Announced Nov 5 · Breakdown Nov 6, 2026
If you are waiting on an inland spousal sponsorship, an H&C application that is approved in principle, or a Hong Kong or Ukraine pathway application, your file should move faster in 2027. Canada announced up to 100,000 extra permanent residence spaces for these four groups, for 2027 only. There is nothing new to apply for.
100,000extra PR spaces, 2027 only
~12 mo.IRCC’s inland spousal goal
12,600H&C files approved in principle
0new forms to file
Read the full summary: the 2027 extra PR spaces explained
What the government announced
On November 5, 2026, the Government of Canada released Budget 2026 and the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan. Together they set aside up to 200,000 extra permanent residence spaces for 2027 only, for people who are already in Canada. IRCC describes it as “additional space for one year, outside of the Levels targets.” The regular Levels Plan keeps permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year for 2027, 2028 and 2029.
The two groups of 100,000
- Workers (up to 100,000): temporary workers already working in Canada, and their families. Ottawa will work with the provinces to decide how to divide these spaces. This post does not cover that group in detail.
- Humanitarian (up to 100,000): four groups with applications already in IRCC’s queue: inland spouses, partners and children of Canadians and permanent residents; H&C applicants approved in principle; Hong Kong pathway applicants; and Ukrainian family reunification applicants.
Why the government says it is doing this
At a technical briefing on November 6, officials said the measure “will reduce inventories with unreasonable wait times and support more predictable processing times.” They added that most people covered already live in Canada or are joining family here, so they expect limited impact on housing and public services. For in-Canada spousal files, IRCC’s stated goal is waits closer to 12 months, outside Quebec.
Funding and the regular targets
- Funding: Budget 2026 sets aside $302.3 million over four years, starting in 2027–28.
- Regular H&C space is shrinking: the H&C and Other category drops to 5,000 admissions a year from 2027 (from 6,900 in 2026 and 12,755 people actually admitted in 2025). The line covering in-Canada H&C is about 1,000 in 2027.
- This is one-time: the extra space is for 2027 only. Nothing in the announcement extends it to later years.
Who is not covered
- Spouses and partners being sponsored from outside Canada
- H&C applicants still waiting for the first-stage decision
- CUAET holders who never applied to the Ukrainian family reunification pathway
- Anyone hoping to apply to a new “200,000 PR program”. There is no such application.
What is not known yet
- IRCC’s operational instructions and any published processing times
- How the 100,000 worker spaces will be divided among provinces and programs
- Which files will be finalized first, given that the four humanitarian groups add up to about 108,400 against 100,000 spaces
Where the numbers come from
The 100,000 total, the covered groups and the 12-month spousal goal are published by IRCC. The breakdown by group (45,000, 32,000, 18,800 and 12,600) comes from the November 6 technical briefing, as reported by The Canadian Press and the Toronto Star, and is not published on canada.ca. Because the spaces sit outside the 380,000 target, the Opposition has criticized how the plan is presented; the government says the people covered already live and work in Canada.
On this page
Are you covered? · The breakdown · Inland spousal processing time · H&C processing time · Hong Kong · Ukraine · What to do now · FAQ
Are you covered? At a glance
| Your situation | Covered? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Inland (in-Canada) spousal, common-law or child sponsorship, waiting for a decision | Yes | About 45,000 spaces. IRCC aims for waits closer to 12 months (outside Quebec) |
| Spousal sponsorship from outside Canada (outland) | No | The measure is only for people already in Canada |
| H&C application approved in principle | Yes | About 12,600 people counted. Extra landing space outside the yearly cap |
| H&C application waiting for the first decision | No | Regular H&C space stays small; IRCC warns of waits over 10 years |
| Hong Kong pathway (Stream A or B), applied before August 31, 2026 | Yes | About 32,000. IRCC aims to process all remaining files |
| Ukrainian family reunification pathway, applied before October 22, 2024 | Yes | About 18,800. IRCC aims to process all remaining files |
| CUAET holder who never applied to that pathway | No | No new route was created |
The breakdown: who gets the 100,000 spaces
At a technical briefing on November 6, 2026, immigration officials gave reporters the first figures for each group. Together they add up to about 108,400, more than the 100,000 spaces available.
Inland spouses and children
~45,000
Goal: waits closer to 12 months.
Hong Kong
~32,000
IRCC aims to process all remaining files.
Ukraine
~18,800
IRCC aims to process all remaining files.
H&C, approved in principle
~12,600
Stage two only. Not first-stage files.
Why the groups add up to more than 100,000
The figures are approximate, some applications will be refused or withdrawn before 2027, and some people may be counted in more than one group. It does mean not every file is certain to be finalized in 2027. Hong Kong and Ukraine are the two groups IRCC says it aims to clear entirely. In our reading, if the numbers have to give anywhere, the spousal allocation is the most likely place.
Inland spousal sponsorship processing time in 2027
Spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are in Canada and waiting for a decision get about 45,000 of the spaces. IRCC says this should bring waits for the spouse or common-law partner class “closer to 12 months” for people destined outside Quebec.
For scale, IRCC reported about 49,500 in-Canada spouse, partner and child applications outside Quebec in its processing inventory on September 30, 2025.
Outland (outside Canada) spousal files are not covered. They are processed under the regular Levels Plan.
H&C processing time: from approval in principle to PR
H&C applications are decided in two stages: the humanitarian assessment, which ends in an approval in principle, and then the final decision and permanent residence. The extra space covers only the second stage. Officials said the roughly 12,600 people approved in principle have been kept waiting because of the limited yearly admission quotas.
Stage 1: waiting for the H&C decision
Not covered. IRCC says most new applicants in the H&C and Other category can expect to wait more than 10 years.
Stage 2: approved in principle
Covered. Extra landing space outside the yearly cap in 2027.
What is an approval in principle letter?
It is IRCC’s letter confirming you passed the first stage. For H&C, it means the humanitarian grounds were accepted. It is not permanent residence: the second stage still checks identity and admissibility, such as medical, criminal and security checks, before PR is granted. In-Canada spousal files also receive an approval in principle letter once the first stage is approved.
See the numbers: H&C admissions 2021–2027
The whole H&C and Other category admitted 19,355 people in 2024 and 12,755 in 2025. Its target falls to 6,900 in 2026 and 5,000 in 2027. Within that, the line for in-Canada H&C, permit holders and some public policies is 1,100 in 2026 and 1,000 in 2027. IRCC reported 68,400 people in the in-Canada H&C inventory on January 31, 2026.
Hong Kong pathway processing time
The Hong Kong permanent residence pathways closed to new applications on August 31, 2026. IRCC says it is aiming to process all remaining applications in 2027, and officials put that group at about 32,000 people. IRCC’s inventory was about 24,000 on September 30, 2025, so it grew before the pathway closed.
What this means for your Hong Kong file
- No new application. IRCC says you do not need to apply separately or take any additional steps.
- A goal, not a guarantee. IRCC is “aiming to” finish these files in 2027. No processing time has been published.
- Keep your status valid. If your work permit is close to expiring, deal with it now.
- Admissibility still applies. Extra space does not fix a medical, criminal or misrepresentation issue.
Ukraine family reunification processing time
The Ukrainian family reunification pathway closed on October 22, 2024. IRCC says it is aiming to process all remaining applications in 2027, and officials put that group at about 18,800 people (IRCC’s inventory was about 22,800 on September 30, 2025).
This is not a CUAET PR pathway. CUAET holders who never applied to the family reunification pathway are not covered, and no pathway has reopened.
What to do now
- Don’t pay anyone to “enrol” you in a 200,000 PR program. No such application exists.
- Keep your contact details current with IRCC.
- Renew expiring documents: passport, medical exam, police certificates. Older files may get short-deadline requests.
- Keep your temporary status valid. Don’t let a permit lapse waiting for PR.
- Tell your lawyer about changes: marriage, separation, a new child, a new job, or any police or CBSA contact.
Not sure if your file is covered? We can check where your application stands and get it ready before IRCC contacts you.
How we got here
- October 22, 2024: Ukrainian family reunification pathway closes.
- August 31, 2026: Hong Kong pathways close to new applications.
- November 5, 2026: Budget 2026 ($302.3 million over four years from 2027–28) and the 2027–2029 Levels Plan (380,000 a year) announce up to 200,000 extra spaces, “outside of the Levels targets,” for one year. Half are for workers already in Canada.
- November 6, 2026: Officials give the breakdown by group at a technical briefing.
- 2027: The one-time extra processing year. Operational details have not been published yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inland spousal sponsorship
How long will inland spousal sponsorship take in 2027?
IRCC says the extra space should bring waits for the spouse or common-law partner class “closer to 12 months” for people destined outside Quebec. That is a goal, not a guaranteed processing time, and IRCC has not yet published operational details.
My spouse is in Canada without status. Is our application covered?
IRCC has not said anything specific about out-of-status spouses. The measure covers in-Canada spousal applications waiting for a decision, and spouses without status apply in that same in-Canada class, so they appear to fall within it. Wait for IRCC’s instructions before relying on this, and keep your file complete.
Does this help if I am sponsoring my spouse from outside Canada?
No. The measure is for people already in Canada. Outland spousal applications continue to be processed under the regular Levels Plan.
What about Quebec?
IRCC’s 12-month goal is for people destined outside Quebec. Quebec has its own sponsorship undertaking process, and IRCC has not said how Quebec spousal files will be treated under this measure.
My spouse’s work permit is about to expire. Should we wait for PR?
No. Keep temporary status valid. If you apply to extend a permit before it expires, you can generally keep the same conditions while IRCC decides (often called maintained status). Letting status lapse can create new problems for the file.
We received an approval in principle letter for our spousal sponsorship. What does that mean?
It means the first stage was approved: the sponsor’s eligibility and the relationship. It is not permanent residence yet. The second stage checks medical, criminal and security admissibility before PR is granted.
Humanitarian and compassionate (H&C)
My H&C is approved in principle. When will I get PR?
Your group is covered by the 2027 extra space, and officials counted about 12,600 people in it. IRCC has not published a processing time. Keep your documents, address and status current so your file is ready when IRCC contacts you.
Does approval in principle mean I am a permanent resident?
No. It means the humanitarian part of your application was accepted. You become a permanent resident only after the second stage, which checks identity and admissibility, and after you confirm PR.
I am still waiting for a first-stage H&C decision. Does this help me?
No. The extra space is only for files already approved in principle. IRCC says most new applicants in the H&C and Other category can expect to wait more than 10 years. Keep your file up to date with new evidence of your establishment in Canada and any hardship, and tell IRCC about changes in your situation.
Why have approved H&C files waited so long?
Officials said these people have been kept waiting because of the limited yearly admission quotas. The line for in-Canada H&C in the Levels Plan is about 1,100 in 2026 and 1,000 in 2027, far below the roughly 12,600 people approved in principle.
Hong Kong and Ukraine pathways
Does it matter whether I applied under Hong Kong Stream A or Stream B?
IRCC says it is aiming to process all remaining Hong Kong pathway applications in 2027 and has not announced any difference between the streams.
Does this reopen the Hong Kong or Ukraine pathways?
No. The Hong Kong pathways closed on August 31, 2026 and the Ukrainian family reunification pathway on October 22, 2024. Only applications already filed are covered.
I came to Canada under CUAET. Can I get PR through this?
Only if you applied to the Ukrainian family reunification pathway before it closed on October 22, 2024. The announcement does not create a new PR route for other CUAET holders.
My work permit expires before I am likely to land. What should I do?
Apply to extend your status before it expires. The extra space is a goal for 2027, not a guarantee of when you will land, and you must be in status to complete the process smoothly.
General questions
Is there a form to fill out?
No. IRCC says applicants do not need to apply separately or take any additional steps to be considered.
Will I need a new medical exam or police certificate?
Possibly. Immigration medical exam results are generally valid for 12 months, and older files may get requests for updated medicals, police certificates or passports, often with short deadlines. Check your expiry dates now.
What happens if my application is not finalized in 2027?
The extra space is for 2027 only. Files not finalized would continue under the regular Levels Plan. IRCC has not said how it will prioritize files within each group.
Does this affect Express Entry or provincial nominee applications?
The other 100,000 spaces are for workers already in Canada and their families, and Ottawa will work with the provinces on how to divide them. Details have not been published. See our Express Entry page for the regular program.
Are the numbers by group official?
The 100,000 figure and the list of covered groups are published by IRCC. The breakdown by group, including the 12,600 approved-in-principle figure, comes from a technical briefing with reporters. It is not on canada.ca or in IRCC’s 2026 Annual Report to Parliament, so treat it as reported rather than official.
Is this guaranteed?
No. It is a funded commitment with stated goals, not a legal entitlement, and it is limited to 2027.
Someone is offering to “register” me for the 200,000 PR program. Is it real?
No. There is no application or registration for this measure. Be cautious of anyone charging a fee to enrol you, and check information against IRCC’s own website.
Do I need a lawyer?
No, you do not need a lawyer to benefit from this measure. A lawyer can help if your file has complications, such as status problems, a past refusal, admissibility concerns or a request from IRCC with a short deadline.
How MM Immigration Law can help
We act on inland spousal sponsorships, including for partners without status, and on H&C applications at both stages. If your file is in one of these queues, we can check that it is complete and current so it is ready to be finalized.
Related: Spousal sponsorship · Sponsoring a spouse with no status · Spousal sponsorship processing times · Spousal sponsorship AOR · Humanitarian and compassionate applications