Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s
Forward Regulatory Plan

Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (changing employers process under the International Mobility Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program)

Enabling Acts: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Description

An amendment is being proposed to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations) to make permanent the changing employers process currently in place under the Temporary public policy to exempt foreign nationals in Canada from certain requirements when changing employment.

The proposal is to embed a streamlined changing employer process whereby temporary workers in Canada who have applied for a new work permit are authorized to start their job prior to the issuance of a new work permit within the Regulations. This would mean that workers in changing employer situations would benefit from the authority to work without a permit under the Regulations while awaiting a decision on their work permit application. Changes would also be made to provide that employers of workers who are working without a permit while changing employers are subject to the Employer Compliance Regime.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

Regulatory cooperation efforts are not required.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

The proposed regulatory changes would potentially impact businesses who recruit and employ temporary workers, as this change means that temporary workers with job offers can change employers in a more timely manner.

Consultations

The target date for pre-publication of the final amendments in the Canada Gazette, Part I, is Winter 2027, for a 30-day comment period.

The Temporary public policy to exempt foreign nationals in Canada from certain requirements when changing employment has been in place since May 2020 and has been well received by provinces and territories, and stakeholders who have expressed support for increased labour mobility and ability of temporary workers already in Canada to start work without delay.

The Department may further consult targeted stakeholders.

Further information

Additional information that supports this regulatory initiative can be requested from the departmental contact.

Departmental contact information

Korey McKinnon
Senior Director, Temporary Workers
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Email: IRCC.IMPProgramDesign-ConceptionduprogrammePMI.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan: July 16, 2025