Work Permit

Canada offers expedited work permit processing for TV and Film workers.

The world has seen Alberta in some of the most popular American films and TV series. Big production film companies are active in Alberta. The Alberta provincial government recently announced it would be investing more in the film and TV sector.

New Brunswick's restaurants, food processors, and other industries relying on immigrant workers are facing potential closures due to a federal decision to reduce immigration allocations.

New Brunswick has reached its 2025 cap for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and will no longer accept new endorsement applications. Submissions made on or before April 4 will still be processed.

On June 16 and 17, New Brunswick held four PNP draws across its Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams, inviting 608 candidates the most in any month so far in 2025.

The federal government is introducing new measures to address labor shortages in construction.

The Canadian government has launched the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) to help French-speaking minority communities outside Quebec grow and fill job shortages. Announced on January 30, 2025, the program will offer a pathway to permanent residence for French-speaking newcomers who want to live and work in these areas.

Normally, processing involves an officer individually evaluating each work permit applicant to determine if they are approved. This includes a review of the applicant’s experience, education, language ability and any licensing requirements.

Starting August 11, 2024, IRCC introduced a temporary policy allowing certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates to apply for an open work permit (OWP).

Canada is preparing to launch several new pathways to permanent residence in 2026, with a strong focus on helping temporary residents already in the country transition to PR. Some programs that closed in 2025 after reaching their caps are also expected to reopen.

Canada has released instructions for how certain Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders can apply for a new open work permit or extend the one they currently have.

Immigration minister Sean Fraser said that temporarily extending work permits to family members of principal applicants in the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP). This measure will help Canada combat chronic labour shortages

Work permit holders may qualify for OHIP if they meet the following criteria:

Ontario has issued 30 ITAs under the Entrepreneur Stream and BC issued 177 ITAs in a general draw.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited 535 candidates from the Masters Graduate Stream. Candidates required a score of 35 and above.

In the latest report, job vacancies and payroll employment remain high, while unemployment sees decreases in September.

Starting January 1, 2026, Ontario will make it much easier for workers in regulated professions to move across provinces and start new jobs. Under the new system, professionals like engineers, electricians, and architects will be able to begin working in Ontario within 10 days of submitting their credentials, a process that previously took months.

Ontario will soon make it much faster for healthcare professionals from other provinces to start working in the province.

In a major shift to address staffing shortages, Ontario will now allow qualified U.S.-licensed doctors and nurses to begin working in the province immediately—without first registering with a professional college. The change removes a key barrier to onboarding international health talent, while immigration and work permit rules remain in place.

Three provinces have issued ITAs under Provincial Nominee Programs.

Spouses, partners, and dependent children who accompany an international student or foreign worker can get open study permits that are not tied to a specific DLI and are PAL-exempt. This means they do not need: