Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Recent discussion has raised concerns that Canada may have already issued more Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) permits than planned for 2025. But the government’s own data shows that this is not the case.

A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) lets foreign nationals continue working in Canada while awaiting a decision on their permanent residence (PR) application. It is valid for up to two years and can be extended. Unlike employer-specific permits, BOWPs allow work for most employers.

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SCSAST) has recommended that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stop issuing closed work permits. These permits, which tie workers to a single employer, are criticized for increasing vulnerability to abuse and limiting workers' rights.

In the first quarter of 2025, Canada approved 834,010 temporary resident applications, including study permits, work permits, and visitor visas, according to new IRCC data. This surge highlights Canada’s global appeal but also reflects growing strain on the immigration system.

Starting August 28, visitors in Canada on a temporary visa can no longer apply for work permits from within the country. This policy, initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020, aimed to assist visitors stranded due to border closures.

Canada has expanded its list of regions where low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will not be processed under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

As of June 27, 2025, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has increased wage thresholds for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) across most provinces. This change affects whether employers apply under the high-wage or low-wage LMIA stream.

Starting September 26, Canada will stop processing Low-Wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in some metropolitan areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher.

Canada is set to lower its immigration targets over the next three years, starting in 2025. The country’s new Immigration Levels Plan, announced on October 24, outlines a reduction in permanent resident admissions, with a focus on rebalancing the system to prioritize economic immigrants already residing in Canada. Here’s a summary of the key changes:

Canada’s population declined in Q3 2025, dropping by 76,068 people, according to new Statistics Canada estimates. It was the first quarterly population decrease this year.

The Canadian regions that could potentially see a reduction of temporary foreign workers due to Employment and Social Development Canada's (ESDC) recent policy include Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with an unemployment rate equal to or higher than 6%. Based on the latest data, the following CMAs are likely to be affected:

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has become the center of one of the most heated policy debates of 2025. With calls for both major reform and outright elimination, the program’s future is now in question.

Ottawa has introduced a new rule that changes how employers must advertise Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) positions. From now on, every LMIA job posting on Canada’s Job Bank must include the Direct Apply feature, and employers are required to review applications submitted through it. Ignoring this step could lead to an LMIA refusal.

Starting November 8, the Canadian government will require employers hiring temporary foreign workers in the high-wage stream to pay at least 20% above the provincial median wage.

IRCC checks if the employer is actively engaged in business, verifying legal existence, operation in Canada, and stability. They review the business start date, type, number of employees, income, and main activities. New or obscure businesses get extra scrutiny.

New data from Statistics Canada shows that non-permanent residents play a minimal role in Canada’s housing ownership market.

The facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) helps Quebec employers efficiently address labor shortages in the province.

Quebec has its own programs and criteria for foreign skilled workers hoping to settle in the province.

In a significant policy shift, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has unveiled plans to integrate temporary resident targets into Canada's annual Immigration Levels Plan from fall 2024. Historically focusing solely on permanent residency quotas, the updated plan will now also consider the influx of temporary residents, aiming to refine and potentially reduce their numbers over the next three years. This move is not designed as a hard cap but could lead to application limitations in specific sectors.

It is important to know that Quebec simplified LMIA processing if different from the rest of Canada