Access accurate, up-to-date information on immigration policies, procedures, and resources for the tourism sector in Canada.
New Canadians fill nearly a third of tourism jobs
Immigrants are significantly represented in Canada’s tourism workforce. In 2023, Labour Force Survey data showed there were 2 million people in the tourism workforce; landed immigrants accounted for 32%. Of note, the food & beverage services industry is a top employer of newcomers: landed immigrants made up more than 1/3 of its workforce.
Tourism Workforce Immigration Strategy
Tourism HR Canada works with national and provincial/territorial partners to provide decision and policy makers with the latest data and context required to inform strategies on immigration as it relates to the tourism sector. Priorities include optimizing existing federal, provincial, and territorial immigration streams, and implementing a new, dedicated tourism immigration stream.
Track policy changes and advise on policy impact
Secure a reliable supply of immigrant workers to fulfil sustainable demand
Provide guidance and advice on immigration-related enquiries
Create resources and tools to attract and retain qualified talent
Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion
Latest Research
Tourism HR Canada routinely conducts and contributes to targeted labour market research and analyses on immigrants and immigration in the tourism sector.
The Role of Immigration Policy in Addressing Labour Shortages in the Tourism Sector
Explore the impacts of the policy changes and initiatives to help employers hire foreign workers.
Small Business, Big Impact: Immigrant Hiring and Integration in Five Canadian Cities
Examine how the labour and skill shortages facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in small and mid-sized Canadian cities can be more easily filled by newcomers to Canada.
Centre for Business Insights of Immigration
Tourism HR Canada is a founding funder of this leading research collective designed to strengthen employer engagement in immigration and effective management of immigrant talent.
Federal Immigration News
Government of Canada reduces immigration
October 24, 2024—Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan: a plan that will pause population growth in the short term to achieve well-managed, sustainable growth in the long term. For the first time ever, the levels plan includes controlled targets for temporary residents, specifically international students and foreign workers, as well as for permanent residents.
Minister Boissonnault announces further Temporary Foreign Worker Program reforms to better protect the Canadian labour market and workers
October 21, 2024—Effective November 8, 2024, the starting hourly wage for workers coming into Canada through the high-wage stream will be increased to 20% higher than its current level, which is the median wage in the applicable province or territory of work.
TFW Program Policies Now Available on Open Government Portal
October 9, 2024—The following Temporary Foreign Worker Program policies are now available on the Open Government portal: assessment of the effect on the labour market; Category B eligibility for Global Talent stream; development or transfer of skills and knowledge; employment agreement; recruitment fees; job creation and retention; and labour market benefits plan. Additional policies will be added soon.
Canada and Yukon partner to support workers through Territorial Nominee Program
October 1, 2024—A temporary measure will give new work permits to up to 215 temporary workers identified and supported by the Government of Yukon to continue working while they process their permanent residence applications under the Yukon Nominee Program.
Minister Boissonnault provides next steps on recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
September 18, 2024—The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program is designed as an extraordinary measure to be used only when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not able to fill job vacancies. Minister Boissonnault announced next steps and further details of the following changes that will become effective on September 26, 2024.
Government of Canada announces approval of provincial request for temporary freeze of low-wage occupations in Montréal under Temporary Foreign Worker Program
August 20, 2024—The Government of Canada announced the approval of a proposal by the Government of Quebec to temporarily refuse to process new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications for the TFW Program low-wage stream in the Montréal economic region.
Enhancing the vitality of Francophone communities by welcoming French-speaking international students and immigrants
August 14, 2024—The new Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program will be launched on August 26, 2024, in partnership with designated French-language and bilingual post-secondary learning institutions (DLIs).
Express Entry Year-End Report 2023: Fact sheet
August 8, 2024—Launched in January 2015, Express Entry (EE) is Canada’s flagship application management system for three federal high-skilled (FHS) permanent economic immigration programs. Express Entry is an effective tool to bring in workers with skills and attributes needed to respond to Canada’s evolving economic needs and help address labour market shortages.
Minister Boissonnault announces new measures to address fraud in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program
August 6, 2024—Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, outlined actions that are being implemented to reduce the use of temporary foreign workers in Canada and weed out misuse and fraud within the system.
Canada improves fairness for applicants by ending post-graduation work permit “flagpoling”
June 21, 2024—Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, effective immediately.
New measure to support skilled temporary workers in Manitoba
May 8, 2024—Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved Manitoba’s request to extend temporary resident status for potential nominees identified under the province’s Provincial Nominee Program who have work permits that will expire in 2024.
Canada to introduce new rules around off-campus work hours for international students
April 29, 2024—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has introduced reforms to the International Student Program, to ensure system integrity while protecting students from fraud and financial vulnerability.
Update on public-private college partnership programs for international students
March 22, 2024—International graduates of college programs delivered through a public-private curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit as of May 15, 2024.
Government of Canada to adjust temporary measures under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Workforce Solutions Road Map
March 21, 2024—With changing labour market conditions and declining job vacancies, the Government is adjusting the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure the program continues to only be used in cases where there are no workers here in Canada that can fill the necessary role.
Employer Resources and Toolkits
From navigating various immigration programs to tips on attracting and retaining internationally trained workers, these trusted resources will help employers at every stage of their journey to hire international talent.
Service Provider Organizations
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works with and funds a variety of organizations across Canada to ensure range of services for newcomers, available both before and after arrival in Canada.
Pre-Arrival Services
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers services to assist those preparing to move to Canada, from general information about life in Canada to settlement services to employment and mentoring services.
Newcomer Services in Canada
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funds a range of services for those who are newcomers to Canada. Access this online database to search for free settlement programs across the country.
Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Partners
Through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) partners with select non-government organizations across Canada. These partners offer a range of services, including connecting skilled refugees and other qualified displaced people with Canadian employers interested in hiring them.
