Canada outlines 2026 updates to LMIA‑exempt work permits

Canada’s federal government has detailed several measures affecting Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)‑exempt work permits for 2026. Key actions include a higher intake target under the International Mobility Program, a freeze on post‑graduation work permit (PGWP) eligible fields of study, and ongoing reviews of temporary and provincial work policies.

The updates form part of a wider realignment of temporary immigration programs and coincide with pending legislative changes before Parliament.

LMIA‑exempt work permit admissions target rises to 170,000 in 2026
PGWP‑eligible study program list frozen for the full year
Public policies for provincial nominees, Ukrainians, and Iranians nearing expiry
New agriculture and fish processing work permit in development
Bill C‑12 proposes expanded executive powers over temporary residents

Higher admissions target for LMIA‑exempt workers

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

The target measures net new temporary resident admissions and excludes renewals or permits issued to individuals already in Canada. All LMIA‑exempt work permits fall under the IMP framework.

At the same time, the goal for LMIA‑based permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) declined to 60,000 for 2026, down from the earlier projection of 82,000. The adjustment reflects an ongoing shift toward employer‑specific and reciprocal employment categories within the IMP.

PGWP‑eligible fields of study frozen for 2026

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed that the existing PGWP‑eligible field of study list will remain unchanged during 2026. The freeze maintains the 1,107 programs currently recognized as eligible for graduates seeking open work permits after completing their studies.

The field‑of‑study requirement applies to international students who filed initial study permit applications on or after November 1, 2024, unless they graduated from bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs, which are exempt. Eligibility is determined by the list active at the time the original study permit application was submitted.

The freeze follows a June 2025 revision that added 119 programs and removed 178, a decision later postponed until early 2026. Under the new update, those 178 programs will remain eligible throughout the year.

IRCC’s decision coincides with an ongoing overhaul of the national Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system. Statistics Canada is preparing to replace CIP 2021 with CIP Canada 2027, expected for release between late 2027 and early 2028.

Temporary provisions for provincial nominee candidates

A federal public policy enabling provincial and territorial nominee candidates to obtain special work permits is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025. The measure allows foreign nationals nominated under a provincial program to receive work authorization of up to two years, subject to provincial support and an existing job offer.

Jurisdictions such as Manitoba and Yukon have implemented variants of this policy. Eligible applicants are required to hold valid work status as of May 7, 2024, and provide both a letter of employment and provincial endorsement.

IRCC has not yet indicated whether the policy will be renewed beyond its current end date. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program continues to use this framework for supporting qualified candidates awaiting permanent residence decisions.

Uncertain outlook for Ukrainian and Iranian work policies

Two temporary public policies covering nationals of Ukraine and Iran are also approaching expiry. The extension of the Canada‑Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) policy remains in effect until March 31, 2026. It allows Ukrainians and their family members who arrived by March 31, 2024, to apply for open work and study permits.

Similarly, the updated public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada is set to conclude on February 28, 2026. That measure permits Iranian temporary residents who were in Canada by February 28, 2025, to access work and study permits. The government has not confirmed whether either policy will be prolonged.

If the temporary measures end without renewal, affected individuals will need to transition through other temporary residence categories to maintain legal status in Canada.

Proposed legislative changes under 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.” The bill would grant expanded executive powers over immigration and temporary residence management.

If enacted, the Governor in Council could suspend or halt processing of work permit applications, vary or cancel existing authorizations, and impose conditions on temporary residents in cases deemed to involve administrative error, fraud, public health, safety, or national security concerns.

The legislation also introduces modifications to asylum procedures, including limits on repeat claims and provisions defining abandonment or withdrawal of claims. Bill C‑12 passed third reading in the House of Commons on December 11, 2025, and is before the Senate for consideration when it resumes on February 3, 2026. It is uncommon for the Senate to reject a bill that has cleared all readings in the Commons.

Sector‑specific permit in development

IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada are working jointly on a new work permit stream tailored to agriculture and fish processing sectors. The initiative is referenced in the department’s 2025–2026 plan, though eligibility conditions and launch timing have not yet been published.

The proposed permit is intended to complement existing sectoral pathways under both the TFWP and IMP, providing additional flexibility for seasonal and regional labour markets.

Context and next steps

The combined measures reflect a period of adjustment across Canada’s temporary immigration programs ahead of broader structural updates expected later in the decade. The federal government continues to balance labour market needs, international student policy, and humanitarian responses within its annual planning cycle.

Further announcements from IRCC are anticipated as 2026 program targets take effect and as Parliament finalizes related legislative reforms.

Readers can follow ongoing coverage of federal and provincial immigration developments through the site’s latest news and policy updates.