On November 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the sixth occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #379, IRCC issued 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 462 points (ten points fewer than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 02, 2024, at 22:19:41 UTC. This year, Canada issued 86,699 ITAs

Saskatchewan has experienced a dramatic 98 per cent surge in refugee claims over the past year, driven largely by sweeping federal and provincial immigration reductions that have left many temporary residents with few options for staying in Canada. Between April 2024 and April 2025, asylum claims in the province jumped from 683 to 1,344, according to Statistics Canada. At the same time, Saskatchewan recorded the steepest drop in permanent residents among Canadian provinces —

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has released the latest monthly statistics, revealing that pending refugee protection claims hit 298,588 cases by October 2025. This represents a steady climb from 139,540 pending cases in October 2023, marking a significant increase in backlog over the two-year period. While monthly intake has fluctuated between roughly 7,500 and 19,800 new claims, finalizations have consistently lagged, averaging around 6,500 decisions per month.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that protected persons and their family members can now apply for study permits from within Canada, regardless of whether they have submitted permanent residency applications. This policy update, effective November 13, 2025, expands access for various groups, including students at all educational levels, work permit holders, temporary residents, refugee claimants, and families of foreign government officials. The

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced the continuation of temporary measures for individuals affected by the Sudan conflict, extending support until October 28, 2026. Sudanese nationals in Canada — as well as eligible foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents — may continue to extend their temporary resident status or modify the conditions of their stay without paying the applicable fees. Sudanese nationals who are read

The federal and Quebec governments have aligned their immigration policies under Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership. After years of disagreement over reception levels and provincial concerns, both now acknowledge the system needs fixing. Ottawa admits immigration rates have outpaced Canada's capacity to integrate newcomers, while Quebec moderates its reduction plans. Despite this convergence, political tensions persist. Quebec criticizes federal delays on regional exemp

Canada's Express Entry system has experienced a notable transformation in recent weeks, with approximately 11% of all candidates now holding CRS scores exceeding 500 points. While the overall pool contracted by 2,547 profiles between late October and early November, the competitive landscape has intensified significantly. The number of candidates in the highest scoring bracket (601-1,200) more than doubled from 306 to 696, while the 501-600 range expanded by 417 profiles. Th

On November 10, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #377. The Government of Canada issued 714 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 738 points, 23 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was February 22, 2025, at 2:12:01 UTC. As of November 9, 2025, 245,706 profiles were registered in the Expres

On November 6, 2025, 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 current average LMIA processing time has increased across all streams. Global Talent Stream - 10 business days (+2 days) Agricultural stream – 16 business days (+3 days) Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 11 business days (+4 days) Permanen

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has extended its public policy allowing certain foreign workers in Provincial Nominee Program expression of interest pools to obtain open work permits until December 31, 2025. The program, originally scheduled to end in late 2024, enables eligible foreign nationals currently employed in participating provinces to secure work permits valid for up to 2 years with provincial support letters. Manitoba and Yukon remain active participa

Quebec's Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration has introduced the province's immigration framework for 2026-2029, alongside the detailed 2026 Immigration Plan. The strategy aims to limit both temporary and permanent immigration volumes to ease pressure on the province's integration capacity. Quebec will welcome 45,000 permanent residents in 2026, while also admitting between 84,900 and 124,200 temporary residents through the Temporary Foreign Worker and Inter

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced measures to strengthen graduate student recruitment following recent enrolment restrictions. Starting January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral candidates at public universities will be exempt from the international student cap, eliminating the need for provincial attestation letters. Additionally, doctoral applicants will benefit from expedited 14-day study permit processing, extended to accompanying family mem

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced important updates to the provincial and territorial attestation letter framework for study permits. Effective November 4, 2025, IRCC has introduced several key clarifications affecting the 2025 allocation period, including revised protocols for PAL/TAL reuse, joint program applications, and processing criteria. The updates also address exception cases requiring Organization/Entity IDs and provide sample docume

On November 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rolled out updated guidelines following regulatory amendments that took effect January 31, 2025. These changes grant designated officers the authority to individually cancel electronic travel authorizations, temporary resident visas, work permits, and study permits when circumstances warrant. The new provisions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations apply exclusively to issued document

Canada's partial release of its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan alongside Budget 2025 reveals a strategic recalibration of the country's immigration framework. Temporary resident admissions will decline from 516,600 to 385,000, reflecting efforts to balance infrastructure capacity with population growth amid housing pressures and institutional constraints across Canadian provinces. International student spaces will face a 50% reduction to 155,000 in 2026 (150,000 in 2027 a

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has revised the list of countries requiring medical examinations for temporary residence applications, effective November 3, 2025. Four countries—Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela—have been added to the requirement list, while six territories —Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan —have been removed. The changes affect individuals who have resided in or travelled to these nations for six co

A recent Abacus Data survey of nearly 3,000 Canadians reveals that public opinion on immigration has plateaued after last year's surge in skepticism. While roughly half of Canadians still view current immigration levels negatively and cite pressure on housing and healthcare, the data shows no further hardening of attitudes. With 67% saying the federal government's 2026 target of 380,000 newcomers is too high – down from 72% a year ago – there's evidence that reduced targets

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab launched the 13th National Francophone Immigration Week on November 3, highlighting the theme "Thank you for enriching our Francophonie." The week recognizes the vital contributions Francophone newcomers make to Canada's cultural and economic landscape. Minister Diab announced that the government remains on track to achieve its 2025 target of 8.5% French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec. Federal and provincial ministers are w

Ontario is introducing comprehensive reforms to its driver's licence system through Bill 60 , which links licensing eligibility directly to immigration status and work authorization. Effective early 2026, the Ministry of Transportation will verify applicants' legal status in Canada before issuing or renewing licences. The legislation prohibits temporary visitors from obtaining commercial driver's licences, ends automatic recognition of foreign licences from non-reciprocal cou

Canada's rental market is experiencing a notable shift as reduced immigration levels begin to ease the pressure on housing demand nationwide. Recent data reveals that major cities, including Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, and Metro Vancouver, have recorded year-over-year rent decreases for one-bedroom units, with Toronto seeing the steepest drop at $176. Ontario experienced the largest decline in immigration in early 2025, receiving over 15,000 fewer newcomers than th