Canada is targeting 230,000 temporary foreign workers in 2026 as the federal government continues to reshape its immigration system and focus temporary migration more closely on labour-market needs.
Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the target combines workers admitted through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). The government has allocated 60,000 places to the TFWP and 170,000 to the IMP for 2026.
TFWP Gets 60,000 Places
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows Canadian employers to recruit foreign workers when they cannot find enough suitable workers locally, subject to programme requirements.
For 2026, the government has set the TFWP target at 60,000, a significant reduction compared with previous years as Canada works to reduce the number of temporary residents in the country.
The International Mobility Program, which covers workers who generally do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment because their work provides broader economic, cultural or social benefits to Canada, accounts for the remaining 170,000 workers.
Canada Tightens Temporary Migration
The 230,000 target forms part of Canada's broader effort to bring the number of non-permanent residents below 5 per cent of the country's population by the end of 2027.
The federal government has been reducing temporary resident admissions after concerns over housing, infrastructure and pressure on public services. Official figures show that the number of new workers arriving in Canada fell substantially in 2025 compared with the previous year.
The government says its approach is intended to make immigration more sustainable while ensuring businesses can still access workers where genuine labour shortages exist.
New Rules Affect Low-Wage Workers
Canada has also introduced changes affecting employers that rely on low-wage temporary foreign workers.
From April 2026, eligible employers in certain rural areas can benefit from temporary measures allowing them to maintain or modestly increase their use of low-wage foreign workers where labour shortages persist.
In addition, recent changes allow some employers operating several small work locations to calculate their foreign-worker limits using the workforce at individual qualifying locations rather than only their overall workforce.
This could provide greater flexibility for businesses such as small restaurants, care facilities and construction operations that operate across multiple locations.
Employers Face Compliance Requirements
Despite the adjustments, employers recruiting foreign workers remain subject to strict rules.
Canadian authorities continue to inspect employers participating in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure that workers receive the employment conditions promised to them and that employers comply with programme requirements.
The government has also increased enforcement against employers found violating the rules.
What the 2026 Target Means
The 230,000 figure represents a major shift from Canada's previous approach, when temporary migration levels were considerably higher.
For foreign workers considering Canada, the new policy means opportunities remain available, particularly in sectors and regions facing labour shortages, but obtaining a work permit may become increasingly dependent on the specific occupation, employer and immigration programme involved.
Canada's latest immigration strategy therefore seeks to balance the need for foreign labour with the government's objective of reducing temporary migration and creating a more sustainable immigration system.
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