Canada outlines 2026 changes to LMIA‑exempt work permits

Ottawa has detailed several adjustments to Canada’s Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)‑exempt work permit framework set to take effect in 2026. The federal announcements include a higher admissions target, a pause on updates to post‑graduation work permit (PGWP) study fields, and multiple temporary public policies reaching their scheduled expiry dates.

The measures are part of the government’s broader immigration planning and administrative reforms aimed at balancing labour market needs with temporary resident oversight.

Admissions target for International Mobility Program work permits raised to 170,000 for 2026.
PGWP‑eligible study program list frozen throughout 2026.
Public policies for provincial nominee candidates, Ukrainians, and Iranians approaching end dates.
Bill C‑12 advancing through Parliament, proposing expanded executive authority over temporary residents.
Work permit initiative under development for the agriculture and fish processing sectors.

Increased target for LMIA‑exempt work permits

The federal Immigration Levels Plan for 2026 sets the admissions target for LMIA‑exempt work permits issued through the International Mobility Program (IMP) at 170,000. This represents a 32 percent rise from the previous notional target of 128,700 for the same year.

These figures cover new temporary resident admissions under the IMP and exclude renewals or extensions for individuals already in Canada. All LMIA‑exempt permits are processed through this program, which supports exchanges and employment streams not requiring a labour market assessment.

To offset the increase, the admissions target for LMIA‑based work permits issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program was reduced to 60,000, down from 82,000 in the prior plan.

Freeze on PGWP‑eligible study fields

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that the list of programs eligible for post‑graduation work permits will remain unchanged in 2026. The department introduced the freeze to maintain consistency while it completes a review of program classifications.

The existing rules apply to international students who submitted their study permit applications on or after November 1, 2024. Under these criteria, graduates from programs not exempt from the field requirement must have studied in an area linked to a documented labour shortage to qualify for a PGWP.

Holders of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees are exempt from the field‑specific rule. Eligibility is determined using the list effective on the date the study permit application was filed, unless the student later changed programs.

There are currently 1,107 programs listed as eligible. The freeze follows a 2025 revision in which 119 programs were added and 178 were initially removed before being reinstated through early 2026. Those 178 programs will now remain recognized for the entire year.

The suspension coincides with Statistics Canada’s ongoing overhaul of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system, with a new version—CIP Canada 2027 v1.0—expected for release between late 2027 and early 2028.

Work permits for provincial nominee candidates

A temporary public policy allowing provincial nominee candidates to obtain open work permits with provincial or territorial support is scheduled to end on December 31, 2025. Participants must hold valid status on May 7, 2024, and possess both an employment letter from their current employer and a letter of support issued by the province or territory.

Jurisdictions such as Manitoba and Yukon have implemented mechanisms to issue permits under this framework, which allows two‑year validity. As of June 2026, IRCC had not announced whether it will extend or replace the policy.

Temporary work permit policies for Ukrainians and Iranians

Two temporary measures affecting thousands of foreign nationals are also approaching expiry. The public policy covering Ukrainians and their family members who arrived under the Canada‑Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel is set to conclude on March 31, 2026. It permits open work and study permits for those who entered Canada on or before March 31, 2024.

A separate policy for Iranian nationals remains in effect until February 28, 2026. It allows Iranians who were already in Canada as temporary residents on or before February 28, 2025, to apply for open work or study permits. The government has not confirmed whether either measure will be renewed.

If the Ukrainian program lapses, participants with permits expiring after March 2026 would need to secure another valid temporary status to remain in Canada.

Legislative developments: Bill C‑12

Parliament is considering Bill C‑12, titled “An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system.” If enacted, it would grant expanded powers to the Governor in Council—the federal executive authority acting on the advice of Cabinet—to regulate temporary resident processing.

The bill authorizes the government to pause or terminate work permit applications, adjust or cancel immigration documents, and impose specific conditions on temporary residents, when deemed necessary for reasons related to administration, fraud, public health, safety, or national security.

Bill C‑12 also includes changes to the asylum system, giving officials greater ability to determine when claims are withdrawn or abandoned. The legislation passed third reading in the House of Commons on December 11, 2025, and is awaiting consideration in the Senate when it reconvenes in February 2026. In Canadian legislative practice, Senate rejection of a bill already approved by the Commons is uncommon.

Sector‑specific permit under development

IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada are jointly developing a new category of work permit for the agriculture and fish processing industries. According to the department’s 2025–2026 plan, eligibility criteria and a launch date have yet to be confirmed.

The initiative forms part of a broader review of sector‑based labour needs and aims to align temporary work authorizations with industry‑specific requirements.

Ongoing review and next steps

While the federal government has increased temporary worker admissions and stabilized the PGWP system for 2026, several temporary public policies remain under review. Their potential expiry dates later in the year are expected to influence both employer planning and provincial nominee operations.

Further information is anticipated from IRCC as parliamentary and departmental consultations continue through 2026. Readers can follow updates on federal and provincial immigration programs through regular coverage of Canada’s evolving work permit policies.