Work Permits Update — July 27, 2026
Monday, July 27, 2026
The TR-to-PR open work permit deadline has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible 2021 pathway applicants still awaiting a PR decision to maintain status and work for any employer.
Canada's 2026–2028 immigration levels plan increases LMIA-exempt work permit targets (International Mobility Program) by 32% to 170,000, while cutting LMIA-based (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) targets by ~27% to 60,000.
New 2026 rules also tighten eligibility for spousal open work permits and introduce stricter caps on LMIA approvals, particularly affecting low-wage sector employers.
What You Should Do
- If you applied under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and are still waiting for a PR decision, confirm your eligibility for the extended open work permit at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/tr-pr-pathway/open-work-permit.html — the new deadline to apply is December 31, 2026.
- If you are a spouse of a work permit holder currently relying on or planning to apply for a spousal open work permit, review the updated 2026 eligibility criteria on Canada.ca immediately, as requirements have tightened and your eligibility may have changed.
- If you are an employer planning to hire foreign workers via LMIA in 2026, reassess your hiring strategy given the reduced LMIA cap — consult an authorized immigration representative and explore LMIA-exempt pathways (e.g., CUSMA, intra-company transfers, IMP) as alternatives to avoid delays.
- If you are a foreign worker targeting Canada in 2026, check whether you qualify for an LMIA-exempt category under the International Mobility Program (IMP) at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/apply.html, as IMP targets have increased significantly to 170,000 spots.
Sources
Topics Covered
TR-to-PR Open Work Permit Extension: The open work permit application deadline for eligible 2021 TR-to-PR pathway applicants has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing continued work authorization while PR applications are processed.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: Canada's 2026–2028 immigration levels plan raises IMP (LMIA-exempt) targets by 32% to 170,000 while cutting TFWP (LMIA-based) targets by 27% to 60,000, signaling a clear shift away from LMIA-dependent hiring.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The new 2026–2028 plan sets total temporary worker admissions at 230,000, redistributing the mix heavily toward LMIA-exempt IMP workers (170,000) and away from LMIA-based TFWP workers (60,000).
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.
The open work permit extension is a practical bridge measure tied to the Levels Plan's TR-to-PR transition commitment — eligible workers from the 2021 pathway who haven't yet received PR decisions benefit directly from this plan-driven provision and should verify their eligibility before the December 2026 deadline.
More Work Permits Updates
Work Permits Update — July 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
Work Permits Update — July 20, 2026
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Work Permits Update — July 16, 2026
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