In the year 2026, significant changes are expected for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt work permits, including an increase in admissions target, a freeze on eligible fields of study for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs), and various additional measures.

Admissions Target Increase for Foreign Workers

The federal government has raised the admissions target for workers on LMIA-exempt work permits in 2026.

The latest annual Immigration Levels Plan has set the admissions target for work permits through the International Mobility Program (IMP) at 170,000 for 2026, marking a 32% increase from the previous target.

All LMIA-exempt work permits are issued through the IMP, and the admissions target refers to net new temporary resident admissions under the program.

Concurrently, there has been a decrease in the admissions target for LMIA-based work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for 2026.

Freeze on PGWP-Eligible Fields of Study

The federal government has announced that there will be no changes to the eligible fields of study for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) in 2026.

Under the field of study rules, international student graduates must have completed a program linked to a labor market shortage to be eligible for a PGWP, with exemptions for graduates of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) determines eligibility based on the list of eligible study programs in effect at the time of the initial study permit application.

Currently, there are 1,107 study programs on the PGWP eligibility list.