Canada is expected to see a surge in undocumented immigrants as millions of work permits expire, with nearly half of those affected coming from India. Immigration consultant Kanwar Seirah told Hindustan Times that figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show that around 1,053,000 work permits have expired by the end of 2025, with another 927,000 due to expire in 2026.
As work permits expire, holders lose legal status unless they secure another visa or transition to permanent residency, Seirah said, adding that recent government measures have tightened those options, especially for temporary workers and international students.
Historical levels of non-status workers
Seirah warned that Canada has never faced such a high number of people leaving status. Nearly 315,000 expirations are expected in the first quarter of 2026 alone, which he says represents a significant bottleneck in the immigration system. By comparison, the last quarter of 2025 saw more than 291,000 expirations.
He estimated that at least two million people in Canada could be living without legal status by mid-2026, with Indians representing about half of that number. Seirah described the figure for Indians as a “very conservative estimate” and stressed that tens of thousands of study permits will also expire and many asylum applications may be rejected.
The impact is already emerging
According to Seirah, the growth of the unregistered population is already creating social problems in parts of the Greater Toronto Area, including Brampton and Caledon. Tent camps where undocumented people lived reportedly appeared in forested areas.
About Kanwar Seirah
Seirah, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) with Sierah Immigration, provides advice to those navigating Canada’s immigration pathways. His firm is based in Mississauga, Canada and has several offices in Punjab, India, including Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali.
He reportedly added that the IRCC data and government policy changes should serve as a warning to those on temporary visas.
Seirah emphasized that proactive planning and awareness are essential. The next two years could see an unprecedented number of undocumented immigrants in Canada, and new government measures may further complicate the situation for temporary residents, especially Indian nationals.
