Canada has extended foreign-worker hiring approvals to two years, while new restrictions will narrow access to some low-wage jobs from March 2027.
New Canada hiring rules will affect Kenyans seeking work or already working under the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme. The changes extend employer approval periods but also introduce restrictions on some low-wage jobs.
The Canadian government announced the revisions on November 6. Location-based restrictions will take effect from March 1, 2027.
Canada hiring rules extend approval periods
Canadian employers can now obtain Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approvals lasting up to two years. Previously, the maximum approval period was one year.
Employers generally need an LMIA before recruiting foreign workers. The approval shows that they could not find suitable Canadian citizens to fill the vacancies.
The longer approval period could therefore support longer employment timelines for Kenyans and other foreign workers. It also reduces the need for employers to seek fresh approval repeatedly.
However, the reforms also change access to low-wage recruitment in specified locations. Employers in those areas will face limits tied to occupations with identified labour shortages.
Low-wage restrictions and proposed hiring limits
From March 1, 2027, restrictions will apply in cities with populations above 250,000 and unemployment below six per cent. Employers there will have targeted access to foreign workers only for occupations facing labour shortages.
Similar restrictions will also cover metropolitan areas with populations between 100,000 and 250,000, alongside rural areas within larger metropolitan regions. As a result, Kenyans seeking low-wage work could face fewer options outside designated shortage occupations.
Meanwhile, the government proposes raising the foreign-worker hiring limit for eligible employers in selected towns. The proposed ceiling would increase from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of their workforce.
However, priority sectors, including healthcare, construction and food processing, will retain their existing 20 per cent limit.
Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu said the reforms aim to address genuine labour shortages while prioritising Canadians. She added that shortages in key sectors can constrain business growth and affect communities.
