Highlights: The year 2022 saw the highest number of work permits issuance in Canada
- Canada issued 608,420 work permits in 2022
- Under IMP, the country welcomed 472,070 work permits and
- 136,350 permits were issued under TFWP
- TFWP lets employers in Canada issue work permits in response to labor shortages in Canada
- IMP is there to promote the broad economic, social, and cultural policy objectives of Canada
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The year 2022 saw a record number of 608,420 Canadian work permits, compared to 2021, with only 414,000 permits.
International Mobility Program (IMP)
Canada was issuing work permits through two pathways - the International Mobility Program (IMP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Under IMP, the country welcomed 472,070 work permits, and 136,350 permits were issued under TFWP.
What are IMP and TFWP?
Both these pathways issue temporary foreign workers work permits to live and work in Canada. However, there is a significant difference between both these. The TFWP lets employers in Canada issue work permits in response to labor shortages in Canada. And the IMP is there to promote Canada's broad economic, social, and cultural policy objectives.
Number of permits issued under IMP
In 2022, the International Mobility Program (IMP) saw the most permits coming from the following streams:
| Streams | Percentage of the total work permits issued |
| Medical residents and fellows, and post-graduate employment applicants | 36% |
| Charitable or religious workers | 29% |
| Other IMP participants | 8% |
| Spouses of skilled workers | 5% |
| Post-doctoral Ph.D. fellows and award recipients | 4% |
| Intra-company transfers | 2% |
| The International Experience Canada (IEC) program | 2% |
Number of permits issued under TFWP
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) saw the most permits coming from the flowing streams for the same year:
| Streams | Percentage of the total work permits issued |
| Agriculture workers | 51% |
| Other temporary foreign workers with an LMIA | 46% |
| Live-in caregivers | 2% |
| Caregivers | 2% |
Province wise list of work permits issued
The below table shows the number of work permits issued by various Canadian provinces:
| Canadian Provinces | Number of Work Permit holders |
| Ontario | 221,280 |
| British Columbia | 102,845 |
| Quebec | 89,765 |
| Alberta | 43,550 |
| Manitoba | 19,765 |
| Nova Scotia | 12,645 |
| Saskatchewan | 10,550 |
| New Brunswick | 9,640 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 4,210 |
| Prince Edward Island | 3,840 |
| Northwest Territories | 260 |
| Nunavut | 60 |
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Web Story: For the first time in Canada's history, 608,420 work permits issued in a year