Work Permits Update — April 14, 2026
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
LMIA-exempt work permit targets increased significantly to 170,000 for 2026 (up 32% from 128,700), while LMIA-based permits decreased to 60,000
Post-secondary international students no longer need separate co-op work permits as of April 1, 2026 - a valid study permit is now sufficient for work placements
Temporary public policy for TR-PR pathway applicants extended until December 31, 2026, allowing continued work authorization while permanent residence applications are processed
What You Should Do
- Apply for an open work permit under the TR-PR pathway before December 31, 2026, if you submitted a permanent residence application in 2021 and are still waiting for a decision
- Contact your educational institution if you're an international student to confirm co-op work placement procedures, as separate permits are no longer required for post-secondary programs
- Explore LMIA-exempt pathways like international trade agreements or intra-company transfers, as Canada has increased targets for these categories in 2026
Sources
Topics Covered
Student Work Authorization Simplification: Post-secondary students no longer need separate co-op work permits as of April 1, 2026, streamlining work placement procedures.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: Canada increased LMIA-exempt targets to 170,000 (up 32%) while reducing LMIA-based permits to 60,000 (down 27%), showing clear preference for exempt categories.
More Work Permits Updates
Work Permits Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
Work Permits Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
Work Permits Update — May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
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