Updates & Policy 3 min read

Provinces Given 139 Days to Nominate More Workers for PR

Ottawa has given provinces 139 days to nominate additional workers for permanent residence by March 31, 2027. This affects workers in Canada eligible through the PNP.

Government office building in Ottawa with Canadian flag.
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General information only — not legal advice. Immigration rules change often. Confirm details on the official Government of Canada (IRCC) or provincial website, and speak with a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer about your situation.

Ottawa's Directive to Provinces

Ottawa has instructed provinces and territories to nominate tens of thousands of additional workers for permanent residence by March 31, 2027. This directive was announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in a news release on November 12, 2026.

Details of Additional PR Spaces

The additional permanent residence spaces are allocated for workers in Canada, excluding Quebec, and their accompanying family members. These spaces are part of the 2027 TR-to-PR transition measures (2027 TPTMs) announced in the federal budget. The additional spots are in addition to the 2027 annual targets, which include 95,000 spaces for the PNP for permanent residence admissions from outside Canada.

Impact on Provincial Nominee Program

The additional allocations are optional, allowing provinces and territories to decide how many spaces to use for nominating workers already in their communities. These nominations can be made through both base PNP streams and Express Entry-aligned (enhanced) streams. As of now, no specific details have been provided on how jurisdictions plan to use these additional spaces.

Timeline and Processing

The timeline set by Ottawa gives provinces until March 31, 2027, to make these nominations, providing IRCC with approximately nine months to process the resulting applications before the end of 2027.

Additional Allocations for Specific Programs

In addition to the PNP, provinces and territories can identify workers who have already applied for permanent residence and are awaiting a decision. This includes applications through the Atlantic Immigration Program and several federal programs and pilots, such as the Start-up Visa Program and the Agri-Food Pilot. Applicants do not need to take any action to be considered for these additional spaces.

Sources

Prepared by Verixa from official information published by CIC News (2026-11-13). Check the official source before you act. This article is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for provinces to nominate additional workers?

Provinces have until March 31, 2027, to nominate additional workers for permanent residence.

Are the additional PR spaces only for workers in Canada?

Yes, the additional spaces are for workers in Canada, excluding Quebec, and their accompanying family members.

Do applicants need to take any action to be considered for the additional PR spaces?

No, applicants do not need to take any action to have their applications processed under these additional spaces.

Which programs are included in the additional allocations?

The additional allocations include nominations through the PNP, Atlantic Immigration Program, and several federal programs and pilots like the Start-up Visa Program.