Work Permits Update — May 4, 2026
Monday, May 4, 2026
The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan raises the LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program (IMP) target to 170,000 — a 32% increase over what was planned in the previous 2025-2027 plan — while cutting the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) target to 60,000, a 27% reduction.
LMIA-exempt categories include intra-company transferees, Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, free trade agreement workers (CETA, CUSMA), provincial nominees, and certain humanitarian measures.
The shift means Canada will issue roughly three LMIA-exempt permits for every one LMIA-based permit in 2026, signaling a clear strategic preference for faster, employer-cost-friendly pathways.
What You Should Do
- If you are an employer planning to hire a foreign worker in 2026, determine whether the role qualifies for an LMIA-exempt category (e.g., intra-company transfer, CUSMA/CETA trade agreement) before paying the $1,000 LMIA fee — visit canada.ca/international-mobility-program for eligibility details.
- If you are a recent Canadian graduate holding a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), confirm your PGWP is active and note that you are already LMIA-exempt — use this status strategically when job searching, as employers will face fewer administrative barriers hiring you.
- If you are currently on an LMIA-based work permit, check whether you qualify for an LMIA-exempt category for your next permit renewal by reviewing the IMP categories at canada.ca/international-mobility-program to potentially reduce your employer's processing time and cost.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The new Levels Plan restructures temporary worker targets significantly, with total temporary worker admissions rising to 230,000 (up from 210,700) but shifting composition heavily toward LMIA-exempt streams.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: The 2026-2028 Levels Plan sets the IMP (LMIA-exempt) target at 170,000 — up 32% from the prior plan — while the TFWP (LMIA-based) target is cut 27% to 60,000, making LMIA-exempt pathways the dominant route for temporary workers entering Canada.
How these topics connect
Employers and workers should recognize that the shift toward LMIA-exempt permits is a top-down federal strategy embedded in the Levels Plan, meaning it is unlikely to reverse in the near term and signals where hiring flexibility will grow.
More Work Permits Updates
Work Permits Update — July 23, 2026
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Work Permits Update — July 20, 2026
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Work Permits Update — July 16, 2026
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