Maple News reports that Canada’s latest immigration announcement—introducing six new permanent residency (PR) programs—has generated immense interest across the country, particularly among international graduates and essential workers already residing in Canada. Beginning May 6, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept applications under these special streams aimed at facilitating the transition of up to 90,000 temporary residents to permanent status. The programs are part of Canada’s broader strategy to meet its 2021 target of welcoming 401,000 new immigrants.
These new streams are structured to prioritize individuals who are already living and contributing in Canada, including 50,000 spots for essential workers in healthcare and other critical sectors, and 40,000 for recent international graduates. Notably, candidates who speak French are not subject to a cap, as Canada seeks to boost its francophone population outside of Quebec. Applications will close on November 5 or once the quotas are met—whichever comes first.
The government has made this move in response to the unique challenges posed by COVID-19. With ongoing border restrictions and delays affecting overseas applicants, the Canadian government is turning to those already inside the country to help meet immigration targets and support post-pandemic economic recovery. These residents face fewer logistical barriers and can integrate more quickly into the labour market.
Demand for these programs has been so high that the websites for official language testing agencies—including IELTS and CELPIP—temporarily crashed due to the volume of traffic. Language testing is a mandatory requirement for economic-class PR applicants, even for those whose native language is English or French. The surge in bookings suggests a rush among temporary residents eager to meet the May 6 application opening.
Interestingly, testing agencies were caught off guard. According to Maple News, IRCC did not consult with them prior to making the announcement, leaving them unable to scale up testing capacity quickly enough to meet the overwhelming demand.
To assess how many individuals could potentially qualify, data from IRCC’s open portal offers insight. As of December 31, 2020, Canada had roughly 717,000 International Mobility Program (IMP) work permit holders, 77,000 Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) permit holders, and 530,000 international students with valid study permits. These groups now represent a significant demographic of potential applicants who could transition to PR through these new pathways.
Overall, the launch of these programs reflects an evolving immigration landscape shaped by urgency and opportunity. With immigration remaining a central driver of Canada’s population and economic growth strategies, the new PR streams underscore a proactive effort to retain skilled workers and students who have already begun building lives in the country.