Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that as ofDecember 13, 2016, a foreign temporary worker application in progress isno longer subject to this cumulative-duration rule, whether it is workwith a permit 'R200' or without a permit 'R186'.
 
Canadian immigration law generally provides that, "An officer shall not issue a work permit to a foreign national if" among other things "the foreign national has worked in Canada for one or more periods totalling four years." 
 
However, officers must continue to be satisfied that other requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations are met, along with other eligibility criteria, such as the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment.