Germany Joins Poland, Sweden, Italy, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, and More Than Thirty-Seven Countries in Facing Tough Travel Obstacles as Canada Tightens International Experience Programme due to the introduction of stricter immigration measures by the Canadian government. On 1 February 2026, Canada implemented changes to its International Experience Canada (IEC) programme and work-permit policies, creating significant challenges for citizens of over thirty-seven European countries. While the new rules prioritize workers in critical sectors like healthcare and agriculture, they also add complexity and delays for many who seek temporary employment opportunities in Canada. These changes are part of Canada’s broader strategy to address specific labour shortages while controlling the volume of temporary workers entering the country.

Canada’s immigration system, particularly the International Experience Canada (IEC) programme, has undergone significant changes. Effective from 1 February 2026, the Canadian government introduced stricter measures, causing ripple effects across Europe. While the Canadian authorities have implemented an expedited processing system for employer-specific work permits, the new measures have led to growing obstacles for many countries in Europe. Germany, Poland, Sweden, Italy, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, and over thirty-seven more countries now face challenging travel restrictions due to these changes.

Understanding the New Canada Immigration Measures: A Game Changer for Europeans

The International Experience Canada (IEC) programme, a vital pathway for young Europeans seeking work experience in Canada, has traditionally been a lifeline for youth mobility and global job seekers. However, the new rules have raised concerns among applicants and employers, especially those from 37 European countries, who now find it more difficult to navigate the process.

The changes are part of Canada’s broader initiative to control the flow of temporary workers, streamline visa processing, and better align its immigration system with economic priorities, focusing on labour shortages in specific sectors, especially in healthcare and agriculture. These newly implemented policies are being closely observed by European countries that rely on the IEC programme and other work-permit pathways to send their citizens to Canada.

While the new priority work-permit processing measure aims to speed up approval for critical sectors like healthcare and agri-food industries, it also introduces more hurdles for the general population, particularly for European countries like Germany, Spain, Sweden, and others. The increased processing time, the more stringent visa approval requirements, and the limitation on open work permits are factors contributing to the growing frustration.

Countries Impacted by Canada’s Stricter IEC and Work Permit Measures

Under the new guidelines, applicants from over thirty-seven European countries face tighter restrictions and a more challenging immigration process. The tightening of rules is aimed at preventing an influx of workers who don’t align with Canada’s priority sectors, like healthcare, agriculture, and technology.

The list of affected countries includes:

• Germany
• Poland
• Sweden
• Italy
• Norway
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• France
• Austria
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Finland
• Ireland
• Portugal
• Greece
• Czech Republic
• Luxembourg
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Estonia
• Hungary
• Romania
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Poland
• Hungary
• Cyprus
• Malta
• Switzerland
• Iceland
• Andorra
• Monaco

As part of the priority NOC code process, these nations have been directly impacted by the policy, especially those with less specific alignment to the country’s current labour shortages in healthcare, agriculture, and other essential sectors.

How Canada’s New Work Permit Rules Affect European Job Seekers

For job seekers from these countries, the tightened rules have created uncertainty and delays. The International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits—along with other employer-specific work permits—have traditionally been an avenue for many young Europeans to gain work experience in Canada. However, with the new work-permit processing changes in place, applicants are now facing increased pressure.

Speed of Processing

Previously, the application process for employer-specific work permits, including Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) based permits, could take weeks, but the new priority processing channel is expected to reduce the waiting time to days for applications tied to priority occupations like healthcare and agriculture. While this is a step forward for industries like healthcare, the healthcare and agri-food sectors have been feeling the pressure due to a growing demand for foreign workers. But for many job seekers, the global slowdown in immigration, combined with more stringent rules and restricted quotas, means they will find it difficult to gain entry into Canada.

Job Offer Requirement

The requirement for employers to issue specific job offers is more important than ever. For European applicants, it means more paperwork and documentation to show alignment with Canada’s national labour priorities. Employers in Europe are now being more selective in their recruiting efforts, limiting their choices of foreign workers to those who meet the exact National Occupational Classification (NOC) code requirements. If applicants do not meet these standards or fail to list the right NOC code on their application forms, their application may not even be considered for the priority processing lane.

Impact on Temporary Work Programs

The LMIA process, which many European workers rely on to get their employer-specific work permits in Canada, remains subject to the prevailing wage and advertising rules in place. Employers still must meet these requirements, ensuring that foreign workers are not hired at a wage lower than what Canadians would expect for the same job. It means that Europeans hoping to secure jobs in Canada must ensure that their applications meet these standards and may face additional scrutiny before approval.

What Does This Mean for Employers in Affected European Countries?

For employers in affected countries, the new restrictions mean they may face delays and increased complexity in finding the right workers. The new rules make it crucial for employers to carefully check the NOC code associated with the job offer. Employers will also need to assure compliance with all elements of the LMIA, which includes showing that local hiring efforts were exhausted before offering positions to foreign workers.

The priority NOC codes related to healthcare, agriculture, and other key sectors are a critical focus. Employers in these areas must be particularly diligent in ensuring their job offers are clear, and they must ensure that every candidate aligns with the precise NOC code listed on the official Labour Market Impact Assessment.

This is a challenge for many businesses in these European countries who are relying on Canada’s workforce to fill in labour gaps across industries like agriculture, healthcare, and technology. Employers need to be more strategic when looking for candidates in these highly competitive markets.

Canada’s New Work-Permit Measures: What Job Seekers Need to Know

For European job seekers, especially those from countries like Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, the new travel obstacles are likely to make the process of securing a work visa in Canada much more challenging.

1. Check NOC Codes:
   Applicants should ensure their job titles match the NOC codes listed on the priority occupations list. If they don’t align, they may face long delays in their applications.
2. Cover Letter Importance:
   A detailed cover letter pointing to the specific NOC code that aligns with the job offer and the applicant’s skills will improve chances for priority processing.
3. Express Entry Advantage:
   Workers in the priority occupations will have the opportunity to qualify for Express Entry faster, gaining access to permanent residency if they successfully complete a certain amount of work experience in Canada.
4. Employer Documentation:
   To expedite the process, both applicants and their Canadian employers must ensure that all documentation is submitted correctly, and that the NOC code is listed accurately throughout.

The Bigger Picture: How These Changes Reflect Canada’s Immigration Strategy

The tightening of the International Experience Canada programme and the increased scrutiny for work permits are a part of Canada’s broader effort to refine its immigration system. The changes reflect a long-term strategic vision focused on meeting the needs of the Canadian workforce while maintaining tight control over the volume of temporary foreign workers.

Canada’s focus is on welcoming immigrants who can address immediate labour shortages, particularly in essential sectors such as healthcare and agriculture, rather than opening the floodgates to anyone seeking work. This policy shift highlights the growing reliance on immigration to fill gaps in these key industries.

As Germany, Spain, Italy, and other European countries face these tough new travel obstacles, it’s clear that Canada’s immigration landscape is changing. The priority work-permit processing lane offers hope for those in critical sectors, but it’s also creating a bottleneck for others. Europeans who are seeking a temporary work experience in Canada must adapt to the new rules and ensure that they meet all the necessary requirements, especially the NOC codes.

Germany Joins Poland, Sweden, Italy, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, and More Than Thirty-Seven Countries in Facing Tough Travel Obstacles as Canada Tightens International Experience Programme due to the introduction of stricter work-permit regulations aimed at addressing urgent labour shortages in key sectors like healthcare and agriculture. These changes, effective from February 1, 2026, have created significant barriers for many European job seekers hoping to work in Canada.

This evolving system promises speedier processing for priority sectors, but it also underscores the importance of getting everything right in the application process. The tightening of rules for other work permits, coupled with these restrictions, suggests Canada’s immigration policies will continue to evolve with a focus on addressing domestic needs first and foremost.