Canada manages immigration shifts in work permits and citizenship

Canada is facing significant administrative pressure within its immigration systems. The federal government has extended the grace period for Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) applicants. Under the new rules, in-Canada work permit applicants have 90 days—up from 60—to provide proof of a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) following their initial submission. This extension aims to prevent foreign workers from losing work authorization while waiting for LMIA processing.

Simultaneously, Canada is experiencing a massive surge in citizenship applications. The queue for proof of Canadian citizenship has reached approximately 121,800 pending applications, causing processing times to double from 12 to 25 months. This spike is largely attributed to Bill C-3, the “Lost Canadians” law, which allows individuals with an unbroken line to a Canadian ancestor to claim citizenship. The influx has exceeded government forecasts and is placing increased demand on genealogical archives and immigration services.