As of June 25, 2026.
Canada does not have an H-1B visa. The H-1B is a United States work visa, and the phrase "Canada H-1B visa" usually points to the open work permit Canada offered H-1B holders in 2023, which closed within a day of opening. That program is no longer accepting applications, and interest has surged again because the United States added a US$100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions in September 2025. This guide explains what happened to Canada's H-1B work permit, whether it will return, and the routes that are open to H-1B holders right now.
Who this is for: H-1B visa holders in the United States who are weighing a move to Canada, and Canadian employers who want to hire them.
Is there a Canada H-1B visa?
Short answer: No. Canada has no visa called the H-1B. The H-1B is a United States specialty-occupation work visa issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). When people search for a "Canada H-1B visa," they usually mean one of two things: the special open work permit Canada ran for H-1B holders in 2023, or the general Canadian work permits and permanent-residence programs a skilled worker can use to move north. Both are covered below. The short version is that Canada admits skilled workers through work permits and the Express Entry permanent-residence system, not through an H-1B equivalent.
Is Canada's H-1B work permit still open?
Short answer: No, it closed in 2023. On July 16, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a special open work permit for H-1B visa holders, valid for up to three years, with study or work permits available to accompanying family members. IRCC set a cap of 10,000 principal-applicant applications, and that cap was reached on July 17, 2023, one day after launch. The program has not reopened. According to IRCC data released under the Access to Information Act (request A-2025-73938), this measure and its related family public policy ran at roughly a 96 percent approval rate, with processing times of about 159 to 173 days. People who already hold the permit can still apply to extend it. IRCC sets out the closed program on its H-1B visa holder work permit page.
What sparked the renewed interest in 2026?
Short answer: A large new United States fee on H-1B petitions. On September 19, 2025, the United States issued a presidential proclamation, "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers," that added a US$100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions for workers outside the United States, effective September 21, 2025. USCIS later clarified that the fee applies to new petitions only, not to extensions, renewals, or petitions filed before September 21, and that it is set to last 12 months unless extended. The cost and uncertainty pushed many H-1B holders and their employers to look north, which is why searches for a "Canada H-1B visa" climbed sharply through late 2025. The United States position is set out on the USCIS H-1B FAQ.
Will Canada reopen the H-1B pathway in 2026?
Short answer: An accelerated pathway is planned, but it is not open yet. Canada committed in its 2025 federal budget to launch an accelerated work permit pathway for H-1B holders, as part of a broader strategy to attract global technology talent. As of June 2026, IRCC has not opened that pathway or published its eligibility rules, an application date, or a cap. Treat any "apply now" claim about it with caution, and confirm the status on official IRCC pages before you act. Until it opens, the routes in the next section are the real options for moving to Canada.
What are the current options for H-1B holders to move to Canada?
Short answer: Several work-permit and permanent-residence routes are open right now. The right one depends on your employer, your occupation, and whether you want a temporary work permit or permanent residence. A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a labour-market test that some work permits require, and the table notes where it applies. The Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories rank occupations by skill level, with TEER 0 and 1 covering management and degree-level roles.
| Route | Who it fits | LMIA needed? | Speed |
|---|
| Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) | Your US employer has a Canadian parent, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary | No, LMIA-exempt | Work permit, often weeks |
| Global Talent Stream | High-skill workers in TEER 0 or 1 with a Canadian job offer in an eligible occupation | Yes, but expedited | Two-week target for the work permit |
| Express Entry | Skilled workers seeking permanent residence, with or without a job offer | No | Months, points-based |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | Workers a province selects, often in technology | Varies | Months |
| Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) professional | Mexican citizens who hold an H-1B and work in a covered profession | No | Work permit, often weeks |
Each route has its own eligibility rules, and many H-1B holders qualify for more than one. The fastest temporary options are usually the Intra-Company Transfer for a move within the same company, and the Global Talent Stream for a new Canadian employer.
How does the Global Talent Stream work for H-1B holders?
Short answer: It is Canada's fast lane for skilled technology hires. The Global Talent Stream, part of the Global Skills Strategy, lets eligible employers hire high-skill foreign workers with a two-week processing target for the work permit. It is built for occupations on the Global Talent Occupations List, which is dominated by technology and engineering roles, and for unique, specialized talent referred by a designated partner. For an H-1B holder who has a Canadian job offer in a qualifying role, this is often the quickest way to start working in Canada. IRCC explains the employer and worker requirements on its Global Skills Strategy page.
Can H-1B holders get Canadian permanent residence?
Short answer: Yes, mainly through Express Entry and the provinces. Express Entry manages applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. It scores candidates on age, education, language, and work experience, and many H-1B holders score well because they are educated and experienced in skilled occupations. Canadian work experience and a valid job offer can raise that score. Provincial Nominee Programs add another route, with several provinces running technology-focused streams. Canada has also signalled a streamlined permanent-residence transition for a large group of work permit holders across 2026 and 2027, though the rules for H-1B holders specifically are not yet confirmed. Plan the permanent-residence step early, because a work permit is usually the bridge, not the destination.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Canada H-1B Visa
These are the questions H-1B holders raise most often when they look at Canada. The core point holds: Canada has no H-1B visa, the 2023 work permit is closed, and an accelerated pathway is planned but not yet open.
Will Canada open its H-1B work permit again? Canada has committed to an accelerated work permit pathway for H-1B holders, but as of June 2026 it is not open and IRCC has not released eligibility rules or a start date. Watch the official IRCC pages for the launch rather than third-party "apply now" pages.
What is the $100,000 H-1B rule? It is a United States fee, not a Canadian one. A September 2025 US proclamation added a US$100,000 charge on new H-1B petitions for workers abroad, which is part of why interest in Canada rose.
Is Canada inviting H-1B visa holders? Canada has said it wants to attract global technology talent, including H-1B holders. For now that interest runs through the existing work-permit and Express Entry routes, not a dedicated open intake.
Does the Canada H-1B visa have a cost? There is no Canadian H-1B visa, so there is no H-1B fee in Canada. You pay the standard Canadian work-permit or permanent-residence fees for whichever route you use.
How can a licensed immigration consultant help an H-1B holder move to Canada?
Short answer: By matching you to the route you actually qualify for. Go Far Global is a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm in Toronto, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). We assess whether an Intra-Company Transfer, the Global Talent Stream, Express Entry, or a provincial program is the fastest fit for your job and your goals, and we help you steer clear of the "apply now" traps around a pathway that has not opened. Book a consultation to map your options.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change, and both the United States fee and Canada's planned pathway are still developing. Confirm the current rules for your situation with a licensed RCIC and on the official IRCC website before you act.
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Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
