In May 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued updated officer guidance for the Professionals stream of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) work permit, sharpening the rules on who can apply, what documentation must accompany an application, what kinds of contracts qualify, and how officers must assess whether a foreign employer is genuinely operating in its home country; the most attention-grabbing change is the expansion of the applicant pool — beyond citizens of World Trade Organization (WTO) member nations and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand, permanent residents of Armenia and Switzerland are now eligible, broadening the reach of this LMIA-exempt short-term work permit pathway, which sits in Canada's International Mobility Program (IMP) under exemption code T33. At the same time, the new guidance splits eligible occupations into two formal groups with distinct contract requirements, explicitly disqualifies contracts signed through personnel placement or supply agencies, and uses far more direct language to require that the foreign service provider be a real, functioning business in its home country — meaning that if the foreign employer has a Canadian subsidiary, branch or affiliated entity, the contract will no longer qualify under GATS. Despite the wider tightening and clarification, the program's core rules — the 90-day cap within a 12-month window, the sectoral exclusions covering education, health-related, recreational, cultural and sports services, and the educational, licensing and professional-recognition requirements — remain unchanged, leaving the GATS Professionals pathway as one of the fastest legal routes for short-term cross-border service delivery into Canada.

On March 5, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new category-based Express Entry draw, issuing invitations to apply (ITAs) for the first time under the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category. A total of 250 ITAs were issued in this round, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 429. This category is one of three new occupational streams introduced when IRCC overhauled the Express Entry system in February 2026. Looking at the overall trend of Express Entry draws so far in 2026, IRCC has shown a clear preference for prioritizing immigration candidates already residing in Canada, particularly those with local work experience or provincial nominations.

Statistics Canada has launched a large-scale hiring campaign for the 2026 Census of Population, bringing on roughly 32,000 workers across Canada. Eligible applicants include work permit holders who meet residency and age requirements. The main openings are for enumerators and crew leaders, paid hourly with certain reimbursable expenses. For those planning to pursue permanent residence through Express Entry, some positions may provide supplemental Canadian work experience—but whether hours count toward the Canadian Experience Class depends on the role’s TEER level, NOC classification, and how closely actual duties align with NOC requirements.

In 2024, the Canadian federal government introduced several adjustments to its Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt work permit policies. These changes encompass Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP), New work permit for PNP nominee candidates, Updated instructions regarding ICTs under the IMP and more, aimed at optimizing immigration structures and managing the proportion of temporary residents. Below is a professional analysis of the key policy changes and their implications.

On October 3, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated guidelines concerning the Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) work permit category. These revisions introduce a more restrictive interpretation of the ICT category, significantly impacting foreign companies seeking to establish or expand operations in Canada.