Work Permits Update — June 22, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program) admissions target by 32% to 170,000, while simultaneously cutting LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program targets by roughly 27% to 60,000.
Effective April 1, 2026, employers applying for low-wage LMIA positions must advertise the role for 8 consecutive weeks (up from 4) within the 3 months before submitting, significantly extending timelines for LMIA-based hiring.
TR-to-PR pathway open work permit holders can continue applying for open work permits until December 31, 2026, following an extension of that temporary public policy.
What You Should Do
- Employers planning to hire low-wage foreign workers via LMIA: Start your job advertising campaign at least 8 weeks before your intended LMIA submission date (up from 4 weeks). Advertising must run for 8 consecutive weeks within the 3 months prior to applying through ESDC's Employer Portal at canada.ca/esdc-employer-portal.
- Foreign workers holding LMIA-exempt permits (PGWP, intra-company, CUSMA/CETA): Review the updated 2026 IMP targets and new reciprocal employment rules at canada.ca/international-mobility-program to confirm your permit category is unaffected by the new rules.
- If you applied for PR under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and your application is still pending, you can apply for an open work permit extension until December 31, 2026 at canada.ca/tr-pr-pathway-open-work-permit. Gather your IRCC submission confirmation email and proof of fee payment before applying.
- Employers relying on LMIA-based TFW permits: Given the reduced 60,000 LMIA-based target for 2026, explore LMIA-exempt pathways (intra-company transfers, free trade agreements, PNP-linked permits) at canada.ca/international-mobility-program as alternative hiring routes.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The new Levels Plan restructures work permit targets, increasing LMIA-exempt permits to 170,000 and reducing LMIA-based permits to 60,000, while also extending the TR-to-PR open work permit deadline to December 31, 2026.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: The 2026–2028 Levels Plan raised the IMP admissions target by 32% to 170,000 while cutting LMIA-based TFW targets by 27% to 60,000, signaling a clear federal preference for LMIA-exempt pathways.
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 — August 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
Work Permits Update — August 10, 2026
Aug 10, 2026
Work Permits Update — August 3, 2026
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