Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration department has walked back a rule change that would have restricted reciprocal employment work permits to workers already employed outside Canada. Officials described the change as a version-control error that does not reflect the department’s intended policy.
The contested update appeared in officer instructions published on July 29, 2026. An IRCC spokesperson told CIC News that the posting was an error caused by a version-control issue and does not represent the department’s actual policy. The notice circulated among immigration lawyers and was reviewed by CIC News before the correction was issued.
On August 6, 2026, IRCC released a corrected version of the updated instructions, removing the language that compelled a worker to be currently employed abroad and barred permits for positions that would begin only upon arrival in Canada.
Reciprocal employment work permits, issued under code C20 through the International Mobility Program (IMP), are exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA). This makes them faster and easier to obtain than permits issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
C20 permits are granted when hiring a foreign national in Canada helps create or maintain similar employment opportunities abroad for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. They are commonly issued to workers at multinational corporations, academic institutions, internationally operating non-profits, and government organizations.
Other well-known IMP permits include the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), a open work permit for international student graduates, and the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), issued to permanent residence applicants whose current work permits are set to expire before they obtain permanent status. IMP permits are designed to deliver broader cultural and economic benefits to Canada, in contrast to LMIA-reliant TFWP pathways.
The backtracking means cross-border hiring and international talent flows remain supported under the current framework. Maple News will continue monitoring developments and guidance from IRCC on reciprocal work permits and related programs.