Genuineness of the job offer (Sept 17). IRCC has substantially rewritten its officer instructions for assessing whether a job offer is genuine on work permit applications. The instructions now separate the IMP and TFWP assessment steps. They add a procedural fairness process for getting information directly from the employer when genuineness is in doubt, and they address how officers handle extrinsic information. Expect more direct employer contact, so prepare employer client

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has updated its guidance for Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) applications, allowing applicants to submit their forms, supporting documents and written submissions online through Canada Post Connect. IRCC encourages applicants to use the online option rather than mail, noting that electronic submissions are received immediately and can allow an eligible stay of removal to be registered faster. Applicants must first receive a PRRA

On September 28, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry draw #445 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 733 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), and the round’s cut-off score was 725 points, nine points fewer than in the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 17, 2026, at 01:36:17 UTC. As of September 27, 229,904 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool.

Canadians made 342 million domestic trips and 14.3 million overseas visits in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, according to new data from Statistics Canada. Travel to the United States declined significantly, dropping to 23.1 million visits, largely driven by a 21.5% drop in leisure and recreation trips. Overseas travel increased, with Mexico, the Dominican Republic, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy ranking as the top international destinations for Canadian travelle

On September 24, 2026, the Government of British Columbia conducted new draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Programs (BCPNP). The province held the largest draw under the High Economic Impact pathway and issued invitations to apply to 714 skilled candidates with the potential to create a high economic impact in the province. The selection criteria targeted two distinct groups: 426 candidates in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions earning a minimum wage of $52 per

Canada's population reached an estimated 41,798,407 on July 1, 2026, according to the latest quarterly demographic estimates from Statistics Canada. The population grew by 80,343 people, or 0.2%, during the second quarter of 2026. Permanent immigration served as the primary growth driver, adding 99,148 newcomers to the country, while the population of non-permanent residents decreased by 18,875 due to fewer international study and work permit holders. Natural increase contrib

New Brunswick published the results of its recent draws using an expression of interest system to streamline immigration applications for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). From September 10 to September 18, 2026, the province conducted four new draws and issued 610 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream – Employment in New Brun

Canada's population reached an estimated 41,798,407 on July 1, 2026, according to the latest quarterly demographic estimates from Statistics Canada. The population grew by 80,343 people, or 0.2%, during the second quarter of 2026. Permanent immigration served as the primary growth driver, adding 99,148 newcomers to the country, while the population of non-permanent residents decreased by 18,875 due to fewer international study and work permit holders. Natural increase contrib

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its operational instructions to clarify eligibility criteria under the temporary public policy (TPP) exempting select in-Canada applicants from completing an Immigration Medical Examination (IME). Operating until October 5, 2029, the policy permits applicants residing in Canada who completed an IME within the five years prior to submitting their application to provide their previous IME or Unique Medical Identifi

Manitoba: EOI Draw #279 (September 10) issued 233 Letters of Advice to Apply to profiles in Broad Occupational Category 3 (Health occupations) and to candidates whose MPNP language of communication is French with a valid French test result; a further 508 LAAs went to top-scoring profiles where the applicant or spouse completed Manitoba post-secondary education, at a ranking score of 825 for the lowest-ranked candidate invited; candidates in regulated, fully licensed Manitoba

Hundreds of Iranian nationals residing in Canada face potential inadmissibility after receiving procedural fairness letters from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) about mandatory military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Since Ottawa designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization, former conscripts who performed non-combat, administrative duties risk losing work permits and permanent residency status. Iranian nationals and immigrat

Canada's official languages education sector experienced a 13% year-over-year decline in student enrolments and a 19% drop in student weeks during 2025, according to Languages Canada's annual survey. The downturn was primarily driven by cumulative immigration policy shifts, study permit restrictions, and visa uncertainties introduced between 2023 and mid-2025. Data show that only 13% of 2025 language students entered via study permits, while 40% used Electronic Travel Authori

Escalade Transportation Inc. and Hafiz Tariq Ayub face three charges each under Section 22 of Saskatchewan's Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act for alleged violations occurring between November 2022 and August 2023. The Regina-based employer is accused of distributing false or misleading information, misrepresenting job duties, pay, and terms of employment, and taking unfair advantage of foreign workers' fear or lack of experience. The provincial Ministry

The Government of the Northwest Territories has announced the final 2026 Expression of Interest (EOI) draw for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program's Employer-Driven Stream, scheduled for September 25, 2026. Prospective applicants must submit their EOI profiles by September 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MT to be considered, with approximately 100 profiles set to be selected. The upcoming draw follows three previous intake rounds held in March, June, and August 2026, which yiel

New international student and temporary worker arrivals to Canada fell by 66% between January and July 2026 compared to the same period in 2024, representing a decrease of 275,010 arrivals. Official government data shows that new international student arrivals reached 28,200 during the first seven months of 2026 against an annual target of 155,000, down 80% from 2024 levels. Total active study permit holders declined to 590,205 by July 31, 2026, dropping from over one million

On September 17, 2026, the Government of British Columbia held a new invitation round under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The province issued 33 invitations to apply to candidates through the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative. The invited candidates had a minimum score of 60 points. This targeted stream supports health authority employees in eligible cleaning and security roles who work in rural or remote communities across the provin

Canada has ended a temporary public policy that allowed certain permanent residents to sponsor immediate family members who had not been declared or examined when the sponsor originally immigrated to Canada. The policy applied primarily to certain resettled refugees, protected persons and people who had obtained permanent residence as sponsored spouses, partners or dependent children. Under the exemption, eligible sponsors could sponsor a spouse, partner, or dependent child e

On September 14, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry draw #442 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 576 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), and the round’s cut-off score was 734 points, 37 points higher than in the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was August 29, 2026, at 21:39:50 UTC. As of September 13, 226,793 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool, incl

The Immigration and Refugee Board issued a new Practice Notice on the use of artificial intelligence in IRB proceedings, effective September 7, 2026, applying across all four divisions (RPD, RAD, ID, IAD). Parties using AI to prepare submissions or evidence must ensure the content is accurate and verifiable, including systematic verification of legal principles and case citations, and must be prepared to answer questions about their AI use in-proceeding. Actionable: update in

The ongoing discussion surrounding immigration and school overcrowding has sparked significant public attention and debate across various communities. Observers and analysts are closely examining the intersection of demographic shifts and educational infrastructure capacity. Concerns regarding resource allocation and classroom sizes have become central topics in public discourse. Stakeholders are evaluating how growing student populations impact the daily operations and overa