Canada has announced a one-time, two-year plan to transition up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027, focusing on people already working in Canada, including workers in in-demand sectors and with a rural focus.
As of early March 2026, public reporting says the pathway has been “quietly launched,” but IRCC has not published full eligibility rules, forms, or step-by-step application instructions yet, and more details are expected in April 2026.
That gap creates confusion. The safest way to prepare right now is to get core documents ready that are commonly required in Canadian permanent residence applications.
What to prepare now (high-priority documents)
1) Language test results
Most economic PR pathways require an approved language test. IRCC lists accepted tests such as:
-
CELPIP-General
-
IELTS General Training
-
PTE Core
-
TEF Canada
-
TCF Canada
Tip: Language results expire (program rules vary), so don’t take a test too early if you may need valid results at submission.
2) Police certificates (criminal background checks)
Police certificates are often required for countries where you lived for a period of time as an adult. IRCC has program pages that explain how police certificates are requested and handled.
Tip: Some countries take weeks or months to issue certificates, so starting early can reduce delays.
3) Passport and identity documents
Have clear copies of:
-
Passport bio page (and all relevant stamps/visas)
-
Birth certificate
-
Marriage/divorce documents (if applicable)
IRCC advises renewing passports early in some PR contexts (for example, Express Entry guidance recommends renewing if the passport expires within 6 months of applying).
4) Proof you are legally in Canada right now
Keep your current status documents ready, such as:
-
Work permit (and any extension approval letters)
-
Visitor record or study permit (if that applies)
-
Proof of maintained status, if you applied to extend before expiry
5) Employment proof (most important for workers)
Prepare a clean package that matches how IRCC normally checks work history:
-
Employer letter(s) confirming job title, duties, hours, dates
-
Recent pay stubs
-
Employment contract(s)
-
T4s / Notices of Assessment if available (helpful evidence of in-Canada work and taxes)
Helpful “supporting” documents (often needed)
Education documents (and ECA if your credential is outside Canada)
If you want IRCC to count foreign education, you may need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated provider.
For Canadian education, keep transcripts and completion letters available.
Translations (if documents are not English or French)
IRCC requires documents in English or French, and for other languages you generally need:
-
Translation
-
Affidavit (if required)
-
Certified copy of the original
Family member documents (if applying with family)
Common items include:
-
Passports for spouse/partner and children
-
Birth certificates
-
Marriage or common-law proof (shared address/finances)
-
Police certificates (where required)
Letters of explanation (only when needed)
If you have anything that could confuse an officer, prepare a short, factual letter explaining it, for example:
-
Address gaps
-
Employment gaps
-
Name variations across documents
Use of a representative form (only if you use one)
If someone represents you (paid or unpaid), IRCC uses IMM 5476 to appoint/cancel a representative.
What NOT to do yet
-
Don’t rely on older “TR to PR pathway” pages from 2021 as instructions for this new measure (those pages describe a closed pathway).
-
Don’t do an upfront medical exam unless IRCC tells you to—IRCC normally sends instructions after you submit a complete PR application.
