Work Permits Update — July 9, 2026
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Canada's 2026 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt work permit admissions target to 170,000 new entrants through the International Mobility Program (IMP) — a 32% increase from the previous notional target of 128,700.
Simultaneously, the admissions target for LMIA-based work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) was cut to 60,000, down roughly 27% from the earlier notional target of 82,000, signaling a deliberate shift toward LMIA-exempt pathways.
The federal government announced a freeze on eligible fields of study for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) in 2026 — no new programs will be added to the eligible list this year.
What You Should Do
- If you are an international student planning to apply for a PGWP, verify your program is on the current list of PGWP-eligible fields of study at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/eligibility.html — no new programs are being added in 2026, so confirm eligibility before enrolling or graduating.
- If you are an employer currently using LMIA-based hiring, review whether an LMIA-exempt category (e.g., intra-company transferee, free trade agreement, or provincial nominee pathway) applies to your next hire, given the TFWP quota has been reduced to 60,000 for 2026. Consult the IMP employer portal at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/hire-temporary-foreign/international-mobility-program.html.
- If you hold or are applying for a reciprocal employment work permit, review the updated rules for this LMIA-exempt category at cicnews.com/2026/01/changes-are-coming-to-lmia-exempt-work-permits-this-year to confirm you still qualify under the revised 2026 conditions.
Sources
Topics Covered
Student Work Authorization Simplification: The federal government froze eligible fields of study for PGWPs in 2026, meaning no new programs will qualify this year — international students must confirm their program's eligibility under the existing list before graduating.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: Canada raised the 2026 IMP admissions target to 170,000 — a 32% increase — while cutting LMIA-based TFWP targets to 60,000, actively redirecting the temporary foreign worker system toward LMIA-exempt pathways.
More Work Permits Updates
Work Permits Update — July 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
Work Permits Update — July 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026
Work Permits Update — July 6, 2026
Jul 6, 2026
Get immigration updates in your inbox
Weekly analysis. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.