Beyond the levels plan, Budget 2026 proposes to reform the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and to ask eTA applicants for a facial image. What we know so far.
Canada's federal budget, tabled on November 5, 2026, does more on immigration than set the 2027–2029 targets. It also proposes $151.5 million over five years to reform the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, a new requirement for visa-exempt travellers to submit a facial image with their electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) application, and new money for asylum processing. These are budget proposals: the budget gives no start dates or rule text for them yet, so nothing changes for applicants today.
What the budget proposes
The figures below are from the Department of Finance's Budget 2026 document (Chapter 3 and its measures table), published November 5, 2026.
| Measure | What the budget says | Funding proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program reform | Better align the program with regional labour market needs, with provinces and territories; improve processing times; strengthen employer compliance | $151.5 million over five years from 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada |
| Biometrics for eTA applicants | Expand fingerprint and facial-image screening to more travellers, including a new requirement for visa-exempt travellers applying for an eTA to submit a facial image remotely | About $90 million over five years for IRCC, partly offset by projected revenues |
| Asylum processing | Funding for the IRB, IRCC and CBSA to reduce asylum inventories | About $98 million over five years, partly from existing resources |
| Migrant Worker Support Program | Renewed funding for non-profits that help temporary foreign workers understand their rights | About $82 million over four years, to ESDC |
| One-time transition of temporary residents | Up to 200,000 temporary residents in Canada to become permanent residents by the end of 2027 | $302.3 million over four years from 2027-28 |
What the Temporary Foreign Worker Program reform means for now
The budget states the goals of the reform (regional fit, faster processing, stronger employer compliance) but not the rules. It does not say which streams, wage levels or Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements will change, or when. Until Employment and Social Development Canada publishes program changes, current LMIA rules apply. The budget also restates that the Global Talent Stream can process LMIAs in as few as 10 business days for employers in strategic sectors.
Who the eTA change would affect
An eTA is the online travel authorisation that visa-exempt travellers need before flying to Canada. Under the proposal, those applicants would also submit a facial image to verify identity and reduce fraud. It would not apply to people who already need a visitor visa, such as citizens of Iran and Vietnam, who already give biometrics at a visa application centre. No date or process has been announced.
Nothing in Budget 2026 changes how you apply today. The measures are proposals; IRCC and ESDC will announce any new requirement, with its start date, separately.
Other immigration points in the budget
- IRCC figures cited in the budget: new international student arrivals from January to August 2026 were 71% lower than in the same period of 2024, new worker arrivals 57% lower, and new asylum claims 68% lower.
- The government says it is developing a new high-impact startup pilot for entrepreneurs and innovators. No eligibility rules or application process have been published.
- Full details of the 2027–2029 Levels Plan will come with the Minister's 2026 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration.
What to do next
If you are an employer or a worker relying on an LMIA, plan on the current rules and watch for ESDC announcements; see our work permit page. For the permanent residence targets and the one-time 200,000 measure, read our 2027–2029 Levels Plan explainer. If you are planning a visit, check whether you need a visa or an eTA on our visitor visa page.
Budget measures can change before they are implemented, and none of them guarantees any application outcome or processing time. Source: Budget 2026, Chapter 3 (Department of Finance Canada, modified 2026-11-05).
Not sure how this applies to your situation? A licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) can review your profile with you.
