Category: Work Visa

Maple News reports that foreign workers in Canada who have applied for a new work permit before their current work authorization expires will now receive WP-EXT letters valid for 365 days, up from 180 days. The extension was outlined in updated instructions to immigration officers and published on the immigration […]

Maple News reports that the Government of Canada has launched a time-limited policy to ease access to employer-specific (closed) work permits for temporary foreign workers in Quebec who are awaiting a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) while their permanent residence application is reviewed. This is a short-term public policy designed to […]

Maple News reports that Canada is moving to expand work authorization for international students and graduates, with proposed amendments published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on April 1, 2026. The reforms enter a consultation phase, with IRCC planning to engage stakeholders in early spring 2026. Under the plan, […]

Maple News reports that eight Canadian firms participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project can offer LMIA-exempt, employer-specific work permits to high-skilled foreign nationals who have a job offer, giving these employers a faster path to bring in talent. These eight companies are eligible for a five-year employer-specific permit under the […]

Maple News reports that, effective March 23, 2026, eligible spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers employed by Lululemon Athletica and Microsoft Vancouver may obtain open work permits, regardless of their partner’s compensation or seniority. The federal government has designated these two British Columbia employers as Significant Investment Projects, a […]

Maple News reports that Canada will extend the Innovation Stream pilot for two more years, maintaining its provision of employer-specific LMIA-exempt work permits for eligible high-skilled foreign nationals through 2028. The extension highlights the government’s continued emphasis on fast-tracking skilled talent to support innovation and growth in Canada’s tech and […]

Maple News reports that Canada has released updated guidance for foreign nationals seeking entry under the work permit exemption for business visitors, clarifying that the rules are clearer but the list of qualifying scenarios is not exhaustive. The changes were published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on March 19, […]

Maple News reports that the federal government announced on March 13 that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will introduce temporary measures under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to help rural employers meet labour-market needs. From April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, rural employers will be able to […]

Maple News reports that Canada has introduced two new employer-specific work permit pathways under the International Experience Canada Young Professionals stream, expanding opportunities for youth from Portugal and Taiwan. The routes are designed to facilitate work placements with Canadian employers while participants gain international experience. The two pathways are: Young […]

Maple News reports that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated LMIA processing times for February 2026, showing increases across nearly all streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), even as temporary foreign worker admissions declined in 2026. The most pronounced rise occurred in the High-wage stream (jobs paid […]

Maple News reports that, effective March 1, 2026, Canada has updated its special measures for Iranian nationals and extended eligibility through March 31, 2027. The new framework narrows eligibility to certain work-permit holders, focusing on extensions rather than broader open permits or study-status changes. Iranian workers in Canada who wish […]

Maple News reports that Iranians in Canada can no longer apply for special work permits after the temporary public policy expired. The policy—titled the Updated temporary public policy for nationals of Iran in Canada as temporary residents—had allowed Iranians who arrived in Canada on or before February 28, 2025 to […]

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 […]

Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration department has clarified the rules around special work permits for permanent residence applicants under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP). Under the update, foreign nationals who have submitted a complete application for permanent residence under FCIP or […]

Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the rules governing LMIA-exempt work permits issued under reciprocal employment through the International Mobility Program. The updated guidelines were published on IRCC’s website on February 20, 2026, under the title “Reciprocal employment general guidelines [R205(b) – C20] – […]

Maple News reports that in today’s dynamic job market, staying competitive as a marketing professional in Canada means making smart investments in your career development. The Chartered Marketer (CM) designation, the only professional marketing credential recognized nationally in Canada, has become a crucial asset for marketers looking to futureproof their […]