Deep dives and daily analysis across Express Entry, PNP, study permits, work permits, and more.
Effective August 18, 2026, the low-wage LMIA cap calculation changed for employers with fewer than 10 employees: the cap is now calculated per qualifying work location, meaning employers with multiple small locations can hire one (or up to two in eligible sectors) low-wage temporary foreign worker per location.
The deadline to apply for an open work permit under the TR-to-PR pathway has been extended to December 31, 2026, for eligible applicants and their family members who submitted a PR application in 2021.
The deadline to apply for an open work permit under the TR-to-PR pathway has been extended to December 31, 2026, for eligible applicants who submitted a PR application in 2021 and are still awaiting a decision.
Two new LMIA rule changes took effect in August 2026, affecting low-wage employers and certain in-Canada work permit applicants.
LMIA processing times for July 2026 show significant delays in the High-wage stream (88 business days), Low-wage stream (73 days), and Permanent resident stream (86 days), while the Global Talent Stream remains fast at 10 days.
On July 29, 2026, Canada updated instructions for the C20 (reciprocal employment) LMIA-exempt work permit, requiring that workers must already be employed by the overseas company before arriving in Canada — new hires starting employment only upon arrival are no longer eligible. Note: IRCC later indicated this was published in error due to a version control issue (see August 6, 2026 correction).
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.
As of January 9, 2026, low-wage LMIA processing resumed in seven regions—Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Kingston, Winnipeg, and Vancouver—after their unemployment rates dropped below 6%; the next regional update is expected April 10, 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 their PR application is processed.
As of July 10, 2026, low-wage LMIA processing restrictions were lifted for 8 regions (including Halifax, Winnipeg, and Regina) where unemployment dropped below 6%, while 4 new regions (Saskatoon, Red Deer, Kamloops, Chilliwack) were added to the freeze; 26 CMAs total remain ineligible until at least October 9.
The TR-to-PR open work permit deadline has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible 2021 pathway applicants still awaiting a PR decision to maintain status and work for any employer.
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.
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 and their families to continue working for any employer while awaiting a PR decision.
LMIA processing times rose for most Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams in May 2026, but the permanent resident stream dropped sharply from 140 days to 114 days — a 26-day improvement.
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan raises the LMIA-exempt work permit (International Mobility Program) admissions target to 170,000 — a 32% increase from the prior plan's 2026 target of 128,700 — while cutting LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program admissions to 60,000, down 27% from the prior target.
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.
Canada's 2026 Immigration Levels Plan increased the admissions target for LMIA-exempt work permits (via the International Mobility Program) to 170,000 — a 32% jump from the previous notional target of 128,700.
The TR-to-PR open work permit deadline has been officially extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible applicants with pending 2021 PR applications to maintain status and work for any employer while waiting for a decision.
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 their PR application is processed.
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%.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program) admissions target by 32% to 170,000, while simultaneously cutting LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program targets by roughly 27% to 60,000.
The LMIA-exempt work permit (International Mobility Program) admissions target for 2026 was increased by 32% to 170,000, while LMIA-based (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) targets were cut from 82,000 to 60,000 — a 27% reduction.
LMIA processing times improved significantly for the permanent resident stream (down 104 days, from 244 to 140 business days) and the Global Talent Stream (down 4 days to 8 days), but worsened for the low-wage stream (up 10 days to 58 days) as of April 2026.
Canada raised the 2026 admissions target for LMIA-exempt work permits (International Mobility Program) to 170,000 — a 32% increase — while cutting the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program target to 60,000, down from 82,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 170,000 new LMIA-exempt work permit holders under the International Mobility Program — a 32% increase over the prior plan — while LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program quotas have been cut by approximately 27%.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt work permit target under the International Mobility Program to 170,000 (up ~32% from the previous plan's 128,700), while reducing the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program target from 82,000 to 60,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increases LMIA-exempt work permit targets to 170,000 under the International Mobility Program (IMP), a 32% increase from the previous plan's 128,700 target, while LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) targets are cut from 82,000 to 60,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program (IMP) target to 170,000 — a 32% increase from the previous plan's 128,700 — while cutting the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) target by 27% to 60,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt work permit (International Mobility Program) admissions target by 32%, from 128,700 to 170,000, while cutting the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program target from 82,000 to 60,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increases the LMIA-exempt work permit target under the International Mobility Program (IMP) to 170,000 — up approximately 32% from the previous 128,700 — while cutting LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) targets by about 27% to 60,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan raised the LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program) work permit admissions target by 32% to 170,000, while cutting LMIA-based (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) targets by 27% to 60,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the International Mobility Program (LMIA-exempt) target to 170,000 new entrants — a 32% increase from the prior plan's 128,700 — while cutting LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program spots from 82,000 to 60,000.
Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, LMIA-exempt (International Mobility Program) work permit targets increased 32% to 170,000, while LMIA-based (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) targets were cut 27% to 60,000 — meaning Canada now plans to issue roughly 3 LMIA-exempt permits for every 1 LMIA-based permit.
As of April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for mandatory work placements (co-ops, internships, practicums) — a valid study permit with on-campus work conditions is sufficient, provided the placement is required by the program and totals 50% or less of the program.
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the International Mobility Program (LMIA-exempt) target to 170,000 — a 32% increase from the 128,700 previously planned — while cutting the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (LMIA-based) target by 27% to 60,000.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan raises the LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program (IMP) target to 170,000 — a 32% increase from the prior plan — while cutting the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) target by 27% to 60,000.
The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan raises the LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program (IMP) target to 170,000 — a 32% increase over what was planned in the previous 2025-2027 plan — while cutting the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) target to 60,000, a 27% reduction.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets the International Mobility Program (LMIA-exempt) target at 170,000 admissions — a 32% increase from the prior plan — while the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (LMIA-based) has been cut to 60,000, a 27% reduction.
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program (IMP) target to 170,000 admissions — a 32% increase over the previous plan — while cutting the LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) target to 60,000, a 27% reduction.
Effective April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit to participate in mandatory work placements (co-ops, internships) required by their program — their existing study permit is sufficient. IRCC will automatically withdraw all active pending co-op work permit applications.
Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC raised the LMIA-exempt work permit (International Mobility Program) target to 170,000 — a 32% increase from the prior plan's 128,700 — while cutting LMIA-based (Temporary Foreign Worker Program) targets by approximately 27% from 82,000 to 60,000.
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased LMIA-exempt work permit targets to 170,000 (up ~32% from the prior plan) under the International Mobility Program, while LMIA-based permits through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program were cut to approximately 60,000 spots.
LMIA-exempt work permit targets increased significantly to 170,000 for 2026 (up 32% from 128,700), while LMIA-based permits decreased to 60,000