The Government of Canada has launched a temporary measure aimed at helping Quebec retain skilled workers transitioning to permanent residency. Eligible workers invited by Quebec to submit a permanent selection application can obtain an employer-specific work permit valid for up to 12 additional months. This initiative, under the International Mobility Program, provides Quebec authorities extra time to assess workers' eligibility for the Quebec Selection Certificate before they apply for permanent residence.
This measure targets workers who hold or recently held employer-specific permits expiring by December 31, 2026, facilitating a smoother pathway to permanent residence with expedited processing available through IRCC. It aligns with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which seeks to prioritize transitions from temporary to permanent status for up to 33,000 work permit holders over two years.
Alongside this, federal efforts continue to address rural labor shortages, allowing certain provinces and territories to retain and modestly increase the share of low-wage temporary foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program between April 2026 and March 2027. These targeted measures support Canada's goal to reduce the temporary resident population to under 5% by the end of 2027, while meeting economic and labor market needs across regions.
Original Source
canada.ca