Work Permits Update — May 18, 2026
Monday, May 18, 2026
Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program) work permit targets increased 32% to 170,000, while LMIA-based (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) targets were cut 27% to 60,000 — meaning Canada now plans to issue roughly 3 LMIA-exempt permits for every 1 LMIA-based permit.
Effective April 1, 2026, stricter LMIA requirements took effect for employers, including extended recruitment periods and mandatory targeted outreach to youth groups before a foreign worker can be hired.
The open work permit for TR-to-PR pathway applicants (from the 2021 pathway) has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible applicants still awaiting a PR decision to continue working for any employer in any occupation.
What You Should Do
- If you are an employer planning to hire a foreign worker through the TFWP, review the updated LMIA requirements effective April 1, 2026 at canada.ca/lmia — you must now demonstrate extended recruitment efforts and targeted outreach to youth groups before submitting your LMIA application.
- If you applied for PR under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and your application is still pending, apply for the extended open work permit before December 31, 2026 at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/tr-pr-pathway/open-work-permit.html to maintain your status and work authorization.
- If you are a foreign worker or employer assessing work permit options, check whether you qualify for an LMIA-exempt category (e.g., PGWP, intra-company transfer, CUSMA/CETA trade agreements) at canada.ca/international-mobility-program — LMIA-exempt pathways now account for the large majority of new work permit targets and avoid costly LMIA processing.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The 2026–2028 plan sets total temporary worker arrivals at 230,000 (170,000 IMP + 60,000 TFWP), representing a structural rebalancing away from LMIA-based hiring and toward LMIA-exempt international mobility.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan raises the IMP (LMIA-exempt) target by 32% to 170,000, while cutting TFWP (LMIA-based) targets by 27% to 60,000, making LMIA-exempt pathways the dominant route for temporary workers in 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
Jul 23, 2026
Work Permits Update — July 20, 2026
Jul 20, 2026
Work Permits Update — July 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
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