Canada's efforts to reduce temporary resident numbers are showing measurable results, with new data revealing a 53% decrease in student and worker arrivals between January and October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The government has implemented stricter caps on international student permits and tightened eligibility for temporary foreign workers as part of its commitment to bring the temporary population below 5% of the total population by late 2027. Only 3,030 n

On December 17, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for French language proficiency candidates. In round #388, IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 399 points, nine points fewer than in the previous draw in this category. The tie-breaking rule for this round was August 24, 2025, at 23:43:05 UTC. This year, Canada issued 113,998 ITAs through 58 Express Ent

On December 16, 2025, British Columbia held two draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The BCPNP issued 17 invitations to candidates in the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream, which is designed for experienced businessmen seeking to establish a new business or acquire an existing one in British Columbia. The lowest score of this round was 115 points. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration -

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has received a welcome boost from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with an additional 960 nominations pushing the province's total allocation to 6,214 for this year. The program will direct these nominations toward previously established priorities, focusing on healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and candidates expected to generate significant economic impact. A portion of the allocation will also ad

On December 15, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #386. In this draw, the Government of Canada issued 399 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. This round’s cut-off score was 731 points, two points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 18, 2025, at 7:18:52 UTC. As of December 15, 2025, 237,302 profiles were registered in the Express E

A group of leading Canadian economists has raised concerns about recent changes to the country's immigration framework, arguing that the 2023 introduction of category-based selection has undermined the transparency of Canada's formerly merit-driven system. The shift from the Comprehensive Ranking System to ministerial discretion has created uncertainty for prospective immigrants and may reduce the inflow of highly skilled workers. With international student applications decl

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada reported 7,527 new refugee protection claims in November 2025, marking a continued decline from earlier months. With 6,738 cases finalized during the period, the backlog now stands at 299,452 pending claims. This represents a steady increase from 149,088 pending cases in November 2023. Meanwhile, refugee appeals climbed to 4,283 pending cases after processing 846 finalizations in November. Immigration appeals also saw growth, with

On December 11, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the seventh occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #385, IRCC issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 476 points (14 points more than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was November 26, 2025, at 07:44:30 UTC. This year, Canada issued 102,599 ITA

On December 10, 2025, the Government of British Columbia  held the third Skills Immigration invitation draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and issued invitations to apply to 410 skilled candidates with the potential to create high economic impact in the province. The selection criteria targeted two distinct groups: 96 candidates in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions earning a minimum wage of $87 per hour while working full-time with their suppor

New data from Statistics Canada reveals that the median entry wage for immigrants arriving in Canada fell by 10.6% in 2023, marking the steepest decline since 1991. Despite this drop, newcomers' earnings one year after admission remained above pre-pandemic figures. The decrease coincided with a 1.1% rise in overall Canadian wages and appears linked to shifts in admission categories, particularly a reduction in Canadian Experience Class principal applicants—who typically comm

The Canadian Government has announced a major $1.7 billion investment over 12 years to recruit more than 1,000 top international researchers through the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative. This program includes four key streams: the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program ($1 billion), the Emerging Leaders program ($120 million), the Research Infrastructure Fund ($400 million), and the Research Training Awards ($133.6 million). The initiative targets critical re

On December 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a massive Express Entry draw #383. The Government of Canada issued 1,123 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw, making it the largest draw of the year for the category. This round’s cut-off score was 729 points, 30 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was March 05, 2025, at 05:10:48. As of December 7,

Canada is streamlining the path to permanent residence for international physicians already working in the country. The Federal Government announced a dedicated Express Entry category for doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian work experience, with invitations expected in early 2026. Additionally, 5,000 federal spaces have been allocated for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers, who will benefit from expedited 14-day work permit p

A recent study by the Canadian Council for Refugees highlights significant delays in processing refugee applications from Africa, with wait times averaging 42 months for government-sponsored cases, nearly double those from other regions. The report attributes these disparities to insufficient staffing at African visa offices, calling it evidence of systemic inequity within Canada's immigration system. Despite a 2023 Auditor General report flagging these issues, African appli

On December 8, 2025, the Government of Canada announced new immigration measures to help address critical doctor shortages across the country. A new Express Entry category  will be created for international doctors who have at least one year of recent Canadian work experience in eligible medical occupations. These invitations will begin in early 2026, giving practice-ready doctors already working in Canada a faster and more direct path to permanent residence. Additionally, th

President Trump's decision to halt asylum claims has intensified calls for Canada to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement, with legal experts warning the pact may no longer be valid. Immigration lawyers argue the U.S. has abandoned its obligation under the UN Refugee Convention, eliminating the agreement's foundation. While some specialists caution that suspension could trigger an influx of asylum seekers—potentially millions currently in the U.S.—others insist Canada fa

As 2026 approaches, Canada remains the only country among the major study destinations to enforce a strict numerical limit on international student intake. While Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have introduced various policy measures to manage foreign enrolment, Canada has implemented actual caps—408,000 study permits for 2026, down 7% from 2025 targets. The policy responds to public concerns over housing shortages and healthcare capacity amid rising imm

Manitoba has announced the approaching deadline for its temporary public policy supporting work permit extensions for Provincial Nominee Program candidates. Eligible applicants have until December 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST to submit their Support Letter applications through the online portal. After this date, the submission form will close, and no new applications will be accepted. The Federal Government will continue processing applications received under this policy until

Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration Michelle Rempel Garner announced that the Conservative Party has introduced an amendment to Bill C-12 to prevent the government from using extraordinary powers to mass-extend temporary resident visas. The move comes amid growing concerns over immigration oversight, following Statistics Canada's revelation that 38 per cent of temporary residents were missed in the last census and reports indicating over a million temporary resident

An extensive investigation has uncovered disturbing patterns of exploitation affecting nearly 80,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada's agricultural sector. These workers, who harvest the produce that reaches Canadian tables, face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, inadequate housing, and in some cases, physical and sexual abuse. The Investigative Journalism Bureau's findings, supported by Simon Fraser University research , reveal that the Temporary Foreign Worker Prog