OTTAWA - Canada will clear the remaining permanent residence applications of Ukrainians and Hong Kongers already living in Canada, with up to 32,000 Hong Kong admissions and up to 18,800 Ukraine admissions expected in 2027, the federal government announced on November 10, 2026.
The time-limited measure, proposed in Budget 2026 and set out in the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan, aims to process all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which closed to new applications in August 2026, and all remaining applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which closed to new applications in October 2024.
Those with applications processed under the measure are already in Canada, living, working and contributing, but have faced significant wait times and uncertainty about their status. As these applicants are already here, they do not represent net new arrivals to Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said.
On Saturday, November 7, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, met with leaders of Canada’s Ukrainian and Hong Kong communities to provide more details about the measure, which includes a humanitarian cohort to accelerate processing for thousands of people waiting for permanent residence.
“Canada is building on its progress to return sustainability to our immigration system while honouring the commitments we made to those in need. The time-limited measure announced with our levels plan will allow us to deliver faster on our promises to people from Hong Kong and Ukraine, giving them certainty as they continue to build their lives and contribute to our country,” Metlege Diab said.
“Finalizing all remaining applications by the end of 2027 is an important step toward honouring Canada’s commitment and giving families greater certainty. I will continue working with the Minister and those who have already built lives and contributed so much to Markham-Unionville and communities across Canada,” said Michael Ma, Member of Parliament for Markham-Unionville.
“The Ukrainian Canadian community welcomes the new measures announced by the government that will address the backlog of Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway applications by the end of 2027. We thank Minister Metlege Diab for taking the time to hear the perspectives of the Ukrainian community, including on permanent residence pathways for Ukrainians in Canada on the CUAET visa, and look forward to continuing dialogue with the Minister,” said Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
For families in Surrey, where many newcomers are navigating the permanent residence system, the announcement means an end to years of waiting for those already in the two pathways. The additional spaces are in addition to the Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other category targets in the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan and do not displace other vulnerable populations, including resettled refugees, the government said.
(Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada news release, November 10, 2026)
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