Fresh figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reveal that 1.4 million temporary residents—primarily foreign workers—hold permits that will lapse during calendar-year 2026, with more than half expiring by the end of June. (business-standard.com)
The wave follows a record-setting pandemic recovery period in which employers leaned heavily on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program (IMP) to plug acute labour shortages. Indians alone account for almost 50 percent of approvals, putting that cohort at particular risk of forced departure or status loss if pathways to permanent residence (PR) are not scaled up. (business-standard.com)
![1.4 Million Canadian Work Permits Set to Expire in 2026, IRCC Data Show]()
For both employers and permit holders who now face looming deadlines, VisaHQ can help streamline the process of tracking expiries, filing extensions or new visa applications, and navigating Canada’s complex PR pathways. Their online tools and expert support—available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/—offer a practical lifeline to stay compliant and avoid costly work interruptions.
Ottawa’s 2026–28 Immigration Levels Plan currently allots just 380,000 PR spots for 2026, leaving a potential gap of more than one million workers. Unless IRCC introduces large-scale transition measures—similar to the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway—the looming expiry cliff could hit sectors ranging from food processing to tech hardest, injecting churn and training costs for employers. (business-standard.com)
Companies should audit work-permit rosters now, prioritise early PR filings where eligible, and explore provincial nominee options. Employees whose permits expire after June 30 may also need bridging open work permits tied to active PR applications to avoid work interruptions.
The wave follows a record-setting pandemic recovery period in which employers leaned heavily on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and LMIA-exempt International Mobility Program (IMP) to plug acute labour shortages. Indians alone account for almost 50 percent of approvals, putting that cohort at particular risk of forced departure or status loss if pathways to permanent residence (PR) are not scaled up. (business-standard.com)
For both employers and permit holders who now face looming deadlines, VisaHQ can help streamline the process of tracking expiries, filing extensions or new visa applications, and navigating Canada’s complex PR pathways. Their online tools and expert support—available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/—offer a practical lifeline to stay compliant and avoid costly work interruptions.
Ottawa’s 2026–28 Immigration Levels Plan currently allots just 380,000 PR spots for 2026, leaving a potential gap of more than one million workers. Unless IRCC introduces large-scale transition measures—similar to the 2021 TR-to-PR pathway—the looming expiry cliff could hit sectors ranging from food processing to tech hardest, injecting churn and training costs for employers. (business-standard.com)
Companies should audit work-permit rosters now, prioritise early PR filings where eligible, and explore provincial nominee options. Employees whose permits expire after June 30 may also need bridging open work permits tied to active PR applications to avoid work interruptions.
