Canada has tightened the screws on foreign workers, introducing tougher rules that could shut thousands out of one of its easiest work permit routes.
Under new guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only people who already have jobs with companies outside Canada will qualify for the C20 reciprocal employment work permit.
The new policy shuts the door on applicants hoping to secure employment only after arriving in Canada, making them ineligible for the popular permit.
According to IRCC, the C20 programme is meant to encourage the exchange of skills and expertise between Canadian employers and overseas companies. Officials insist applicants must already have an active employment relationship with a foreign employer before applying.
The C20 permit has long been a fast-track option because it allows eligible foreign workers to bypass the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a key requirement for many other work permits. It is widely used by multinational firms, universities, government agencies and international non-profit organisations to move skilled staff across borders.
Although Canada has broadened its definition of reciprocity—allowing global companies to prove they offer similar opportunities to Canadians across their international offices—the stricter eligibility rules are expected to knock out many would-be applicants.
Foreign workers who no longer qualify under the C20 route may now be forced to apply through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, where employers must first obtain an LMIA before hiring them.
That process is slower, more expensive and comes with extra restrictions, especially in regions with higher unemployment.
The latest immigration clampdown is expected to impact thousands of foreign workers and international organisations that depend on reciprocal employment arrangements to bring skilled professionals into Canada.
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