Canada’s upcoming Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) pathway will exclude applicants living in major urban centres, according to Immigration Minister Lena Diab on April 18, 2026.
Key points:
- Temporary workers in large cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal will not qualify.
- The exclusion applies to all Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) — urban regions with populations over 100,000.
- CMAs cover most of Canada’s biggest population centres, including:
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Halifax
- Hamilton
- Ottawa–Gatineau
- Winnipeg
- Quebec City
- CMAs represent about 84% of Canada’s population based on the 2021 census.
Diab said additional eligibility and selection details for the pathway are expected “in the next coming weeks.”
The policy suggests the federal government is aiming to direct immigration toward smaller communities and regions outside major metropolitan areas.
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