Work Permits Update — June 8, 2026
Monday, June 8, 2026
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 170,000 new LMIA-exempt work permit holders under the International Mobility Program — a 32% increase over the prior plan — while LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program quotas have been cut by approximately 27%.
Open work permits under the TR-to-PR pathway have been extended: eligible applicants can apply until December 31, 2026, allowing them to maintain status and work for any employer while their 2021 PR application is processed.
Canada is tightening scrutiny on LMIA-based work permits in 2026, with enhanced checks on job offer authenticity, employer background, and financial stability, while digitizing application processing.
What You Should Do
- If you applied for PR in 2021 under the TR-to-PR pathway and are still awaiting a decision, apply for an open work permit before the December 31, 2026 deadline at canada.ca/tr-pr-pathway-open-work-permit. You must currently live in Canada and have received IRCC's application confirmation email.
- If you are an employer currently using LMIA-based permits, review whether your hiring needs can be met through LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program categories (e.g., intra-company transfers, free trade agreements, PGWP holders), as LMIA-based quotas have been reduced by ~27% under the new levels plan.
- If you are a foreign worker applying for an LMIA-based permit, prepare enhanced supporting documents: job offer authenticity evidence, employer registration records, and proof of previous work experience, as scrutiny has increased in 2026.
Sources
Topics Covered
Canada's 2026–2028 levels plan targets 170,000 new IMP (LMIA-exempt) work permit holders, a 32% increase, while simultaneously cutting LMIA-based TFW Program quotas by ~27%.
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