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Get your free Roadmap SnapshotIRCC says up to 32,000 Hong Kong pathway and 18,800 Ukraine family reunification admissions will use 2027 spaces. Applicants need not do anything.
On November 10, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it will use admission space in 2027 to process all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways and the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway. IRCC expects this to mean up to 32,000 and up to 18,800 admissions respectively. The measure was proposed in Budget 2026 and accompanies the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan; it processes files already submitted and does not reopen either pathway.
What IRCC announced
The news release sets out two groups of existing applications that will be processed with 2027 admission space. Both pathways are already closed to new applicants.
| Pathway | Closed to new applications | Expected 2027 admissions (IRCC estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong permanent residence pathways (introduced 2021) | August 2026 | Up to 32,000 |
| Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway (opened October 23, 2023) | Deadline was October 22, 2024 | Up to 18,800 |
Part of a wider one-time measure
The same release lists the other groups of people already in Canada who are covered by the time-limited transition to permanent residence announced with the levels plan:
- Up to 12,600 people already found eligible for PR on humanitarian and compassionate grounds
- Up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada
- Up to 100,000 workers and their eligible family members, in collaboration with provinces and territories
IRCC says these applicants are already in Canada, so they are not net new arrivals, and that the measure is in addition to the humanitarian and other targets in the levels plan rather than taking space from resettled refugees. Our overview of the 2027–2029 levels plan and our post on the in-Canada spousal sponsorship measure cover the other groups.
Who is affected
People who already have a pending permanent residence application under one of the Hong Kong pathways or under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway. IRCC says these applicants do not need to do anything or contact IRCC for their files to be processed with the additional spaces.
What it does not change
This is not a new program. IRCC states that the measure does not create new programs or reopen closed pathways. If you did not apply before the Hong Kong pathways closed in August 2026, or before the Ukraine family pathway deadline of October 22, 2024, this announcement does not give you a way to apply now. Each application is still assessed against the pathway's eligibility requirements.
The release also describes the measure as a proposal from Budget 2026 and uses conditional wording in places. Members of Parliament quoted in it refer to finalizing the remaining applications by the end of 2027; that is a stated aim, not a deadline applicants can rely on.
What to do next
- Keep your contact details and address current with IRCC so requests for medical exams, biometrics or documents reach you.
- Answer any IRCC request by its deadline. A missing document can delay a file even when space is available.
- Check your application status online rather than submitting new applications or web forms that duplicate your file.
- If you are in Canada on a temporary permit, keep your status valid while you wait; this measure does not extend permits on its own. Our processing-times tool shows IRCC's current published estimates.
Processing times are estimates and every application is decided on its own merits; nothing in this announcement guarantees an approval or a specific date. Read IRCC's November 10 news release for the official wording. If your situation involves a pending file plus a permit that is about to expire, a consultation can help you check your options.
Not sure how this applies to your situation? A licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) can review your profile with you.
