Work Permits Update — June 25, 2026
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Canada's 2026 immigration levels plan sets a target of 170,000 new LMIA-exempt work permit holders under the International Mobility Program — a 32% increase from the previous plan — while LMIA-based permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program have been cut by approximately 27%.
As of April 1, 2026, employers applying for LMIA-based low-wage positions must advertise the job for at least 8 consecutive weeks in the 3 months before submitting, and must specifically target youth in recruitment efforts.
The open work permit deadline for eligible TR-to-PR pathway applicants (those who applied in 2021) has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing them to maintain status and work for any employer while awaiting a PR decision.
What You Should Do
- If you are an employer hiring for low-wage positions using the LMIA stream: ensure your job advertisement runs for a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before you submit your LMIA application, and document your youth-targeted recruitment efforts. Deadline: required for all LMIA applications submitted on or after April 1, 2026. See details at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers.html.
- If you applied under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and are still awaiting a PR decision: apply for the open work permit extension before December 31, 2026 at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/tr-pr-pathway/open-work-permit.html to maintain your legal status and work authorization.
- If you are a foreign worker or employer considering work permit options in 2026: review whether your situation qualifies for an LMIA-exempt category (e.g., free trade agreements like CUSMA/CETA, intra-company transfers, Post-Graduation Work Permit, provincial nominee) at canada.ca, as LMIA-exempt pathways are being prioritized and LMIA-based quotas are being reduced.
- If you are an employer who has relied on LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program hires for low-wage roles: assess whether LMIA-exempt pathways under the International Mobility Program now apply to your workforce needs, given the ~27% reduction in LMIA-based permit quotas.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The updated 2026-2028 immigration levels plan includes specific targets for LMIA-exempt and LMIA-based work permits, reflecting a rebalancing of Canada's temporary foreign worker intake toward the International Mobility Program.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: Canada's 2026-2028 immigration levels plan raises the LMIA-exempt work permit target under the International Mobility Program to 170,000 — a 32% increase — while simultaneously cutting LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program quotas by approximately 27%.
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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