PR & Citizenship Update — May 18, 2026
Monday, May 18, 2026
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets up to 33,000 temporary work permit holders for PR transition over 2026 and 2027 (approximately 16,500 per year), with implementation details still to be announced; applicants are warned the pathway could fill within hours as occurred in 2021.
During Citizenship Week (April 12–18, 2026), over 80 ceremonies were held across Canada, welcoming approximately 6,000 new citizens from 40 countries; citizenship grant processing times have improved slightly to 13 months as of March 2026.
New PR cards are now issued in approximately 54 days for new applicants and 27 days for renewals as of March 2026, with improvements attributed to a 2024–25 IRCC hiring surge and advanced analytics.
What You Should Do
- If you are a temporary work permit holder hoping to apply under the new TR-to-PR pathway, gather your documents now before intake opens — review the 2021 pathway documentation checklist at cicnews.com or thewayimmigration.ca as a reference, and monitor canada.ca for the official announcement of eligibility criteria and opening date.
- If you are applying for citizenship, use IRCC's processing time tool at ircc.canada.ca to confirm the current 13-month estimate and ensure your physical presence calculation (1,095 days in 5 years) is accurate using the IRCC physical presence calculator before submitting your application.
- If your PR card is expiring, apply for renewal through your secure IRCC account at ircc.canada.ca — renewal times are currently approximately 27 days, but apply well before expiry to avoid travel disruptions.
- Review the full 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan supplementary information at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028 to understand PR targets by category and plan your application timeline accordingly.
Sources
Topics Covered
The 2026–2028 Levels Plan allocates approximately 16,500 TR-to-PR transitions per year in 2026 and 2027, targeting temporary workers with established community ties, while stabilizing overall permanent resident admissions.
More PR & Citizenship Updates
PR & Citizenship Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update — May 30, 2026
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