Why has obtaining a work permit become more difficult and why has the rejection rate increased recently?

Amidst Canada's tightening of temporary immigration policies, the Work Permit rejection rate has increased. However, if rejected, you still have a chance to recover through two main methods: requesting IRCC Reconsideration or reapplying with a carefully adjusted strategy.

Why are work permits becoming more difficult to obtain and why is the rejection rate increasing?

According to IRCC's Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027: The number of work permits targeted will decrease from approximately 470,000 (2024) to 367,750 (2025) – a decrease of over 22%. The number of study permits (for international students) will also decrease by nearly 45%. (Source: Canada.ca)

The main reason the government wants to cut costs:

• Reduce pressure on housing and infrastructure in major cities.
• Prioritize sectors with labor shortages (healthcare, construction, technology).
• Tighten temporary residency requirements to ensure WP applicants return when their visa expires.

Consequence: IRCC has become more stringent in its review process, and rejection rates have increased across the system, even for applications professionally prepared by lawyers.

Work Permits are different from Permanent Residency: They don't require "Procedural Fairness."

It is important to note that since the WP application is for temporary residence, IRCC is not required to send a "Procedural Fairness" letter before refusing the application.

The decision to reject a Work Permit application depends on the officer's subjective assessment or changes in regulations and criteria at the time. This means that a Work Permit application may be rejected due to qualitative assessment or pressure to meet quotas, but this does not mean that the person is ineligible for PR in the future.

PR (permanent residency) applications are processed differently, with requirements for fairness and a higher level of legal protection.

Reconsideration Request: When should you request one?

You request a review of your application if you believe the reviewing officer made an error (e.g., omitted documents, misassessed information). In this case, you need to gather clear evidence from the original application showing that the rejection decision was unjustified. However, IRCC is not legally obligated to accept this request, and it is mostly successful only if there is a genuine administrative error on the part of the officer.

Reapply for a new Work Permit.

This is a common and effective approach, provided you can add more compelling evidence and documentation than the initial application. A stronger application preparation method: Thoroughly analyze the reasons for rejection (GCMS Notes):

• Request GCMS notes to view detailed comments from the review officer.
• This allows us to know exactly which aspects IRCC is concerned about (financial, return obligations, experience, etc.).
• Strengthen evidence of ties to the country of origin: Employment contracts in the country of origin, property ownership, dependent family members, business activities in the home country.
• The letter should clearly explain the plan to return if the WP expires.
• Provide additional transparent financial documentation:
  • Bank statements for the past 6 months, with clear and legitimate sources of funds.
  • If supported by the employer, provide the employment contract and a letter confirming initial financial support.
  • Strengthen the connection between work and experience/education:
  • Demonstrate experience that matches the job offer and the Canadian labor market.
  • Submit additional reference letters from previous companies.
  • Provide a clear explanation via Letter of Explanation (LoE): Write a detailed explanation letter, directly addressing the points raised by IRCC in the rejection letter.
  • If possible, add factors that increase credibility:
  • English/French language certificates (IELTS, TEF) are not mandatory, although they are required.
  • A valid travel history (US visa, Schengen visa, etc.) helps increase trust.

Reconsideration or Resubmission: There are no absolute guarantees.

Even if you revise your application to be more complete or submit a Reconsideration request, IRCC still has the right to reject it based on criteria and qualitative assessment. This shows that in addition to a good application strategy, you need to have a sense of the right time to apply, in order to avoid periods when IRCC is most stringent.