Work Permits Update — October 8, 2026

What You Should Do

• -If you applied for PR under the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway and are still awaiting a decision, check your eligibility for an open work permit extension at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/tr-pr-pathway/open-work-permit.html — you must apply before December 31, 2026. If your current work permit is valid, you can apply up to 4 months before it expires.
• -If you are an employer planning a low-wage LMIA application, verify whether your Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is currently eligible for processing by checking the updated July 2026 unemployment rate list on the ESDC website at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers — eligibility changes quarterly based on local unemployment rates.
• -If you are an international student graduate planning to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), confirm your field of study remains on the eligible list — no changes to eligible fields were made for 2026, so the current list remains in effect. Check the IRCC website at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation.html before submitting your application.
• -Employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for low-wage positions must ensure job offers are full-time (minimum 30 hours/week) and that a signed employment agreement is in place on or before the worker's first day — review compliance requirements at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/median-wage/low/requirements.html.