Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Plan: New Rules for Low-Skilled Workers, Temporary Foreign Workers, and Pathways to Permanent Residency
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Reforms: Key Changes for Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Plan
Employers looking to hire low-skilled Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) in Canada under the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan must adhere to updated requirements:
– Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Fees: A mandatory $1,000 LMIA fee applies per position. Exemptions exist for on-farm agriculture roles and caregivers assisting individuals with medical needs or childcare (household income ≤$150,000).
– Recruitment Requirements: Employers must complete at least three recruitment activities, including a mandatory Job Bank advertisement. Charging recruitment fees to workers is strictly prohibited, reinforcing fair hiring practices.
– Caps on Low-Wage TFW Positions: A 10% cap applies to low-wage TFWs per worksite, with a higher 20% cap for construction, food manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Employers with fewer than 10 staff may hire 1–2 TFWs. Agricultural positions and short-term roles (≤120 days) are exempt from caps, offering flexibility for seasonal industries.
Canada’s Reduced Targets for Temporary Residents: Immigration Plan Highlights
– Temporary Resident Arrival Caps: Canada will limit new arrivals to 673,650 (2025), 516,600 (2026), and 543,600 (2027). International students are expected to make up 45%–59% of the total.
– Population Cap Strategy: Canada aims to reduce temporary residents to no more than 5% of its total population by 2026, down from 6.2% in 2023. This reduction aligns with efforts to balance economic needs with sustainable immigration policies.
Pathways to Permanent Residency for Low-Skilled Workers in Canada
– In-Canada Transitions: Canada will prioritize converting temporary residents already in Canada (including TFWs and international students) into permanent residents, with over 40% of 2025 admissions reserved for these groups.
– Sectoral Focus: The Federal Economic Priorities stream emphasizes key industries like healthcare, skilled trades, and agriculture, which will receive 62% of economic-class permanent resident admissions by 2027. This creates significant opportunities for low-skilled workers seeking long-term settlement in Canada.
Sector-Specific Immigration Measures in Canada’s 2025–2027 Plan
– Caregiver Pathways: New caregiver pilots launching in 2025 will offer permanent residency on arrival for home care workers, including part-time and temporary roles for semi-independent individuals.
– Agricultural Workers: On-farm primary agriculture roles remain exempt from caps and LMIA fees, helping meet critical labor demands in Canada’s agriculture sector.
– Seasonal Industries: Employers in industries with predictable labor demand fluctuations (e.g., tourism) may hire low-wage TFWs for up to 270 days per year, ensuring flexibility for seasonal needs.
Enforcement, Compliance, and Worker Protections in Canada’s Immigration Plan
– Strengthened Enforcement: Canada will implement stricter penalties for employers and recruiters who exploit workers, including potential LMIA revocation and business sanctions.
– Business Legitimacy: Employers must prove their business operations are legitimate, including providing payroll records to confirm compliance with hiring caps and fair treatment of workers.
Summary of Key Changes: Canada’s Low-Skilled Immigration Pathways (2025–2027)
– LMIA fee set at $1,000 per application; exemptions for caregivers and agricultural roles.
– Employers must conduct 3 recruitment activities, including Job Bank posting; no fees to be charged to workers.
– 10% cap on low-wage TFWs per worksite; 20% cap applies to construction, healthcare, and food manufacturing.
– 40% of PR admissions will be allocated to in-Canada temporary residents (TFWs, international students).
– Healthcare, skilled trades, and agriculture are priority sectors for permanent residency pathways.
