Canada is bracing for an unprecedented wave of undocumented residents in 2026 as more than two million temporary work permits lapse under tighter immigration caps introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney. India Today reports that Indians could make up nearly half of those at risk, with 315,000 permits expiring in Q1 alone.
The crunch follows Ottawa’s decision to slash annual permanent-resident targets and overhaul the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme, citing housing and healthcare strains. Pathways for international students and graduates have narrowed as well, leaving many without a viable route to stay.
![Over One Million Indian Workers in Canada Risk Losing Status as Permits Expire]()
For Indians worried about looming deadlines, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork maze. Its online platform—including a dedicated India portal at https://www.visahq.com/india/—walks applicants through Canadian restoration filings, visitor visas and alternative travel documents, while also flagging U.S. or intra-company transfer options. Quick checklists and real-time status tracking help travellers avoid pitfalls as policies evolve.
Indian community groups in the Greater Toronto Area already report tent encampments and a rise in cash-in-hand labour. Activists plan protests this month, while employers fear sudden labour shortages in trucking, food processing and IT services.
Mobility advisers urge Indian assignees to file restoration applications within the 90-day grace window and explore inter-company transfers back to India or the U.S. Tech majors are evaluating remote-work pivots to retain talent legally. Without policy relief, observers warn Canada could inherit a "shadow workforce" running into the millions by mid-year.
The crunch follows Ottawa’s decision to slash annual permanent-resident targets and overhaul the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme, citing housing and healthcare strains. Pathways for international students and graduates have narrowed as well, leaving many without a viable route to stay.
For Indians worried about looming deadlines, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork maze. Its online platform—including a dedicated India portal at https://www.visahq.com/india/—walks applicants through Canadian restoration filings, visitor visas and alternative travel documents, while also flagging U.S. or intra-company transfer options. Quick checklists and real-time status tracking help travellers avoid pitfalls as policies evolve.
Indian community groups in the Greater Toronto Area already report tent encampments and a rise in cash-in-hand labour. Activists plan protests this month, while employers fear sudden labour shortages in trucking, food processing and IT services.
Mobility advisers urge Indian assignees to file restoration applications within the 90-day grace window and explore inter-company transfers back to India or the U.S. Tech majors are evaluating remote-work pivots to retain talent legally. Without policy relief, observers warn Canada could inherit a "shadow workforce" running into the millions by mid-year.
