Understanding the one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative

The In-Canada Workers Initiative will accelerate permanent residence applications in our inventories for individuals who are already contributing to Canada’s economy across a wide range of in-demand sectors, including in small and rural areas and communities with labour gaps. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to process applications within existing levels space for workers who have applied for permanent residence but are not eligible under this initiative.

Accelerating applications in existing inventories

IRCC is initially accelerating applications that are already selected through well‑established regional immigration programs led by provinces, territories and community partners, as well as occupation-driven pilots.

The Provincial Nominee Program lets provinces and territories nominate people who have the skills, education and work experience to help their economy and who want to live in that province or territory. Each province and territory has its own requirements.

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in one of Canada’s 4 Atlantic provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador.

The community immigration pilots offer permanent residence to skilled candidates who want to work and live in one of 18 selected Canadian communities. Employers can contact their community to get designated and hire in priority sectors.

The caregiver pilots provide pathways to permanent residence for qualified home child care workers and home support workers. The Department continues to process applications received through to a final decision.

The Agri-Food Pilot helps address the labour needs of the Canadian agriculture and agri­food sector. Although this pilot has concluded, IRCC continues to process applications accepted before May 14, 2025.

Focusing on areas essential to local economies and smaller community sustainability

This initiative is designed to support Canada’s economic growth by processing applications from individuals who are already contributing in a wide range of critical sectors facing ongoing labour shortages, particularly in smaller communities.

We are focusing immigration where it delivers the greatest impact—filling labour gaps, strengthening key sectors of the economy and supporting the economic vitality of Canada’s smaller communities across the country.