Canada to Admit 230,000 Temporary Foreign Workers in 2026

Canada is set to welcome as many as 230,000 temporary foreign workers this year through its two main work permit streams, according to the federal government’s latest immigration levels plan.

Figures shared via CanadaVisa show that around 60,000 workers are expected to enter through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), while another 170,000 will come in under the International Mobility Program (IMP).

New Hiring Rules for Small Businesses

The announcement coincides with fresh regulatory changes that make it easier for certain employers running multiple small work sites to bring in more low-wage temporary foreign workers.

Previously, companies hiring through the TFWP were generally capped at filling no more than 10% of their workforce with low-wage foreign labour, with a higher 20% threshold allowed in priority sectors such as healthcare, construction, and food production.

Under the revised approach, businesses can now hire one low-wage foreign worker per work location if that site has fewer than 10 staff members. For employers in the designated priority sectors, this rises to two workers per qualifying small site.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) revised its guidelines on August 18, 2026, permitting qualifying employers to calculate their hiring limits based on staffing at each individual location rather than their total company-wide headcount.

This shift stands to benefit companies operating several smaller branches  for instance, a chain of small restaurants, care homes, or construction sites could now be eligible for more foreign hires than they would under a single nationwide calculation.

How the Numbers Are Calculated

ESDC has clarified that workforce counts will include full-time and part-time staff, foreign workers with approved job offers who haven’t yet started, and open positions an employer is seeking to fill through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application. Part-time staff averaging under 30 hours weekly count as half an employee in these calculations.

Importantly, the policy shift doesn’t eliminate the need for a positive or neutral LMIA before an employer can hire or keep a worker under the TFWP. This assessment continues to serve as proof that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available for the role.

Other restrictions remain in place as well. Since September 2024, low-wage LMIA applications have typically not been processed in urban regions where unemployment exceeds 6%. Employers using the low-wage stream must also cover workers’ travel costs to Canada, arrange suitable housing, and provide private health coverage for those not eligible under provincial or territorial health plans.

Notably, most temporary work permits in Canada are still issued through the International Mobility Program, which generally does not require an LMIA at all.