The Temporary Foreign Workers Program is the Canadian government’s main route for employers to hire foreign workers when no Canadian or permanent resident is available for the job. The program changed materially on April 1, 2026: employers now advertise jobs for eight consecutive weeks, must show concrete recruitment of young Canadians, and face an expanded low-wage processing freeze in 30 census metropolitan areas. This guide covers the six TFWP streams, the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process, the 2026 fee table, processing times, the Quebec carve-outs, and the application steps a worker needs to follow once an employer’s LMIA is approved.
Key Takeaways
- The temporary foreign workers program (TFWP) is run jointly by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). ESDC issues the LMIA; IRCC issues the work permit.
- The TFWP has six streams: high-wage, low-wage, Global Talent Stream (GTS), primary agriculture, Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), and the in-home caregiver stream.
- An LMIA costs the employer CAD $1,000 per position. Charging the worker for this fee, or any portion of it, is illegal under the program’s compliance rules.
- A foreign worker applying after a positive LMIA pays CAD $155 for the work permit, CAD $100 for the open work permit holder fee if applicable, and CAD $85 for biometrics ($170 family rate).
- As of April 10, 2026, low-wage LMIA applications are not being processed in 30 census metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6 percent or higher, including Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Halifax. Primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, residential care, and in-home caregivers are exempt.
- Quebec extended its own moratorium on low-wage TFWP applications in Montreal and Laval until December 31, 2026. Quebec’s low-wage threshold sits at CAD $34.62 per hour as of the June 2025 ESDC update.
- Most TFWP work permits are employer-specific (closed). Open work permits exist only for narrow categories (vulnerable workers, certain caregiver pathways, spouses of permit holders).
Check Out Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Explained:
What Is the Temporary Foreign Workers Program?
The temporary foreign workers program is a federal labour-market mechanism that lets a Canadian employer hire a foreign national for a specific job after proving the role cannot be filled domestically. The program operates under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and is administered by ESDC, with IRCC issuing the work permit at the back end.
The TFWP is one of two federal frameworks that lead to a Canadian work permit. The other is the International Mobility Program (IMP). The IMP covers LMIA-exempt situations (intra-company transfers, CUSMA professionals, post-graduation work permit holders, and reciprocal exchanges like International Experience Canada). The temporary foreign workers program covers everything else: the cases where the employer must prove labour-market need before a permit is issued.
A successful TFWP hire moves through three actors and two government departments:
- The employer runs an advertising campaign, files an LMIA application, pays the $1,000 fee, and receives a positive or negative LMIA from ESDC.
- ESDC’s Service Canada office reviews the LMIA against wage, advertising, and genuineness rules.
- The foreign worker applies to IRCC for a work permit using the positive LMIA number, completes biometrics, and travels to Canada with a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction. The worker swaps the letter for the printed work permit at the border.
The result is an employer-specific work permit valid for the duration shown on the LMIA, generally 12 to 24 months. The worker can extend the permit if the employer files a fresh LMIA and the program rules in effect at that time still allow it.
The Six Streams Inside the Temporary Foreign Workers Program
ESDC sorts every TFWP application into one of six streams based on the wage offered, the industry, and the worker’s role. Each stream has its own advertising rules, cap, and processing pathway.
| Stream | What It Covers | Wage Rule | Cap on TFWs |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-wage | Roles paying above the provincial median (or above 120% of the provincial median, depending on stream rules) | At or above provincial median | None federally |
| Low-wage | Roles paying below the provincial median where that median sits below 120% of provincial median | Below the high-wage cutoff | 10% of workforce (15% rural under temporary measure to March 31, 2027) |
| Global Talent Stream | Specialized tech, engineering, and high-skill occupations | Tied to GTS occupation list and Category A/B rules | None |
| Primary Agriculture | Year-round farm work in eligible commodities (NOC 8252, 8431, 8432, 8611, etc.) | Provincial agriculture wage | None |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) | Up to 8 months of seasonal farm work for citizens of 12 partner countries | SAWP rate set by Canada-country agreement | None |
| In-home Caregiver | Childcare, elder care, and care for adults with high medical needs in private homes | Above provincial low-wage threshold; specific NOC codes | None |
High-Wage Stream
A position lands in the high-wage stream when the offered wage equals or exceeds the provincial or territorial median wage for the location of work. As of the June 2025 ESDC update, median wages range from CAD $26.61 in Newfoundland and Labrador to CAD $34.62 in Quebec and CAD $36.00 in Alberta and Yukon. High-wage applications must include a transition plan describing how the employer will reduce reliance on foreign workers over time. There is no federal cap on the share of high-wage TFWs an employer can hire.
Low-Wage Stream
A low-wage application is one where the offered wage falls below the provincial median. The federal cap holds the low-wage TFW share at 10 percent of the employer’s workforce on a per-worksite basis. Rural employers in participating provinces can use a temporary 15 percent cap from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 if they meet the rural-area definition and submit during the window. Low-wage applications are subject to the 30-CMA processing freeze covered in the next section.
Global Talent Stream
The Global Talent Stream is the fast lane inside the temporary foreign workers program. It has two categories. Category A is for high-growth Canadian companies referred by one of ESDC’s designated partners (including BDC, Communitech, and Invest Ontario) and is used to hire one or two specialized roles that anchor a scale-up. Category B is for any Canadian employer hiring into the Global Talent Occupations List (software engineers, computer programmers, information systems analysts, web designers, and more). Both categories carry a target two-week LMIA processing standard and a matching 10-business-day work permit processing target at IRCC. The fee remains the standard $1,000.
Primary Agriculture Stream
The primary agriculture stream covers year-round farm work in eligible commodities and NOC codes (apiary work, livestock care, greenhouse and nursery work, harvesting). Workers can be from any country. Employers must provide free or wage-deducted housing that meets federal housing inspection standards. LMIA validity for this stream typically runs up to two years. Primary agriculture is exempt from the 30-CMA low-wage processing freeze.
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program is the oldest TFWP stream, running since 1966. It is open to citizens of 12 partner countries: Mexico, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and the eight Organization of Eastern Caribbean States members (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines). SAWP work runs a maximum of eight months between January 1 and December 15 each year. The 2026 SAWP contract amendments raised the recognition payment to CAD $4.69 per week (maximum CAD $149.94) and updated airfare and accommodation deductions province by province. Liaison officers from each sending country administer the contracts on the ground.
In-Home Caregiver Stream
The in-home caregiver stream covers childcare, elder care, and care for adults with high medical needs delivered inside a private Canadian home. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, launched in March 2025, sit alongside the TFWP caregiver stream and offer a direct PR pathway. A TFWP caregiver LMIA still costs the employer $1,000 and gets the worker an employer-specific permit. Caregiver positions are exempt from the 30-CMA low-wage processing freeze.
The 2026 Low-Wage LMIA Processing Freeze: Who Is Affected
ESDC will refuse to process low-wage LMIA applications in any census metropolitan area (CMA) where the unemployment rate has been at or above 6 percent for the most recent quarter. The freeze list refreshes every three months. The current window runs April 10, 2026 to July 9, 2026 and covers 30 CMAs.
CMAs Where Low-Wage LMIAs Are Frozen (April 10 to July 9, 2026)
Atlantic Canada: St. John’s, Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton.
Quebec: Drummondville, Montréal.
Ontario and the National Capital Region: Ottawa-Gatineau, Kingston, Belleville-Quinte West, Peterborough, Oshawa, Toronto, Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Brantford, Guelph, London, Windsor, Barrie, Greater Sudbury.
Prairies: Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton.
British Columbia: Kelowna, Abbotsford-Mission, Vancouver, Nanaimo.
The freeze added Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax, Calgary, and Edmonton on April 10, 2026, growing the list from 24 to 30 cities. Lethbridge, Red Deer, Kamloops, and Chilliwack came off the list in the same update.
Sectors Exempt from the Freeze
Six sectors continue to receive low-wage LMIA processing in frozen CMAs:
- Primary agriculture (NOC codes 8252, 8431, 8432, 8611, and related)
- Construction
- Food manufacturing
- Hospitals
- Nursing and residential care facilities
- Specific in-home caregiver positions
Short-term roles of 120 days or less that meet additional ESDC criteria are also processed inside frozen CMAs.
What Employers in Frozen CMAs Can Do
A position with an offered wage at or above the provincial median moves into the high-wage stream and is not subject to the freeze. Raising the offered wage to clear the median is the most common workaround. Employers in exempt sectors apply normally. Everyone else either waits for the next quarterly refresh or files in a CMA where they have a worksite that is not frozen.
Quebec: Separate Moratorium in Montreal and Laval
Quebec runs the TFWP under the Canada-Quebec Accord and the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) handles the provincial side of every Quebec LMIA. Quebec extended its own moratorium on low-wage TFWP processing in Montreal and Laval until December 31, 2026. The Quebec low-wage threshold is CAD $34.62 per hour as of June 2025. Agriculture, education, social services, construction, food processing, and healthcare are exempt from the Quebec moratorium.
How the LMIA Process Works in 2026
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is the document that proves a Canadian employer cannot fill the role with a citizen or permanent resident. The April 1, 2026 program overhaul rebuilt several of the key requirements.
- Identify the stream. The employer matches the role’s wage to the provincial median, picks the right stream (high-wage, low-wage, GTS, agriculture, SAWP, caregiver), and confirms the position is not in a frozen CMA.
- Advertise for eight consecutive weeks. As of April 1, 2026, low-wage roles must be advertised for at least eight consecutive weeks in the three months before the LMIA filing. The previous rule was four weeks. Adverts must run on Job Bank (with a written rationale required for any opt-out) plus at least two additional methods that reach Canadians and permanent residents.
- Recruit young Canadians specifically. A new April 2026 rule requires employers to show concrete recruitment effort targeting workers under 30. Acceptable evidence includes Job Bank’s youth section, dedicated youth boards, partnerships with educational institutions, government-sponsored youth employment programs, and digital channels documented for at least six years.
- Submit the LMIA application and pay the $1,000 fee. The fee is per position, non-refundable, and cannot be charged back to the worker under any circumstances. Payment is made through Service Canada’s online portal.
- Service Canada review. Officers verify wage, advertising, transition plan (high-wage), 10 percent or 15 percent cap (low-wage), and the genuineness of the offer. Median processing time across streams runs 9 to 27 weeks; GTS LMIAs target 10 business days; primary agriculture and SAWP run 4 to 8 weeks.
- Positive or negative decision. A positive LMIA carries a number the worker uses for the IRCC work permit application. A negative LMIA is final for that filing; the employer can refile only by addressing the named deficiency. LMIA validity is 6 months from the date of issue (the worker must apply for the permit before the LMIA expires).
What the Foreign Worker Does After a Positive LMIA
Once the employer has a positive LMIA, the worker takes over. The eight steps below are the worker-side application, written from the perspective of someone outside Canada applying to enter on a TFWP work permit.
- Receive the LMIA confirmation letter and offer of employment from the employer. The letter has a unique LMIA number, the employer’s name, the wage, the duration, and the location of work. Confirm every detail before paying any fee.
- Create an IRCC secure account and complete the work permit application. The portal asks for the LMIA number, employer name, NOC code, and intended entry date. The application form is IMM 1295 (Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada).
- Gather supporting documents. Required: passport copy with at least one year validity, the LMIA letter and offer of employment, resume, education credentials (with an Educational Credential Assessment for some occupations), a police certificate from your country of citizenship and from any country you lived in for six months or more in the previous decade, and proof of funds.
- Pay the IRCC fees. The work permit fee is CAD $155. The open work permit holder fee of CAD $100 applies only when the worker holds an open permit (most TFWP permits are employer-specific and skip this fee). Biometrics are CAD $85 for one applicant or CAD $170 for a family rate.
- Attend biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) within 30 days of submission. Biometrics are reusable for 10 years, so most applicants who have been to Canada in the previous decade can skip this step.
- Complete a medical exam if required. A medical is mandatory for workers from designated countries and for any worker entering jobs in agriculture, healthcare, or childcare. Use a panel physician approved by IRCC. Cost runs CAD $200 to CAD $400.
- Wait for the IRCC decision. Posted service standards: 10 business days for GTS, 4 to 12 weeks for most countries, longer in high-volume processing offices. The decision is delivered as an electronic Port of Entry Letter of Introduction (POE letter).
- Travel to Canada and activate the permit. Visa-required nationals also receive a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) sticker in the passport. Visa-exempt nationals receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) automatically. At the port of entry, present the POE letter to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer, who issues the printed work permit.
The worker should never start work for the Canadian employer before crossing the border on the POE letter. Doing so is unauthorized work under IRPA Section 30 and can void the permit.
How Much Does the Temporary Foreign Workers Program Cost in 2026?
Costs split cleanly between employer fees and worker fees. Mixing the two is a common source of fraud and exploitation.
Employer Fees (Paid to ESDC and IRCC)
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| LMIA processing fee | $1,000 per position | No, even on a negative LMIA |
| Employer compliance fee (LMIA-exempt IMP route) | $230 | No |
| Recruitment and advertising costs | Variable, typically $500 to $5,000 | No |
The $1,000 LMIA fee cannot be recovered from the worker under any pretext. ESDC compliance officers consider any wage deduction labelled “LMIA cost,” “recruitment cost,” or “processing cost” a program violation that can result in a ban from future TFWP filings.
Worker Fees (Paid to IRCC)
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit application fee | $155 | All TFWP applicants |
| Open work permit holder fee | $100 | Only open work permits (rare in TFWP) |
| Biometrics | $85 / $170 family rate | Most applicants (10-year reuse) |
| Medical exam (if required) | $200 to $400 | Designated countries and certain occupations |
| Police certificate | $25 to $100 per country | All applicants |
A standard TFWP applicant who needs fresh biometrics and one police certificate pays roughly CAD $290 to $500 in personal IRCC and government costs, plus airfare and first-month settlement. Workers should retain every receipt. Charging the $1,000 LMIA fee, employer compliance fee, or recruitment cost back to the worker is illegal.
Wage Thresholds for 2026 by Province and Territory
The provincial median wage decides whether a position falls into the high-wage or low-wage stream. ESDC updates the table annually. The figures below reflect the June 27, 2025 ESDC update applied through the 2026 program year.
| Province / Territory | Median Hourly Wage 2026 (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $36.00 |
| British Columbia | $32.69 |
| Manitoba | $26.50 |
| New Brunswick | $26.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $26.61 |
| Northwest Territories | $40.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $25.96 |
| Nunavut | $36.00 |
| Ontario | $30.50 |
| Prince Edward Island | $24.04 |
| Quebec | $34.62 |
| Saskatchewan | $28.85 |
| Yukon | $36.00 |
A job in Toronto offered at $30.50 or above sits in the high-wage stream. A job in Vancouver offered at $32.69 or above sits in the high-wage stream. Each province’s exact threshold should be confirmed against the current ESDC median-wage table before filing.
Worker Rights and Compliance Under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program
A foreign worker on a TFWP permit has the same employment rights as a Canadian worker in the same job: minimum wage, statutory holidays, overtime where applicable, and the right to a safe workplace. ESDC and provincial labour ministries enforce these rules.
- Employer-specific permits. Most TFWP permits are tied to one employer. Switching jobs requires a new LMIA and a new work permit. Quitting is allowed; starting a new job before the new permit is issued is not.
- Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers. A TFW experiencing or at risk of abuse, harassment, or unsafe working conditions can apply for an open permit that lets them leave the employer named on the LMIA. The application is free.
- Recovery of unpaid wages. Provincial employment standards branches recover wages owed; ESDC’s Tip Line reports employer non-compliance. Workers who report abuse keep their permit during the investigation.
- Banned employer list. ESDC publishes the Employers who have been non-compliant list of TFWP employers banned from the program. Always check the list before accepting an offer.
- Recruiter conduct. Most provinces (BC, MB, ON, NS, SK, NB, AB) require foreign-worker recruiters to be licensed and prohibit charging recruitment fees. Pay nothing to a recruiter and verify their licence number before signing anything.
Pathway from the Temporary Foreign Workers Program to Permanent Residence
The TFWP work permit itself does not grant permanent residence, but the Canadian work experience earned on a TFWP permit feeds directly into the country’s main PR programs.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC). 12 months of skilled (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) Canadian work experience qualifies the worker for CEC inside Express Entry. Most high-wage and GTS workers go this route.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Every province runs a TFW-friendly stream. BC PNP, Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, Saskatchewan SINP, Manitoba MPNP, and Ontario OINP all accept TFWP work experience, often including TEER 4 and 5 jobs that CEC excludes.
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador run a designated-employer-driven PR stream tailor-made for TFWP and IMP workers in the four Atlantic provinces.
- Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). Fourteen designated rural communities have direct PR pathways for TFWs in priority sectors (including agriculture, food manufacturing, and healthcare).
- Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. Caregivers admitted under the TFWP can transition to PR through the dedicated 2025 caregiver pilots.
- Agri-Food and Trades category-based Express Entry draws. Butchers (NOC 63201) and other Trades category occupations remain eligible for category-based Express Entry draws, giving primary agriculture and food-processing TFWs a direct PR shot.
The honest math: a TFWP worker who lands in a high-wage role and gets 12 months of TEER 0-3 experience has a strong chance through CEC. A low-wage worker has a harder route and should plan for a PNP application from month six onward.
Common Mistakes That Trigger TFWP Refusals
- Applying in a frozen CMA without checking the list. Filing a low-wage LMIA in Vancouver, Toronto, or any of the 30 CMAs after April 10, 2026 results in a refusal-to-process. Confirm the freeze list before paying the $1,000 fee.
- Eight-week advertising shortfall. Filing under the old four-week rule on or after April 1, 2026 is an automatic refusal. Document every advert with dates and reach data.
- Missing youth-recruitment evidence. ESDC officers reject low-wage applications that cannot show targeted under-30 recruitment. Save the Job Bank screenshots, the school partnership emails, and the youth-board posts.
- Wage calculated against the wrong location. ESDC uses the worksite’s province or territory, not the employer’s head office. Calgary worksite, Calgary wage; Toronto worksite, Ontario median.
- LMIA fee charged back to the worker. Any deduction or off-book payment recovers the $1,000 from the worker, voids the LMIA, and lands the employer on the non-compliance list.
- Worker starts work before the POE letter is exchanged for a permit. Unauthorized work voids the permit and triggers an IRPA Section 41 inadmissibility finding.
- Missing the LMIA validity window. The worker must apply for the permit within six months of the LMIA’s issue date. A delayed or stalled work permit application kills the file.
Temporary Foreign Workers Program vs. International Mobility Program
The two federal frameworks differ on a single hinge: whether the employer needs an LMIA. Workers and employers should know both before defaulting to one.
| Element | Temporary Foreign Workers Program | International Mobility Program |
|---|---|---|
| LMIA required | Yes | No |
| Work permit type | Employer-specific (closed) in most cases | Open or employer-specific |
| Purpose | Fill domestic labour shortages | Advance Canadian economic, cultural, or reciprocal interests |
| Wage stream | High-wage and low-wage classification | Not applicable |
| Canadian recruitment required | Yes (8-week advertising plus youth recruitment) | No |
| Transition plan | Required for high-wage | Not required |
| Application fee | $1,000 LMIA | $230 employer compliance fee, or none for open work permit holders |
| Processing time | 9 to 27 weeks (10 business days for GTS) | 2 weeks for many streams |
| Lead department | Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) |
| Examples | High-wage hire, low-wage hire, GTS, SAWP, primary agriculture, in-home caregiver | International Experience Canada, intra-company transfer, CUSMA professional, post-graduation work permit, spousal open work permit |
Most candidates for the IMP do not need to read the TFWP rules at all. Conversely, an employer who wants to hire a worker without a job offer or who already has someone on a study or graduate permit should look at the IMP first.
Temporary Foreign Workers Program: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the temporary foreign workers program?
The temporary foreign workers program is the federal framework that lets a Canadian employer hire a foreign worker after proving the role cannot be filled by a Canadian or permanent resident. It is administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and produces a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) the worker uses for an IRCC work permit.
How much does the TFWP cost in 2026?
The employer pays $1,000 for each LMIA position to ESDC, non-refundable. The worker pays $155 for the IRCC work permit, $85 for biometrics, and a possible $200 to $400 medical exam. The Open Work Permit Holder fee of $100 applies only on open permits, which most TFWP permits are not. Charging the LMIA fee back to the worker is illegal.
How long does an LMIA take to process in 2026?
Median LMIA processing runs 9 to 27 weeks for high-wage and low-wage streams. The Global Talent Stream targets 10 business days. Primary agriculture and SAWP applications process in 4 to 8 weeks. Add 4 to 12 weeks for the IRCC work permit decision after a positive LMIA, depending on the country of application.
Can a foreign worker apply for the TFWP without a job offer?
No. The temporary foreign workers program is employer-driven. An employer must first secure a positive LMIA tied to a specific job and worker. Workers without a job offer should look at the International Experience Canada program (if eligible by citizenship), Express Entry, or a Provincial Nominee Program with a direct entry stream.
Which Canadian cities have a low-wage LMIA freeze in 2026?
As of April 10, 2026, low-wage LMIAs are not being processed in 30 census metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6 percent or higher. The list includes Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa-Gatineau, Hamilton, London, Windsor, and 19 others. Primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, residential care, and in-home caregivers are exempt.
How long does a TFWP work permit last?
Permit duration matches the LMIA, typically 12 to 24 months for high-wage and low-wage roles, up to 24 months for primary agriculture, and a maximum of 8 months (January 1 to December 15) for SAWP. The worker can apply for an extension if the employer files a fresh LMIA before the current permit expires.
Does the TFWP lead to permanent residence?
The TFWP work permit itself does not grant PR. The Canadian work experience earned on the permit qualifies the worker for the Canadian Experience Class, most Provincial Nominee Programs, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot. Twelve months of TEER 0-3 work experience is the most common threshold.
Can my family come to Canada with my TFWP permit?
Yes. Spouses or common-law partners of TFWP permit holders are typically eligible for an open work permit when the principal worker holds a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job. Dependent children can apply for a study permit. Each family member pays IRCC fees separately, and biometrics are charged at the $170 family rate.
What is the difference between the TFWP and the International Mobility Program?
The TFWP requires an LMIA and is run by ESDC; the International Mobility Program (IMP) is LMIA-exempt and run by IRCC. The TFWP fills domestic labour shortages; the IMP advances reciprocal, economic, or cultural interests. International Experience Canada, intra-company transfers, CUSMA professionals, and post-graduation work permits sit inside the IMP.
What can I do if my employer treats me badly on a TFWP permit?
A TFW experiencing or at risk of abuse can apply for the free Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers and leave the employer immediately. Reports go to ESDC’s confidential Tip Line. Provincial employment standards branches recover unpaid wages. The worker keeps their permit during the investigation.
Sources Used for Fact-Check
- Hire a temporary foreign worker with a Labour Market Impact Assessment, ESDC
- Refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application, ESDC
- Program requirements for low-wage positions, ESDC
- Hire a temporary worker through the Global Talent Stream, ESDC
- Hire a temporary worker through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, ESDC
- 2026 amendments to the SAWP employment contract with the Caribbean, ESDC
- Hiring temporary foreign workers in the province of Quebec, ESDC
- Work permit freeze extended to Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Halifax (CIC News, April 2026)
- Quebec extends freeze on low-wage TFWP work permits (CIC News, November 2025)
- New Program Requirements for LMIAs effective April 1, 2026 (Mathews Dinsdale, 2026)
- New Recruitment Requirements for Low-Wage Positions under TFWP (Fragomen, 2026)