Canada announces a new PR pathway for construction workers. 

The biggest changes are: 

  • Reserving immigration spaces for up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers within Canada
  • Allowing qualified temporary foreign workers to study in apprenticeship programs without requiring a study permit 

Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, announced these changes in a press conference in Woodbridge, Ontario, on March 7, 2025. 

Miller stated that effective March 7, 2025, the federal government will ‘allow qualified foreign workers who register for apprentices to study without a permit.’ Before this change, foreign nationals would require study permits to register for apprenticeships. Most foreign nationals are not legally allowed to apply for study permits to register for apprenticeships. Most foreign nationals are not legally allowed to apply for study permits from within Canada. 

The government has not yet stated as to when the changes related to permanent residency spaces or the new pathways will be implemented, nor did the government provide details on eligibility criteria for the construction worker permanent residence pathway. 

Miller also declared the creation of an advisory council to inform federal government policy on construction. The advisory council will consist of representatives from government, unions, and industry employers and will meet as early as next week, according to Miller. 

The council will provide input on prevailing wages and the number of construction workers Canada will admit. 

Miller also stated that up to 14,000 foreign national construction workers might be admitted to Canada. He did not state whether they would be admitted under permanent pathways, temporary pathways, or a combination thereof. 

Rationale For These Changes 

Canada’s construction sector has faced persistent labor shortages in the midst of a housing supply shortage, hampering the nation’s ability to build new homes and aggravating domestic affordability concerns. 

The CMHC, i.e., Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimated that the nation would need to build an additional six million homes by 2030 to restore housing affordability, further underscoring the need for skilled workers in the construction sector. 

Persistent labor shortages in construction indicate Canada’s inability to train and replenish its supply of construction workers domestically, which is a key reason the country has turned to immigration to welcome more construction workers and skilled tradespeople. 

Moreover, Statistics Canada estimates that 23% of all general contractors and residential builders in Canada’s residential construction sector are immigrants. 

Miller further clarified that the key reason for establishing the changes declared recently was the fact that current pathways bringing skilled tradespeople to Canada did not welcome the volume of workers sufficient for the nation’s labor market and housing needs.  

Recent Changes To Trades Category In Express Entry 

Canada announces a new PR pathway for construction workers. 

On February 27, 2025, IRCC made major changes to categories under the Express Entry system, reflecting the department’s intention to invite newcomers who can aid Canada’s construction sector for permanent residence. 

In addition to designating trade professions as a priority category for invitations to apply under the Express Entry system, the immigration department also added 19 new professions to the category, expanding it significantly. 

Among the added professions, there were several construction professions, including: 

  • Construction Managers 
  • Construction Estimators
  • Bricklayers 
  • Roofers and Shinglers
  • Floor Covering Installers 
  • Painters and Decorators 

Previous Measures For Out-Of-Status Construction Workers 

The regularisation pathway declared recently for out-of-status construction workers aims to build on previous measures IRCC has established for this group. 

In January 2020, IRCC implemented a temporary public policy, allowing construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) who had lost their work status to apply & potentially gain Canadian permanent residence. The government extended this policy multiple times before it finally expired on December 31, 2024.

Canada implemented this policy to address systemic labor shortages in the construction industry and recognize the valuable contributions of these workers.

As of November 2024, approximately 1,365 out-of-status construction workers have obtained permanent residence via this pathway. 

2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan 

Canada announces a new PR pathway for construction workers. Well, housing concerns have continued to be a central issue in Canada and have had a pronounced impact on the country’s immigration landscape. 

At the announcement of the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Miller cited housing supply as one of the key reasons for the government’s decision to reduce immigration levels for both permanent residents and temporary residents. 

Minister Miller speculated at the time that the planned reduction of temporary residents would free up an additional 670,000 housing units, adding these to the country’s available housing supply without the need for further investment. 

Housing supply issues were also a primary factor behind the creation of the ‘In-Canada Focus’ category within Canada’s federal immigration allocation. This category prioritizes the invitation of applicants already in Canada and with Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence.   

By establishing this category, IRCC hopes to meet its permanent resident landings target without adding to housing pressures by introducing a new entrant to the Canadian population. The immigration department plans have allocated the landing of 82,890 new immigrants through the ‘In-Canada Focus’ target in 2025. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].