IRCC Confirms a One-Time Fast-Track for Protected Persons’ PR Applications
For anyone still waiting on their PR under the Protected Person category, the 2025 Federal Budget officially includes a one-time initiative to finalize our applications faster.
According to the government’s own statement in Budget 2025 (Chapter: Immigration System Recalibration):
“The Government is implementing a one-time initiative over a two-year period to streamline the transition of approximately 115,000 Protected Persons in Canada who are already on a pathway to permanent residence and in alignment with their protected status under domestic and international law.”
This means IRCC will prioritize existing PR applications from recognized Protected Persons over the next two years — not new temporary or economic applicants. These are additional admissions, not part of the regular quota, so they won’t reduce spots for other categories.
In simple terms, it’s an official fast-track for those already waiting in the final stages of their PR processing. It recognizes that we’re not temporary residents but individuals with legal protection under Canadian and international law, and it aims to give us the permanent status we already qualify for much sooner.
So yes — this isn’t a rumor or speculation. It’s a confirmed measure in the federal budget, backed by IRCC and the Government of Canada.
• The most relevant section in the 2026‑2028 Immigration Levels Plan (Annex) on the 2025 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, which states: “the Government is implementing a one-time initiative over a two-year period to streamline the transition of approximately 115,000 Protected Persons in Canada…” 
• The ºBudget 2025 – Chapter 1: Building a stronger Canadian economy page, which repeats that the measure is included in the budget and describes the cost and time-frame. 
For anyone still waiting on their PR under the Protected Person category, the 2025 Federal Budget officially includes a one-time initiative to finalize our applications faster.
According to the government’s own statement in Budget 2025 (Chapter: Immigration System Recalibration):
“The Government is implementing a one-time initiative over a two-year period to streamline the transition of approximately 115,000 Protected Persons in Canada who are already on a pathway to permanent residence and in alignment with their protected status under domestic and international law.”
This means IRCC will prioritize existing PR applications from recognized Protected Persons over the next two years — not new temporary or economic applicants. These are additional admissions, not part of the regular quota, so they won’t reduce spots for other categories.
In simple terms, it’s an official fast-track for those already waiting in the final stages of their PR processing. It recognizes that we’re not temporary residents but individuals with legal protection under Canadian and international law, and it aims to give us the permanent status we already qualify for much sooner.
So yes — this isn’t a rumor or speculation. It’s a confirmed measure in the federal budget, backed by IRCC and the Government of Canada.
• The most relevant section in the 2026‑2028 Immigration Levels Plan (Annex) on the 2025 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, which states: “the Government is implementing a one-time initiative over a two-year period to streamline the transition of approximately 115,000 Protected Persons in Canada…” 
• The ºBudget 2025 – Chapter 1: Building a stronger Canadian economy page, which repeats that the measure is included in the budget and describes the cost and time-frame. 
