Work Permits Update — August 13, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Canada has increased the 2026 admissions target for LMIA-exempt work permits (International Mobility Program) to 170,000 new entrants — a 32% increase from the previous notional target of 128,700 — while simultaneously reducing the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program target to 60,000.
The federal government confirmed no changes will be made to PGWP-eligible fields of study in 2026, freezing the current list; international student graduates from non-exempt programs must still have studied in a field linked to a labour market shortage to qualify.
The open work permit deadline for TR-to-PR pathway applicants (who applied in 2021 and are still awaiting a PR decision) has been extended to December 31, 2026, covering both principal applicants and eligible family members in Canada.
What You Should Do
- If you applied under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and are still awaiting a PR decision, check 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 deadline to apply is December 31, 2026.
- If your current TR-to-PR open work permit is expiring soon, you can apply for renewal up to 4 months before expiry. Log into your IRCC online account and submit the open work permit application before your current permit expires.
- If you are an international student nearing graduation, confirm your program is on the current PGWP-eligible fields of study list before applying — no new fields are being added in 2026. Check the current list at canada.ca and consult your institution's international student office.
- If you are an employer relying on LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program hires, note the 2026 LMIA target has been reduced to 60,000 (down from 82,000). Review your hiring plans early and consult a regulated immigration consultant or lawyer to explore LMIA-exempt alternatives under the IMP.
Sources
Topics Covered
TR-to-PR Open Work Permit Extension: The open work permit for 2021 TR-to-PR pathway applicants still awaiting a PR decision has been extended to December 31, 2026, for both principal applicants and eligible family members in Canada.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets Canada's annual PR target at 380,000 and temporary resident worker admissions at 230,000+ for 2026, with LMIA-exempt IMP work permits now a larger share of that total.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: Canada raised the 2026 IMP admissions target to 170,000 (a 32% increase) while cutting the LMIA-based TFWP target to 60,000, signalling a strategic shift toward LMIA-exempt pathways for foreign workers.
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 — August 10, 2026
Aug 10, 2026
Work Permits Update — August 3, 2026
Aug 3, 2026
Work Permits Update — July 30, 2026
Jul 30, 2026
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