Refugees and humanitarian
Special measures for Ukrainians, including a permanent residence route for family members of Canadians.
The family permanent residence pathway closed on October 22, 2024. Work permit extensions remain for people who arrived by March 31, 2024.
This pathway is not taking new applications. The rules below describe how it worked, for reference and for anyone whose application is still being processed.
The main federal route to permanent residence for skilled workers, through the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades programs. You create a profile and IRCC invites the highest-ranked candidates.
Open. IRCC is recalculating every profile under the new CRS rules from November 3, 2026, and rounds resume once that is done.
Provinces and territories nominate people who fit their own labour needs. A nomination through an Express Entry-linked stream adds 600 CRS points.
Open. Each province runs its own streams and intake rounds, and several changed or paused streams in 2026, so check your province.
How work permits work: open or tied to one employer, and with or without an LMIA.
Open. Which permit you can get depends on your situation.
Statuses change, sometimes with little notice. Always confirm on the official page before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.
