Canada announces new pathway to permanent residence for construction workers

The Canadian immigration department has announced major changes to support Canada’s construction industry.

The biggest changes are

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

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

Miller said that effective March 7, 2025, the federal government will “allow qualified foreign workers who register for apprenticeships to study without a permit.” Prior to this change, foreign nationals would require 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 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 announced 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 on the number of construction workers foreign nationals Canada will admit.

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

IRCC has published eligibility criteria for the study permit exemption for construction field apprentices holding valid work permits.