Immigration Barriers Removed for Construction Workers to Meet High Demand

These programs have been introduced in response to significant demand for construction workers in Canada, particularly for housing projects.  

Key Takeaways 

• Certain trades professionals will be able to complete an apprenticeship in Canada without a study permit.  

• Out-of-status construction workers in Canada will be given a pathway to regularization and permanent resident status.  

• These pathways do not resolve the issues many construction professionals are currently facing when it comes to qualifying to stay in Canada as permanent residents, due to the extremely high competition in the Canadian Experience Class immigration program. 

No Study Permits Required for Certain Trades Apprentices  

Apprentices in certain trades occupations can complete their training in Canada without a study permit from February 26, 2025. The program may remain open until February 26, 2027 – but bear in mind that it can be revoked earlier. The public policy can be revoked, without warning, at any time, but we would typically only see this if demand is extremely high for the program or if demand for construction workers decreases in Canada.  

To be eligible, you need a valid work permit, to have a job offer in an eligible occupation (listed below), and for the apprenticeship to be registered with the relevant provincial or territorial authority.  

The eligible occupations, and the National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes include:  

TEER 0 

NOC 70010 – Construction managers 

NOC 70011 – Home building and renovation managers 

TEER 1 

NOC 21300 – Civil engineers 

TEER 2 

NOC 22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians 

NOC 22303 – Construction estimators 

NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers 

NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators 

NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system) 

NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians 

NOC 72300 – Plumbers 

NOC 72310 – Carpenters 

NOC 72311 – Cabinetmakers 

NOC 72320 – Bricklayers 

NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics 

NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics 

NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics 

NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics 

NOC 72501 – Water well drillers 

TEER 3 

NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers 

NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers 

NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) 

NOC 73113 – Floor covering installers 

Regularization for Out-Of-Status Construction Workers 

More than 1,365 permanent residents were admitted through the out-of-status construction workers pathway, originally launched in 2020 as a temporary public policy and subsequently extended. This now-expired program offered out-of-status construction workers in Toronto a pathway to permanent residency. It has widely been deemed a success, and the planned program announced today builds on that program.  

“These undocumented migrants are already living and working in Canada, and are contributing to the sector, and this pathway will keep them here legally so that they can continue to build the homes our economy and communities need with the proper protections.” – IRCC News Release from March 7, 2025. 

This program is not yet open and specific eligibility criteria are not available. More details will be announced at a later, unspecified date. 

Construction Professionals Still Facing Immigration Challenges 

Unfortunately, these programs won’t solve all the issues construction professionals face in Canada’s immigration system. For instance, these policies won’t help many construction professionals who have come to Canada on a temporary work permit and who have been living and working in Canada. Many of these workers are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream via Express Entry, but do not have the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores needed to receive an invitation in the exceptionally competitive rounds we’re seeing.  

The high-competition environment is disheartening for the workers who can’t get permanent status in Canada. Quite frankly it’s also a deterrent for employers who have invested in hiring and training foreign construction professionals who now do not have a straightforward pathway to become permanent residents, unless they can boost their points by other means such as by learning French. 

We hope to see additional programs for trades workers announced in the future to address these issues.