The Biggest Immigration Changes Ahead for International Students and Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada

Vikrant Gungash
11 minutes ago
3 min read

By Vikrant Singh, November 22, 2025

Canada is preparing for some of the most significant immigration shifts in years—changes that will directly affect international students, temporary foreign workers, and employers who rely on global talent. The federal government has outlined new priorities in its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan and through announcements by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These updates signal a major recalibration of how Canada manages temporary residents and transitions them into permanent residents.

Faster Pathways to Permanent Residency for Temporary Workers

One of the most anticipated changes is the government’s plan to fast-track the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. While the details of this accelerated pathway have not yet been released, IRCC has confirmed that the initiative will focus on workers who:

Have strong community ties
Pay taxes
Work in in-demand sectors critical to economic growth

This move echoes the 2021 temporary TR–PR pathway, which filled its application cap within hours of launching. Recent trends strongly suggest that experience in Canada will remain a core selection factor—an IRCC report from 2024 showed that 64% of Express Entry candidates invited to apply had at least one year of Canadian work experience.

Tightened Eligibility Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is also bracing for major shifts. In September 2025, Prime Minister Carney signaled that the TFWP will adopt a more targeted, sector-focused approach, prioritizing regions and occupations with the highest strategic need.

This follows last year’s decision to pause LMIA processing in regions with unemployment rates of 6% or higher—a move that slowed intake considerably. The newest Immigration Levels Plan reduces TFWP arrivals from 82,000 to 60,000 in 2026, indicating that obtaining an LMIA may become more restrictive.

Employers and prospective workers may need to prepare for tighter criteria, more targeted approvals, and increased regional labour market scrutiny.

More Sector-Specific Pathways Coming Soon

The federal government has been shifting toward sector-focused immigration—a trend that will only accelerate in 2025 and 2026. IRCC is preparing to launch or expand several targeted permanent residency and work permit streams:

Accelerated PR pathway for H-1B holders – A new pathway targeting tech and advanced industry talent, including healthcare and research professionals.
PR stream for construction workers – Up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers will be granted immigration spaces under a special program announced in March 2025.
Agriculture and fish processing immigration stream – A forthcoming PR and sector-specific work permit program designed to attract and retain essential workers in agriculture and fish processing.
Reopening in 2026: The Home Care Worker Pilots will accept new applications after their next intake cycle begins.

These initiatives signal a broader shift in Canada’s strategy—prioritizing critical industries over general labour categories.

Temporary Residents With Canadian Experience Stand to Benefit Most

Across multiple programs, one pattern is clear: Canadian work experience is becoming the strongest predictor of immigration success. Whether through Express Entry, new sector-specific pathways, or targeted PR initiatives, temporary foreign workers who already contribute to Canada’s workforce will have an edge.

With major policy shifts set to roll out over the next two years, international students and temporary workers should stay informed, plan ahead, and explore how these changes may create new pathways—or new challenges—for their immigration goals.

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