## Key takeaways
– Canada will set aside 32,000 permanent residence places in 2027 for the Hong Kong Pathway, covering applicants, their spouses and dependent children, with the backlog to be cleared by the end of 2027.
– About 18,800 places are expected for the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, for Ukrainians already in Canada with close family members here.
– Both figures sit inside the humanitarian half of the one-time measure announced with the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which could move up to 200,000 people already in Canada to permanent residence in 2027.
– The Hong Kong Pathway closed to new applications on August 31, 2026, so these places are for people already in the queue, not new applicants.
– No eligibility criteria, opening date or application process for the measure has been published yet.
## What happened
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed on November 6, 2026 that the humanitarian half of the one-time permanent residence measure will be used to clear long-standing backlogs for people from Ukraine and Hong Kong. The measure was announced a day earlier, on November 5, as part of the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan: up to 200,000 people already living in Canada could become permanent residents in 2027, split into a worker cohort of up to 100,000 and a humanitarian cohort of up to 100,000. Speaking in Winnipeg, the Prime Minister said the humanitarian cohort is aimed at people who have waited years for a decision, including about 18,800 people under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway and 32,000 under the Hong Kong Pathway. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed the Hong Kong figure on November 7 at a Markham roundtable: the 32,000 covers principal applicants, spouses and dependent children, and the backlog will be cleared by the end of 2027.
## Why the Hong Kong number matters
The Hong Kong Pathway was launched in 2021 for Hong Kong residents who came to Canada to study or work, and it closed to new applications on August 31, 2026. Hong Kong Watch told Parliament on October 29 that 34,150 people were waiting while only 800 admissions were planned for 2026, which is why the 32,000 places for 2027 are such a sharp change: roughly forty times the 2026 figure and, according to the minister, enough to cover everyone still in the queue. Community groups have asked whether the real backlog is larger than 32,000 cases, and the minister responded that the measure will cover all Hong Kong Pathway applicants. Because the pathway is closed to new applications, nobody can join the queue now; the places are strictly for people whose applications are already in the system.
## What about the Ukraine figure
The Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway was created in 2023 for Ukrainians who were already in Canada and had close family members living here as citizens or permanent residents. It accepted applications for one year, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is still working through those files. The Prime Minister said the government intends to move that process along for the remaining applicants and expects as many as 18,800 people could be approved. That does not mean everyone who came to Canada from Ukraine since 2022 will be eligible: the figure covers only people in that specific family reunification program. The cohort is capped at up to 100,000 and also covers other long-waiting groups; no full breakdown has been published.
## What it means for applicants
For Hong Kong Pathway applicants, files should finally move in 2027, with the minister committing to clear the backlog by the end of that year. For Ukraine family reunification applicants, long-waiting files should also start moving. But nobody should expect a new form or application window: this is a time-limited measure that works through existing pathways and inventories, not a new permanent residence program. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has not published eligibility criteria for the measure, has not said whether people will need to submit anything new or will simply be selected from existing files, and has not given an opening date or a step-by-step process. Anyone in one of these queues should keep their contact details up to date and watch for official guidance; anyone who missed the Hong Kong Pathway deadline will need another route, such as Express Entry or a provincial nomination.
## Frequently asked questions
Q: How many Hong Kong Pathway places are there for 2027?
A: 32,000, covering principal applicants, spouses and dependent children. The Immigration Minister confirmed the figure on November 7, 2026, and the backlog is to be cleared by the end of 2027.
Q: Can I still apply under the Hong Kong Pathway?
A: No. The pathway closed to new applications on August 31, 2026. The 32,000 places are for people whose applications are already in the queue.
Q: How many Ukraine Family Reunification places are there?
A: The Prime Minister said on November 6, 2026 that as many as 18,800 people under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway could be approved. It covers only people in that specific program, not everyone who came from Ukraine since 2022.
Q: Is this a new immigration program I can apply to?
A: No. The one-time measure works through existing pathways and application inventories. No new application process, eligibility criteria or opening date has been published yet.
For help checking your eligibility or preparing your application, contact ImmiQuest Immigration at +1 778-855-4155, info@immiquest.ca, or https://immiquest.ca. Vikas Tulashyam, RCIC #R709710