On August 7, 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated the processing times for the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under various streams. Based on statistics from all processing centres, the average LMIA processing time has increased for all streams except the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the Permanent Residence Stream. Global Talent Stream - 10 business days (+1 day) Agricultural stream – 23 business days (+1 day) Seasonal

On August 7, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the first round of invitations in the Express Entry system for newcomers with work experience in transport occupations. Express Entry draw #434 was the fourth consecutive draw of the week, and 300 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued to skilled workers with work experience in the transport sector. The cut-off score was 470 points. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 11, 2025, at 14:55:4

On August 6, 2026, British Columbia held new invitation rounds under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), targeting five priority occupation categories. The province invited 183 early childhood educators; 124 candidates in all priority health care occupations; up to five candidates working in the education sector; 187 candidates in all priority construction occupations; and six candidates in priority veterinary care occupations. The veterinary draw was ope

Nova Scotia will introduce non-refundable application fees for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program starting September 1, 2026. The new structure sets a $1,000 fee for worker streams, including Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate, and Nova Scotia: Express Entry, while the Entrepreneur stream fee will be $2,000. Submitting an Expression of Interest remains free, and fees only apply once a candidate is selected from the EOI pool for assessment. Candidates selected on or after Septe

An evaluation report published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) found that the federal Self-Employed Persons Program is no longer fit for purpose. Designed as a permanent residence pathway for world-class athletes and cultural talent, the program has been hindered by vague eligibility criteria, high refusal rates averaging 69%, and a processing backlog exceeding ten years. Application intake was paused in April 2024 and extended indefinitely in December

The Government of Ontario has officially opened the Expression of Interest portal for the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream. Replacing eight former nomination pathways, the new stream allows eligible foreign workers with an Ontario job offer and self-employed physicians to register for provincial nomination. The stream features three distinct pathways covering TEER 0–3 occupations, TEER 4–5 roles, and self-employed physicians billing through OHIP. Uninvited profiles submi

Canadian post-secondary institutions are refining their international recruitment strategies to navigate shifting student mobility in India. Policy changes, higher visa rejection rates, and reduced immigration incentives have led many prospective Indian applicants to explore alternative study destinations. While demand across major urban centres has softened, India’s expanding middle class in smaller tier-two and tier-three cities presents new recruitment opportunities. To ma

On July 30, 2026, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) published the results of the 86th invitation round in Quebec’s online system Arrima, which were conducted on July 30, 2026. MIFI invited 105 candidates under Stream 1 (Highly qualified and specialized skills), 296 candidates under Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills), 110 candidates under Stream 3 (Regulated professions), and 12 candidates under Stream 4 (Exceptional talent). So far,

Saskatchewan has allocated at least 750 provincial immigration nominations in 2026 for graduates of local designated learning institutions who secure job offers in key economic sectors. Under updated Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) guidance, eligibility relies on the employer’s operational sector rather than the applicant’s specific field of study. Qualifying industries include healthcare, agriculture, technology, skilled trades, energy, mining, and manufacturin

The Government of Yukon has issued a General Declaration of Need to streamline licensing for internationally trained family physicians. Under the new Limited A pathway, qualified doctors from the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia can receive a licence from the Yukon Medical Council without undergoing additional practice assessments or supervision. Issued under the Medical Profession Act, this initiative reduces administrative barriers for foreign-trained p

On July 24, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) published updated enforcement statistics showing that 10,607 inadmissible individuals were removed from Canada between January 1 and June 30, 2026. Quebec recorded the highest number of enforced removals at 5,467, followed by the Greater Toronto Area with 2,674, the Pacific Region with 906, and the Prairie Region with 839. Most removals involved immigration non-compliance: 8,551 cases concerned refugee claimants and 1

On July 23, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the first category-based Express Entry draw targeting skilled military recruits. IRCC issued only four Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in round #430. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this round was set at 368 points. The tie-breaking rule applied to profiles submitted before June 2, 2026, at 20:11:26 UTC. As of July 19, 2026, there were 231,533 profiles in the Express Entry poo

Actionable — LMIA files: updated provincial/territorial median hourly wage thresholds took effect July 17, 2026, based on 2023–2024 Labour Force Survey data under NOC 2021. The high-wage/low-wage split for LMIA stream classification (median wage + 20% for high-wage) should be re-checked for any file where the offered wage sits near the prior threshold. (Source: ESDC) ESDC reports $10.2 million in compliance penalties issued to employers for FY2025–26, more than double the pri

Actionable — Ontario: the OINP's regulatory redesign is now in force. The former 8 program streams have been eliminated and replaced with a new Ontario Workforce Priority stream; the Expression of Interest system is closed to new EOIs and the e-filing portal is expected to reopen later this summer. Applications already submitted under the former streams will be assessed under the rules in place when filed. Recommend holding new Ontario-stream filings until the portal reopens.

A recent Abacus Data poll reveals how Atlantic Canadians view regional growth and public policy under the Federal Government. While 17% of respondents identify immigration as a top national issue, the broader regional consensus links population growth directly to local infrastructure capacity. Atlantic Canadians generally support economic expansion but want future growth to align with improvements in housing affordability, healthcare access, and the overall cost of living. Th

Canada's Auditor General told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration that IRCC successfully reduced the number of new study permits issued under recent International Student Program reforms but failed to address several critical integrity weaknesses. According to the audit, more than 153,000 potential cases of study permit non-compliance were identified in 2023 and 2024, yet only about 4,000 investigations were launched. The report also found t

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) reported a significant reduction in pending refugee protection claims for June 2026. According to the latest monthly statistics, the board finalized nearly 13,000 cases while receiving fewer than 2,700 new applications. This processing surge helped lower the total number of pending refugee claims to roughly 276,000, down from a peak of over 300,000 in late 2025. Meanwhile, the backlog for refugee appeals continued a steady mon

Many Iranian nationals who came to Canada under special humanitarian measures are struggling to reunite with their families due to tightening immigration rules. Federal data reveals that immigration officials approved only 25 spousal open work permits for Iranian applicants over the past two years. The Federal Government recently introduced stricter eligibility requirements to manage the temporary resident population. Spousal applicants must show that their partners have at l

On July 3, 2026, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) published the results of the 85th invitation round in Quebec’s online system Arrima, which were conducted on July 3, 2026. MIFI invited 74 candidates under Stream 1 (Highly qualified and specialized skills), 289 candidates under Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills), 131 candidates under Stream 3 (Regulated professions), and 7 candidates under Stream 4 (Exceptional talent). Additional

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) released the processing statistics for the first half of 2026. The province has issued 2,628 nominations, accounting for 55% of its overall annual allocation of 4,761 spaces. Priority sectors lead intake, issuing 1,466 nominations and reaching 62% of the mandatory minimum allocation. The capped categories, including trucking, accommodations, food services, and retail trade, have reached 60% of their maximum limit, with 718 nom