Apply Now: Canada To Admit 230,000 Ghanaians and Other Foreign Workers in 2026

• Canada's federal government has set a target of 230,000 temporary foreign workers across two major work permit programmes in 2026
• New rules could allow employers operating multiple small locations to hire more low-wage temporary foreign workers than previously permitted
• The International Mobility Program accounts for 170,000 of the projected intake and does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment

Canada has announced plans to bring in up to 230,000 temporary foreign workers through two major permit pathways in 2026, according to the country's federal immigration levels plan.

The total is split between 60,000 placements under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and 170,000 through the International Mobility Program (IMP).

The figures represent a significant opportunity for foreign nationals, including Ghanaians and others, who meet the relevant immigration and employment criteria.

New calculation rules for employers

Alongside the intake targets, Employment and Social Development Canada updated the TFWP's workforce calculation rules on 18 August 2026, potentially expanding how many low-wage temporary foreign workers certain employers can take on.

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Under the previous framework, most employers could not have low-wage temporary foreign workers exceed 10 per cent of their total national workforce, rising to 20% in in-demand sectors such as healthcare, construction and food production.

The revised approach now allows qualifying employers to assess workforce composition at individual work locations rather than across their entire operation.

This adjustment could be especially relevant for businesses running several small sites. A restaurant chain, a group of care facilities or a construction company with multiple sites could each evaluate worker limits per location.

At any qualifying location with fewer than 10 employees, an employer may bring in one low-wage temporary foreign worker. Those operating in designated in-demand sectors may hire up to two workers per small qualifying location.

The calculation covers full-time and part-time staff, approved workers yet to begin, and vacant positions under an active Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application. Part-time employees working fewer than 30 hours weekly are counted as half a worker for the purposes of the calculation.

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LMIA requirement and restrictions remain in place

The updated rules do not remove the core obligations attached to the TFWP. Employers must still secure a positive or neutral LMIA before proceeding with any low-wage hire.

The LMIA process is intended to confirm that no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to fill the role.

Additional employer responsibilities remain unchanged. These include covering workers' return travel costs, arranging suitable accommodation and providing private health insurance where provincial or territorial coverage does not extend to the worker.

Since September 2024, low-wage LMIA applications have generally not been processed for positions in urban areas where the unemployment rate exceeds six per cent, a restriction that continues to apply.

IMP remains the dominant pathway

The International Mobility Program accounts for the larger share of Canada's 2026 foreign worker target. At 170,000 placements, it dwarfs the TFWP's allocation and operates without a mandatory LMIA requirement. Workers entering through the IMP are typically those whose employment is considered to generate broader economic, cultural or other benefits for Canada.

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The combined 230,000 figure underlines the scale of Canada's continued reliance on temporary foreign labour to meet gaps across its economy.

Canada lists 4 visa red flags for foreigners

In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that Canada had issued a public warning to visa applicants.

The advisory outlined four specific warning signs that applicants should be aware of.

Source: YEN.com.gh