Temporary measure meant to help employers retain skilled temporary foreign workers
The federal government has introduced a temporary immigration measure aimed at helping Quebec employers retain skilled temporary foreign workers who are already on a pathway to permanent residence.
The measure allows eligible workers to obtain a new employer‑specific work permit under the International Mobility Program, enabling them to continue working for their current employer for up to 12 additional months while the province reviews their eligibility for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec).
“Canada is restoring balance and control to our immigration system. To grow Canada’s economy, we need skilled workers in critical sectors to stay in the country so they can continue to support their communities,” said Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “We will continue to work collaboratively with our provincial and territorial partners to support our domestic workforce, while making sure local economies have the support they need to thrive.”
Helping workers stay employed in Quebec
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said the measure is designed “to support Quebec’s new policy, help workers stay employed and make sure immigration efforts are targeted where they are most effective.” The measure applies only to those who have received an invitation from Quebec to submit a Demande de Sélection Permanente (DSP) under the province’s new Skilled Worker Selection Program.
The federal government noted that many of the affected workers have already been in Canada for a considerable time, are employed and have become valued members of their communities. It said maximising their transition to permanent residence will support Canada’s long‑term economic strength.
Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, described the measure as “a strategic lever that will give Quebec more time to plan the transition from temporary immigration to permanent residence.”
He said the collaboration between the federal and Quebec governments “strengthens predictability for businesses, supports growth and contributes to the vitality of the Quebec economy, all while respecting our goals of reducing temporary immigration to the country.”
Recently, Canada extended temporary special immigration measures for certain Iranian nationals already working in the country.
Eligibility criteria and application window
According to IRCC, the new initiative is open to temporary foreign workers who hold, or recently held, an employer‑specific work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program, with permits expiring between now and December 31, 2026.
Eligible workers can apply through IRCC’s website until Dec. 31, 2026, and will benefit from expedited processing. Workers are encouraged to apply before their current permit expires so they can continue working.
In parallel, the federal government is moving to address rural labour needs across Canada. Employment and Social Development Canada is introducing temporary measures for employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in participating provinces and territories.
From April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, rural employers will be allowed to retain their current number of low‑wage temporary foreign workers and raise the proportion of such workers from 10% to 15%.
The changes form part of a broader recalibration of Canada’s immigration system. The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan reduces targets for new temporary resident arrivals and stabilises targets for permanent resident admissions, while “providing stability to those already living, working and contributing to Canada.” The plan includes a commitment to “accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027.”
The federal government had previously made numerous changes to its immigration rules.
IRCC reiterated that Canada remains committed to reducing the temporary resident population to less than 5% of the total population by the end of 2027, and that the Quebec‑focused measure and rural labour initiatives are intended to support that goal while helping employers maintain access to needed workers.
Earlier this year, the Quebec government said it is moving ahead with a new skilled worker selection regime that replaced the popular Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, PEQ) and changing how many international students and temporary foreign workers can settle permanently in the province.
