CIMM – Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) – November 07, 2023^{Footnote 1}

Key Facts and Figures

• Between January 1 and September 30, IRCC issued 147,863 work permits to workers under the TFWP. This is up from 96,437 over the same time period in 2022.

Key Messages

• Temporary foreign workers help keep Canada competitive by filling short‑term labour and skills gaps, and can help foreign nationals gain practical experience in Canada.
• The TFWP is demand-driven with no limits or caps on the total number of work permits that may be requested or issued in a given year.
• The TFWP is co-administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and IRCC, and aims to fill temporary skill shortages. Employers must first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to demonstrate that no Canadian labour is available to perform the same job.
• ESDC is responsible for processing the LMIA while IRCC is responsible for ensuring that work permit applicants meet admissibility (health, criminality, and security), eligibility and regulatory requirements necessary for permit issuance, such as demonstrated ability to perform the job offered.
• Employers and workers alike can benefit from the suite of measures introduced under ESDC Workforce Solutions Road Map, such as:
  • maximum employment duration for High-Wage stream and Global Talent Stream workers increased to three years;
  • an extended LMIA validity period of up to 12 months;
  • allowing employers in sectors with demonstrated labour shortages (such as accommodation and food services, construction, and food manufacturing) to hire up to 30% of their workforce through the TFWP’s Low-Wage Stream; and
  • maintaining the maximum duration of employment for positions under the provincial or territorial median hourly wage at up to two years.