New Permanent Residence Pathways Expected in 2026

1. Accelerated Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR→PR) Pathway

Expected launch: 2026 (full details pending)

Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government aims to transition up to 33,000 temporary work permit holders to permanent residence over 2026 and 2027.

The pathway will focus on individuals who:

• Are well-established in their local communities
• Pay taxes and contribute consistently to the Canadian labour market

A similar short-term TR→PR program launched in 2021 reached its cap on the day of opening.

Eligibility criteria and documentation requirements are not yet released.

2. Accelerated PR Pathway for H-1B Visa Holders

Expected launch: Early to mid-2026 (“in the coming months”)

Announced in the 2025 federal budget, this pathway is designed for holders of United States H-1B visas, targeting talent in:

• Technology
• Healthcare
• Research and other high-demand sectors.

Background:

• Canada’s 2023 open work permit program for H-1B holders reached its 10,000-application cap within days.

Confirmed requirement:

• Applicants must hold a valid U.S. H-1B visa. Other criteria are still under development.

3. Permanent Residence Pathway for Construction Workers

Announced: March 2025 (details pending)

IRCC plans to admit up to 14,000 foreign construction workers in response to severe labour shortages affecting Canada’s housing supply.

Key elements include:

• Up to 6,000 spaces reserved for out-of-status construction workers already in Canada

The federal government has not yet clarified whether this will be a PR-only pathway or a combination of temporary and permanent routes.

4. Sector-Specific Stream for Agriculture and Fish Processing

Planned launch: 2025–2026

According to IRCC’s 2025–2026 Departmental Plan, the federal government is developing a new sector-specific pathway in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The stream will include:

• Expanded bilateral agreements with partner countries
• Streamlined hiring for agricultural and fish processing employers
• A corresponding sector-specific work permit

Eligibility criteria remain undisclosed.

5. New Permanent Pathway to Replace the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)

Expected launch: 2026 (initially planned for late 2025)

With the EMPP set to expire on December 31, 2025, IRCC is preparing a permanent replacement that will continue supporting:

• Skilled refugees
• Displaced professionals
• Canadian employers seeking access to new labour pools

The latest Immigration Levels Plan also includes a one-time measure to transition about 115,000 protected persons already in Canada to permanent residence, which may be incorporated into the new pathway.

EMPP admission statistics (2019 – March 2025):

• 970 people admitted

Federal EMPP Job Offer and No Job Offer streams are no longer accepting new applications.

The new pathway is expected to maintain EMPP’s core requirement:

• Proof of refugee or displaced-person status Additional criteria such as language, education, and work experience may apply.

PR Pilots Expected to Reopen in 2026

1. Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots

Likely reopening in 2026 for in-Canada applicants

Two pilots launched in March 2025:

• Child Care Home Worker Pilot
• Home Support Worker Pilot

Each pilot accepted 2,750 applications and hit capacity on the day of opening.

Expected reopening in 2026:

• In-Canada applicant streams (The outside-Canada streams never opened in 2025 and remain labelled as “Closed.”)

Eligibility requirements:

• Full-time job offer
• Language: CLB 4 or higher
• Education: Secondary school or above
• Work experience: Minimum six months

2. Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) & Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)

Launched in 2025, these employer-driven pilots help rural communities outside Quebec address labour shortages.

Key features:

• Mandatory job offer
• Requirements for education, work experience, language, and settlement funds

Possible updates in 2026:

• New designated communities
• Revised priority sectors or occupations

Language requirements:

• RCIP: CLB 4–6 (depending on NOC)
• FCIP: French at NCLC 5 in all abilities

Work experience requirement:

• At least one year (1,560 hours) within the last three years or
• Graduation from an eligible post-secondary institution in the community

Outlook: 2026 Positioned as a Major Expansion Year for PR Pathways

From temporary workers already in Canada to H-1B professionals, construction labour, agricultural and fish processing workers, and refugee-skilled candidates, the federal government is broadening the number and type of candidates who may transition to permanent residence. With several initiatives awaiting final instructions, stakeholders expect more detailed announcements throughout early 2026.