Work Permits

Work Permits Update — May 25, 2026

Monday, May 25, 2026

Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan raised the LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program) work permit admissions target by 32% to 170,000, while cutting LMIA-based (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) targets by 27% to 60,000.

No new eligible fields of study will be added for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) in 2026 — the list of qualifying programs is frozen for this year.

Effective April 1, 2026, stricter LMIA recruitment requirements are in force for employers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including extended recruitment timelines and targeted outreach to youth groups.

What You Should Do

  • If you are an international graduate considering a PGWP, verify that your program is on IRCC's current list of PGWP-eligible fields of study at canada.ca/pgwp before enrolling — no new programs are being added in 2026.
  • If you hold an open work permit under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and your PR application is still pending, note that the open work permit deadline has been extended to December 31, 2026 — apply or renew at ircc.canada.ca before that date.
  • Employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program must comply with the April 1, 2026 stricter LMIA recruitment rules — review the updated recruitment documentation requirements at canada.ca/lmia before submitting new LMIA applications.
  • Foreign workers seeking LMIA-exempt pathways (intra-company transfers, trade agreements like CUSMA/CETA, or post-graduation) should note the increased IMP target of 170,000 — confirm your category's eligibility at canada.ca/international-mobility-program.

Sources

  1. Changes are coming to LMIA-exempt work permits this year – here's what to expect | CIC News
  2. Canada LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Changes 2026 – Key Updates
  3. Canada's 2026 LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Changes Explained
  4. LMIA Requirements 2026: Major Changes for Employers
  5. Temporary public policies: Open work permits for TR to PR pathway - Canada.caOfficial

Topics Covered

LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion

The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the IMP admissions target to 170,000 (up 32%), while simultaneously reducing LMIA-based TFWP targets to 60,000 (down 27%), signaling a clear shift toward LMIA-exempt pathways.

More Work Permits Updates

Work Permits Update — June 11, 2026

Jun 11, 2026

Work Permits Update — June 8, 2026

Jun 8, 2026

Work Permits Update — June 4, 2026

Jun 4, 2026

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