The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in 2026: What Changed and What Employers Need to Know

Key IRCC updates, new work permit rules, and how they impact your workforce planning in Canada. https://www.cnapcanada.com/temporaryforeignworkerprogramtfwp

What Is the TFWP? - The Temporary Foreign Workers Program (Read Below)

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in 2026: What Changed and What Employers Need to Know

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is a federal program that allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals on a temporary basis to fill genuine labour and skills shortages when qualified Canadians or permanent residents are not available. It is jointly managed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which is responsible for the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which issues the corresponding work permits, with support at the border from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Big Picture: Canada’s New Direction on Temporary Workers.

Canada is tightening how many temporary residents—and temporary workers—it allows in over the next few years. The goal is to bring the overall number of temporary residents down and make sure intakes match real labour needs and local capacity, especially around housing.

For employers, this means:

• You can still hire through TFWP and IMP, but it is getting harder and more competitive.

• Government is focusing on roles with genuine labour shortages, fair wages, and strong compliance records.

• You should start your planning earlier (often 4–6 months out) and expect closer review of your applications and documentation.

Recent IRCC and TFWP Updates Employers Should Track

1. Lower Numbers and Tighter Rules - TFWP

Canada is now putting stricter limits on how many temporary foreign workers can come in each year. Sectors and regions with clear, proven labour shortages are more likely to get approvals than those that cannot show a real need.

2. Changes to Work Permit Processing

Since 2025, work permits are being handled more through modern online systems, with faster options for extending valid permits. At the same time, employers and workers are facing tougher checks, higher proof‑of‑funds expectations, and stronger wage requirements.

3. Worker Mobility and Employer Compliance

There is a growing push to make it easier and safer for temporary foreign workers to change employers when something goes wrong. Authorities are also increasing compliance checks on employers and coordinating oversight between departments to catch abuse and non‑compliance more quickly.

Common questions include :

1. Is the TFWP being reduced or cancelled?

No, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is not cancelled; the federal government is tightening and recalibrating it, with more focus on genuine labour shortages, compliance, and overall temporary resident volumes. Employers can still hire through TFWP, but planning and documentation standards are higher than before.

2. Can my TFWP hire change employers after arriving in Canada?

Most TFWP work permits are employer‑specific, so a worker usually needs a new job offer and new authorization before changing employers. However, recent policy shifts aim to improve mobility and protect workers, so it is important to review current conditions on each work permit.

Find out the answer to these and many other questions such as :

1. What is the difference between TFWP and IMP for my company?

2. Where can we get support with relocation and settlement for TFWP workers?

at https://www.cnapcanada.com/temporaryforeignworkerprogramtfwp

Learn more about how our Temporary Foreign Worker Program support works and who it is for on our dedicated TFWP page here: https://www.cnapcanada.com/temporaryforeignworkerprogramtfwp.