Canada’s immigration system has undergone significant changes over the past two years, and 2026 continues to bring important adjustments to temporary workers, international students, work permits and immigration levels.
For anyone planning to work, study or visit Canada, keeping up with official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) information is increasingly important.
One of the biggest developments is that Canada is continuing to manage the number of temporary residents entering the country. Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada set a target of 385,000 new temporary resident arrivals in 2026, including 230,000 workers and 155,000 students. The target then falls to 370,000 temporary resident arrivals in both 2027 and 2028.
At the same time, Canada continues to maintain pathways for employers to hire foreign workers where there are genuine labour-market needs.
This guide explains the most important Canada visa and work permit updates for 2026, what the changes mean for foreign workers and students, how processing times work, current fees and where to find official information.
Important: Immigration rules can change without much notice. Always verify your specific situation on Canada.ca before submitting an application or making travel arrangements.
Canada Immigration at a Glance in 2026
The overall direction of Canada’s immigration policy in 2026 is focused on managing temporary resident numbers while continuing to attract workers needed by the Canadian economy.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets the following targets:
| Category | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total temporary resident arrivals | 385,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| Temporary workers | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| International students | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| Permanent residents | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
The 2026 worker target consists of 170,000 workers under the International Mobility Program and 60,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
These are planning targets, not guarantees that a particular applicant will receive a visa or work permit.
1. Canada Is Reducing Temporary Resident Arrivals
One of the most significant policy developments is Canada’s effort to reduce the number of temporary residents entering the country.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 385,000 new temporary residents in 2026, compared with the much higher target contained in the previous 2025–2027 plan.
The government has said the plan is intended to reduce pressures on housing, health care and other services while continuing to meet labour-market needs.
For foreign workers, this means Canada’s immigration system is becoming more selective rather than simply expanding temporary migration.
This does not mean that Canada has stopped hiring foreign workers.
Instead, applicants should expect greater emphasis on:
- Genuine job offers
- Labour-market needs
- Eligible occupations
- Employer compliance
- Appropriate work permit categories
- Complete applications
- Meeting all eligibility requirements
2. Canada Still Has Two Main Types of Work Permits
Foreign nationals generally fall into one of two major work-permit categories.
Employer-Specific Work Permit
An employer-specific work permit allows you to work under the conditions specified on your permit.
It normally identifies:
- The employer
- The location of employment
- The occupation
- The period of authorization
A job offer is generally required.
Depending on the job and immigration program, the employer may also need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Open Work Permit
An open work permit is different.
It generally allows the holder to work for most compliant employers in Canada without being tied to a specific employer.
However, open work permits are not available to everyone.
They are issued only to people who meet specific eligibility requirements under Canada’s immigration rules.
This distinction is important because a person cannot simply choose an open work permit because they do not want an employer-specific permit.
Your eligibility determines which type of work authorization you may receive.
3. Work Permit Applications From Outside Canada Remain Available
Foreign nationals outside Canada may apply for a work permit if they meet the requirements for the particular program.
For an employer-specific permit, this generally involves a qualifying job offer and, where applicable, an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt basis.
IRCC also requires applicants to satisfy general requirements, including demonstrating that they can support themselves and their family during their stay and return home when required. Other admissibility and program-specific requirements also apply.
For people applying from Nigeria or another country outside Canada, the important point is that getting a job offer does not automatically guarantee a work permit.
IRCC still assesses the application.
4. Most Foreign Nationals Can No Longer Simply Get a Work Permit at the Canadian Border
Another important rule concerns applying for a work permit at a port of entry.
Since December 23, 2024, most foreign nationals in Canada can no longer use a port of entry to apply for an initial work permit or work permit extension.
There are limited exceptions for people who meet specific requirements.
If you are eligible to apply from outside Canada, you should normally complete the application before travelling rather than assuming you can obtain a work permit at the border.
This is particularly important for people who hear advice such as:
“Just travel to Canada and apply for your work permit at the airport.”
That advice is not generally valid.
5. Canada Work Permit Fees in 2026
As of August 2026, the standard work permit processing fee is CAD $155 per person.
Applicants for an open work permit generally also pay the CAD $100 open work permit holder fee.
Biometrics, where required, cost CAD $85 for an individual or up to CAD $170 for an eligible family applying together.
Current standard fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work permit processing | CAD $155 |
| Open work permit holder fee | CAD $100 |
| Biometrics — individual | CAD $85 |
| Biometrics — eligible family maximum | CAD $170 |
For example, an applicant who needs an open work permit and biometrics could normally pay CAD $340 in government fees: $155 + $100 + $85.
However, exemptions exist in certain situations, so applicants should use the official fee calculator and instructions for their specific application.
6. Processing Times Are Not Fixed
One of the most common questions people ask is:
“How long does a Canada work permit take in 2026?”
There is no single answer.
IRCC’s processing-time tool provides estimates based on the application type and other factors. IRCC explicitly states that processing times are estimates, not maximum guarantees.
Processing can vary depending on:
- Type of application
- Completeness of the application
- Number of applications in the inventory
- Verification requirements
- Biometrics
- How quickly the applicant responds to requests
- Complexity of the case
- Where the application is submitted
Therefore, an article that promises that every Canadian work permit will be processed within a specific number of days is misleading.
7. Latest LMIA Processing Times
For employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the LMIA is an important part of the process.
An LMIA is generally used to assess whether hiring a temporary foreign worker is expected to have a positive or negative effect on Canada’s labour market.
The latest ESDC monthly figures available when this article was checked showed the following average processing times for applications processed in June 2026:
| LMIA stream | Average processing time |
|---|---|
| Global Talent Stream | 9 business days |
| Agricultural stream | 22 business days |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 9 business days |
| High-wage stream | 79 business days |
| Low-wage stream | 71 business days |
These figures are averages for June 2026 and can change from month to month.
This is also an important distinction:
An LMIA processing time is not the same thing as a work permit processing time.
An employer may first need an LMIA before the foreign worker can submit or complete the relevant work permit process.
8. LMIA Fees Are Normally the Employer’s Responsibility
The standard LMIA processing fee is CAD $1,000 per position requested for programs where the fee applies.
Canadian government guidance specifically states that the LMIA processing fee cannot be paid by or recovered from the temporary foreign worker.
This is important for people searching for Canadian jobs from abroad.
If a supposed employer tells you:
“Send me CAD $1,000 because you need to pay for your LMIA.”
You should be extremely cautious.
The existence of an LMIA does not mean the worker should personally reimburse the employer for the LMIA processing fee.
9. Changes to Low-Wage Temporary Foreign Worker Hiring
Canada continues to tighten rules around the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, particularly for low-wage positions.
At the same time, temporary measures introduced in 2026 provide certain rural employers with additional flexibility.
From April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, eligible employers located in rural areas of participating provinces and territories may qualify for temporary measures concerning certain low-wage positions.
These measures are not a blanket exemption for all employers.
Employers still have to meet the applicable requirements of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
10. Low-Wage Wage Thresholds Were Updated in July 2026
Canada updated its hourly wage thresholds for low-wage positions effective July 17, 2026.
The applicable threshold depends on the province or territory and the prevailing wage rules.
Employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program need to determine the correct wage category for the position rather than relying on an outdated salary figure from a social-media post or old article.
This is particularly relevant to people searching for:
- Farm jobs
- Food-service jobs
- Hospitality jobs
- Manufacturing jobs
- Cleaning jobs
- Care-related positions
- Other lower-wage occupations
The fact that a job is advertised online does not automatically mean an employer can obtain an LMIA for it.
11. Family Open Work Permit Rules Remain More Restricted
Canada changed the eligibility rules for open work permits for family members of international students and foreign workers beginning January 21, 2025.
The restrictions remain important in 2026.
For spouses of international students, eligibility generally focuses on students in certain programs, including master’s programs of at least 16 months, doctoral programs and certain professional or eligible programs.
For spouses of foreign workers, eligibility is also limited to certain workers and occupations rather than being automatically available to every temporary foreign worker.
This means you should not assume:
“If I get a Canadian work permit, my spouse automatically gets an open work permit.”
That is no longer a safe assumption.
12. New Family Work Permit Measure for Some SIP Workers
A notable 2026 update affects spouses of workers under certain Significant Investment Projects (SIP).
According to IRCC, as of March 23, 2026, a spouse may qualify for an open work permit if the principal worker has a qualifying work permit or letter of introduction under a SIP agreement, is employed or has a qualifying job offer at any TEER level, and meets the applicable conditions.
This is a specific measure and should not be interpreted as a general expansion of family open work permit eligibility for all foreign workers.
