Work Permit

The Institute du Québec's study sheds light on how the pandemic affected Quebec's labour force.

Overall admissions remain the same as 2022 with little change throughout all categories.

Skilled workers from foreign countries who already have a Quebec Selection Certificate can now apply for an open work permit while waiting for the federal government to make a final decision on their permanent residence

Starting September 3rd, Quebec will suspend processing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for jobs in Montreal offering wages below $27.47 CAD per hour.

Starting December 17, 2025, foreign nationals with three or more years of work experience in Quebec will need to demonstrate spoken French proficiency at level 4 (NCLC) to qualify for a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

To remain eligible, affected workers must meet this requirement when renewing their Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and applying for a new work permit.

However, current TFWP workers in Quebec will benefit from a three-year transition period, allowing them until December 17, 2028 to reach the required French level. During this time, they may continue to extend their permits without meeting the new rule.

Exemptions apply to

• Agricultural workers
• Employees of foreign political organizations
• Staff of international non-governmental organizations recognized by Quebec

This policy supports the province’s dual objectives of reducing temporary resident numbers and strengthening French as the cornerstone of Quebec’s cultural identity. The measure aligns with the province’s broader effort to prioritize Francophone integration and manage population
pressures linked to housing and affordability.

Under the TFWP, foreign workers need both a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and a CAQ before applying to IRCC for a work permit.

Here is a look at Canada's most recent provincial immigration draws.

Two Canadian provinces released their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw results this past week, and Quebec held a recent draw through Arrima.

Temporary residents in Canada, such as visitors, international students, and temporary foreign workers, are permitted to travel outside Canada but must comply with specific re-entry requirements by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The federal government has updated its list of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) where low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will not be processed due to high unemployment rates. As of April 4, 2025, the following 24 CMAs, each with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, will not process low-wage LMIA applications until July 10, 2025:

Foreign remote work can count as foreign experience, but it does not increase or replace Canadian work experience for CEC applicants.

A growing number of immigration applicants are facing confusion around whether remote foreign work performed from within Canada can be counted for Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under Express Entry. While many candidates continue working for foreign employers remotely after entering Canada, recent decisions from IRCC indicate that the matter remains legally grey.

Under current federal guidelines, foreign work experience is defined as skilled employment acquired outside Canada, in occupations listed under TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3. However, the regulations do not explicitly require that the applicant must have been physically outside Canada while performing this work. This omission has led to significant debate, especially as remote work has become more common post-COVID.

In some cases, IRCC officers have refused applications on the grounds that the applicant was not physically outside Canada during their foreign work period. In contrast, IRCC responses to authorized representatives suggest that remote work may be eligible, provided it clearly falls outside the Canadian labour market and meets all Express Entry requirements.

To strengthen their case, applicants must submit clear documentation, including:

• Remote job offer or contract
• Employer and employee location details
• Pay slips, communications, and meeting records
• Evidence that the job was not part of the Canadian labour market

Professionals in fields like IT, marketing, engineering, and virtual assistance are most commonly affected by this ambiguity. While some remote foreign work applications have succeeded, others have not, indicating that case-by-case discretion still plays a major role.

Until federal courts offer definitive jurisprudence, applicants are urged to prepare robust evidence and consult legal professionals if facing refusal. Misrepresentation or poor documentation can not only lead to application rejections but also future inadmissibility.

This remains a developing issue. Candidates planning to claim foreign work experience performed remotely while in Canada should proceed with caution and transparency.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) reports a significant increase in temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada. In 2023, nearly 240,000 TFWs were approved, doubling the number from five years ago. This trend highlights employers’ growing reliance on TFWs to fill job vacancies, particularly in sectors like healthcare, food service, construction, and transportation.

Many spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers in Canada may be eligible for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP). This permit allows them to work for almost any employer in Canada, but eligibility depends on the foreign worker’s job and permit type.

To help Canadian employers fill labour and skills gaps in their organizations when there are no qualified and available Canadians or permanent residents (PR), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) operates the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

In a significant policy update from May 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a provision allowing spouses, common-law, and conjugal partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to obtain an open work permit while their sponsorship application for permanent residence is being processed. This facilitates the sponsored individuals to work for nearly any employer in Canada, enabling them to be financially self-sufficient during the immigration process.

Statistics Canada will hire about 32,000 workers across Canada for the May 2026 census. People with valid Canadian work permits are eligible to apply.

Canada is facing a healthcare worker shortage, leading to longer wait times and staff burnout. To address this, Canada has made it easier for internationally educated nurses (IENs) to get accredited. IENs must be licensed by a provincial nursing college, which varies by province.

Work permit holders who applied for their permits on or before June 7, 2023, are eligible to study in Canada without a study permit. Those who applied after this date are not eligible under this temporary policy, which is set to last until June 27, 2026.

Canada is a top-ranking destination for international students. It has some of the world’s most sought-after universities and offers a unique student life experience.

There are an estimated 1.57 million international students, between Canada and the United States (U.S.), with tens of thousands more set to enter North America annually, in pursuit of higher education.

Canada has introduced new support services for internationally educated nurses (IENs) immigrating to the country. The PASS (Pre-Arrival and Post-Arrival Supports and Services) program offers free, customized assistance to help foreign-trained nurses integrate into the Canadian workforce.