On June 9, 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 Permanent Residence Stream. Global Talent Stream - 10 business days (+2 days) Agricultural stream – 22 business days (+1 day) Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 11 business day

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has highlighted the important contribution immigrants and migrant workers make to municipalities across Canada. During a panel discussion held at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual meeting in Edmonton, municipal leaders warned that recent immigration reductions are creating labour shortages and increasing pressure on local services. Many immigrants and migrant workers are employed in sectors that communities depend o

A recent report from TD Economics warns that Canada is losing its highest-skilled workers and entrepreneurs to the United States. This slow movement of top talent is described by researchers as a silent brain drain. Many highly educated individuals leave the country through US employer-sponsored work visas that do not show up in standard permanent emigration data. The study indicates that foreign-born Canadian citizens account for 60 percent of Canadian applicants for US labo

On June 5, 2026, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) published the results of the 84th invitation round in Quebec’s online system Arrima, which were conducted on June 4, 2026. MIFI invited 1,094 candidates under Stream 1 (Highly qualified and specialized skills), 756 candidates under Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills), 677 candidates under Stream 3 (Regulated professions), and 22 candidates under Stream 4 (Exceptional talent). Last ye

The Canadian Government is expediting visa processing for thirty-seven Gazan students and their family members currently stranded in third countries. The students have already secured admission to Canadian universities but have faced significant delays, with some waiting nearly two years for progress on their applications. Advocates have raised concerns about the interview process, saying that some applicants were questioned extensively about attending state-run universities

A joint study by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Statistics Canada shows that only 20% of recent immigrants worked in their intended occupation in 2021. The data reveal that occupational match rates were higher for individuals with graduate degrees, applicants from developed source countries, and those with pre-admission Canadian work experience. Among the individuals who did not secure a matching position, a large share shifted into lower-skilled employment.

The Government of Canada has announced temporary border measures in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and growing regional concerns involving Uganda and South Sudan. Beginning May 27, 2026, Canada plans to temporarily suspend the issuance of certain immigration documents to residents of affected countries for 90 days. Starting May 30, some travellers who have recently been in high-risk regions will also be required to complete a 21-day self-is

Conservative Shadow Minister Michelle Rempel Garner has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to ensure Immigration Minister Lena Diab attends an upcoming parliamentary review. The official opposition selected the immigration minister for the upcoming Committee of the Whole session scheduled for Thursday night. This standard legislative procedure allows members of parliament to directly question ministers for four hours regarding departmental spending and policies. The opposit

The Canadian Government is making travel easier for eligible citizens from Indonesia and Malaysia. Starting May 26, 2026, select travellers from these countries can apply for an electronic travel authorization instead of a traditional visa. This rule applies to individuals who held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid United States visa. Eligible travellers must enter or transit through Canada by air to use this streamlined process. Immigration Minis

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released new data on its application inventory. The department made 112,600 permanent residence decisions between January and March of 2026. Canada also welcomed 83,000 new permanent residents and 285,500 new citizens from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. For temporary residents, officials finalized 106,800 study permit applications and extensions and processed 467,500 work permit applications and extensions during the

A new report by IDP Education shows that visa rules change how students choose their study destinations. Many international students now look at visa policies very early in their planning process. Canada remains a popular choice for global students. However, many applicants feel that the chances of obtaining a Canadian study visa are lower than in the past. Students are highly concerned about visa approval rates and processing costs. Tight rules are making some students choos

A group of American applicants are reporting significant delays and a lack of transparency regarding their Canadian citizenship-by-descent applications. Despite applying as soon as interim measures were introduced in March 2025, many early applicants have found their files stalled in the Immigration Department’s program support unit – a division typically reserved for complex cases. Meanwhile, newer applicants who submitted their files after the formalization of the "lost Can

A new assessment of Canada’s migrant integration landscape reveals significant strain as federal funding for the IRCC Settlement Program is projected to drop to $935.7 million by 2026-27. Despite a 70 percent budget growth since 2016, a government-wide expenditure review and reduced permanent resident targets are triggering widespread staff layoffs across service provider organizations. Particularly controversial is the decision to discontinue federal funding for language ins

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its program delivery instructions to clarify that the IMM 5707 Family Information form is no longer a mandatory requirement for work permit applicants applying from within Canada. The change affects several streams, including open work permits for Hong Kong residents and foreign nationals with a support letter from Manitoba, Alberta, or Yukon. Under the new guidance, applications cannot be refused solely because

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced that the Four Falls, New Brunswick, port of entry will remain permanently closed, having been out of service since May 2020. Initially suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision to finalize the closure followed an extensive analysis of regional operational pressures and low seasonal traffic volumes. The CBSA noted that the facility lacked an adjacent U.S. port of entry and highlighted that travellers can still u

New data from the 2026 Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey reveals a severe contraction in international student recruitment across Canada due to restrictive immigration policies. During the first quarter of 2026, 69 percent of Canadian universities reported a drop in new undergraduate enrolments, while 80 percent saw declines at the postgraduate level. These figures represent a second consecutive year of deterioration, contrasting sharply with growth in Asian and European mark

A recent analysis of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) argues that Canada’s use of age-based criteria is an outdated policy that contradicts national values regarding non-discrimination. Under current regulations, applicants receive zero points for age if they are over 45, a practice critics compare to prohibited forms of bias in employment. Research indicates that the assumption of older immigrants being a burden on social services is empirically incorrect, as pension b

Conservative members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration have called for the firing of Immigration Minister Lena Diab following her testimony regarding widespread fraud in Canada’s international student program. The committee highlighted Auditor General findings showing that 14 percent of over 150,000 individuals who entered the country fraudulently have since filed asylum claims, while the whereabouts of another 33,600 remain unknown. During the hearing,

The Government of Canada has announced a significant update regarding the regulations governing immigration and citizenship consultants. Effective July 15, 2026, the new measures empower the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants to implement more rigorous disciplinary actions and increased penalties for misconduct. Key updates include expanded reporting requirements, a more transparent public register of licensed consultants set for 2027, and the establishment of

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has announced targeted Expression of Interest (EOI) draws for individuals who obtained work permits under the 2025 Temporary Public Policy. This initiative specifically invites candidates who have previously received Support Letters and have successfully secured a work permit to apply for a provincial nomination. The invitations will be issued in stages, beginning with applicants whose Support Letters were approved between April