Canadian community for at least two years, check your IRCC online account at portal.ircc.canada.ca for any updates — IRCC is proactively selecting eligible applications and no action is required on your part.
- If you are eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) while waiting for your PR application to be processed under one of the above programs, apply for it through your IRCC account to maintain work authorization. Confirm eligibility criteria at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/bridging.html.
- If you submitted a 2021 TR-to-PR pathway PR application and are still awaiting a decision, apply for an open work permit at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/tr-pr-pathway/open-work-permit.html before the December 31, 2026 deadline.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The In-Canada Workers Initiative, first announced with Budget 2025, will transition up to 33,000 temporary workers to PR in 2026–2027 by accelerating existing applications from regional and pilot programs — operating entirely outside Express Entry.
PR Card Processing Efficiency: New PR card issuance now takes approximately 18 days as of early 2026, indicating improved processing efficiency at IRCC.
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