Work Permits Update — July 23, 2026
Thursday, July 23, 2026
The open work permit deadline for TR-to-PR pathway applicants (who applied in 2021) has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible applicants to continue working for any employer while awaiting a PR decision.
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan increases LMIA-exempt work permit targets by ~32% (from 128,700 to 170,000 under the IMP), while cutting LMIA-based permits by ~27% (from 82,000 to 60,000 under the TFWP).
As of April 1, 2026, employers applying for a low-wage LMIA must advertise job positions for 8 consecutive weeks (up from 4 weeks) within the 3 months before submitting their application.
What You Should Do
- If you applied under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and are still awaiting a PR decision, verify 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 and submit your application before December 31, 2026.
- If you are an employer planning to hire a low-wage foreign worker under the TFWP, begin job advertising immediately — you must advertise for at least 8 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before submitting your LMIA application to ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada). Keep detailed records of all advertising activity.
- If you are a foreign worker or employer exploring work permit options, review LMIA-exempt pathways under the International Mobility Program (IMP) at canada.ca, as Canada has increased IMP targets to 170,000 for 2026 and processing is faster with less paperwork.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents annually, with 230,000 temporary worker landings planned for 2026 under a rebalanced mix favouring LMIA-exempt permits.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: Canada's 2026-2028 plan increases LMIA-exempt IMP targets to 170,000 (up ~32%) while reducing LMIA-based TFWP targets to 60,000 (down ~27%), signaling a strategic shift away from employer-sponsored labour market testing.
LMIA Low-Wage Advertising Reform: Effective April 1, 2026, employers must advertise low-wage positions for 8 consecutive weeks (doubled from 4 weeks) before submitting a low-wage LMIA application to ESDC, aimed at prioritizing Canadian workers.
TR-to-PR Open Work Permit Extension: The open work permit for 2021 TR-to-PR pathway applicants has been extended to December 31, 2026, letting eligible applicants and family members maintain status and work for any employer.
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.
Employers relying on low-wage temporary foreign workers face a compounding squeeze: the advertising period has doubled while LMIA-exempt alternatives are being scaled up, signaling a clear federal push to make LMIA-based low-wage hiring progressively less viable.
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 — September 7, 2026
Sep 7, 2026
Work Permits Update — September 3, 2026
Sep 3, 2026
Work Permits Update — August 31, 2026
Aug 31, 2026
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