Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration department has tightened the evaluation criteria for work permits issued under the ‘significant benefit to Canada’ LMIA exemption, code C10, within the International Mobility Program (IMP). The updated guidance was published on February 24, 2026.
Under the new instructions, officers must apply more stringent criteria before granting a work permit under the general exemption under section 205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). The guidance states that permits issued under R205(a) should be issued only in unique or exceptional situations.
A key shift is in how ‘significant benefit’ is defined: the applicant’s employment and their unique qualifications, expertise, or experience must produce positive effects on the broader community, region, or country beyond impacts on the applicant, dependents, or the employer.
The policy also raises the threshold for demonstrations of benefits: whereas prior guidance used ‘creating training opportunities’ as an example, the new instructions require ‘creating a large number of employment or training opportunities’ with a demonstrable impact.
Additionally, the guidance includes a new note on social or cultural benefits: officers should assess whether the person’s presence is crucial to an event, or whether circumstances create a clear need for the individual’s entry.
Overall, the changes signal that applications for general exemption work permits under C10 will face more comprehensive scrutiny, potentially affecting timelines and acceptance rates for candidates and employers seeking LMIA-exempt arrangements.