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British Columbia invited entrepreneurs under two BCPNP business streams
On May 5, 2026, British Columbia held two draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The BCPNP issued 8 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. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration - Regional Pilot category. The lowest score of this round
May 6


IRCC to accelerate permanent residency for 33,000 workers to fill labour gaps in smaller communities
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced some details on the In-Canada Workers Initiative to transition 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence by 2027. Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed that the initiative prioritizes individuals who have lived in smaller or rural communities for at least two years and have already applied for PR through regional programs such as the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, or various
May 5


Yukon launches streamlined licensing pathway for American physicians
The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Medical Council have introduced a new dual pathway licensing process to simplify the entry of US-trained physicians into the territory's healthcare system. Developed in collaboration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, this initiative allows American Board-certified doctors to use a single set of credentials to apply for licensure in both jurisdictions simultaneously. By leveraging BC’s approved registrations,
May 4


Updated IRCC guidelines clarify restoration of temporary resident status for foreign nationals
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently updated its instructions regarding the restoration of temporary resident status to provide greater flexibility for foreign nationals. Under the revised policy, applicants can now apply to restore their temporary resident status independently, without the obligation to restore the specific work or study authorizations they previously held. This means individuals who no longer qualify for or require their former autho
May 4


Canada’s new skilled trades initiative offers a promising outlook for prospective immigrants
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly announced $6 billion Team Canada Strong program signals a significant federal commitment to the skilled trades, creating a development that prospective immigrants should monitor closely. While the initial framework focuses on domestic recruitment, the goal of adding 100,000 Red Seal workers highlights a critical labour shortage that has traditionally driven skilled immigrants into the country. As Canada aims to fill 1.4 million trade positio
May 1


Ontario conducted two Employer Job Offer draws under the OINP
On April 30, 2026, the Government of Ontario conducted new invitation draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW) and International Student Stream (EJO IS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted candidates working in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The OINP issued 720 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the EJO FW Stream (57 points and above) and 277 ITAs under the EJO IS Stream (81 points and above). In total
May 1


Canada modernizes population tracking as migration patterns shift
Statistics Canada is overhauling its Demographic Estimates Program to keep pace with the country’s volatile migration landscape. Following the unprecedented population surge of 2023 and a subsequent cooling in 2025, the agency is integrating real-time administrative data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to better track permit extensions and non-permanent residents. New projects slated for 2026 include releasing sub-provincial data for urban centers to
Apr 30


IRCC updates guidance on continued work authorization for permit renewals
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its policy regarding continued work authorization under section R186(u) for applicants awaiting a decision on their work permit renewals. The revised instructions clarify that the interim proof of work letter provided to applicants is now valid for 365 days. Importantly, if an application remains in progress beyond the date specified in the letter, workers may continue their employment until a final decision is r
Apr 30


Permanent residence fees are increasing on April 30, 2026
The permanent residence fees will increase on April 30, 2026, to account for inflation and the rising costs of program delivery. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, these adjustments occur every two years to ensure the immigration system can manage growing demand while maintaining reliable service standards. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) will see a $25 increase, bringing the total to $600. Other significant adjustments include the Provincia
Apr 29


Party Quebecois leader faces backlash over "frerism" and federal policy comments
Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is under fire from federal ministers and advocacy groups following remarks made at a recent town hall regarding "frerism" and Muslim immigration. St-Pierre Plamondon suggested that an ideology linked to the Muslim Brotherhood is a documented reality in Europe but remains undocumented in Canada because it aligns with the Federal Government's "post-national" agenda. Federal ministers Jean-Yves Duclos and Marc Miller dismissed the
Apr 28


Nova Scotia introduces a 12-month validity period for expressions of interest
Effective May 1, 2026, Nova Scotia will implement a 12-month validity period for all Expressions of Interest (EOI) to enhance inventory management and ensure alignment with current labour-market needs. Under the new measures, EOIs submitted before May 1, 2024, will be closed immediately on the effective date. Those submitted between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, will remain active until April 30, 2027, unless selected sooner. For all new submissions moving forward, profile
Apr 28


IRCC invited Provincial Nominee Program candidates under draw #412
On April 27, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #412 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 473 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 795 points, nine points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 13, 2026, at 23:10:05 UTC. As of April 26, 2026, 234,452 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. This ye
Apr 28


Immigration lawyers urge IRCC to formalize communications for the new TR to PR program
The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) has issued a formal letter to Immigration Minister Lena M. Diab, expressing grave concerns over the "piecemeal" release of details regarding the upcoming Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Program. CILA reports that significant program signals are reaching the public through social media interviews and commercial platforms before official IRCC channels. This information gap has led to widespread anxiety amon
Apr 27


Advocates call for structural reforms to restore balance in Canada’s immigration system
Canada’s longstanding commitment to multiculturalism is facing a critical test as temporary residents remain in prolonged legal limbo. While the Federal Government provides robust support for Francophone communities, non-official language ethnocultural groups often lack similar institutional recognition. Current policies frequently prioritize overseas applicants over integrated temporary workers and students who have already proven their success within the Canadian economy. E
Apr 27


British Columbia updated the BC PNP to target healthcare, construction, and innovation
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has overhauled its selection criteria to align with the province’s "Look West" strategy, focusing on three pillars: Care, Build, and Innovate. Effective immediately, the program will prioritize 36 healthcare and education roles, 9 skilled trades for infrastructure projects, and high-impact talent across all sectors. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream has officially closed, and no new international student st
Apr 27


BCPNP conducted the third Skills Immigration draw of the year
On April 22, 2026, the Government of British Columbia held the third Skills Immigration invitation draw under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and issued invitations to apply to 484 skilled candidates with the potential to create high economic impact in the province. The selection criteria targeted two distinct groups: 252 candidates in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions earning a minimum wage of $62 per hour and $125,000 per year while working full-time
Apr 23


Canada continues to decrease the number of applications in the immigration backlog
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its data on application inventories and backlogs, reporting that as of February 2026, there were 2,092,700 applications across permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship streams in all IRCC inventories. Approximately 55% of applications are currently within service standards, while IRCC continues to aim to process 80% of applications within established timelines, noting that more complex cases may
Apr 22


Canadian immigration lawyers call for urgent reform of the LMIA process
The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) has sent an open letter to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, highlighting systemic failures in the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. Representing over 540 lawyers, CILA argues that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has shifted toward a culture of refusal, where officers apply subjective criteria and unpublished benchmarks to deny applications. Key issues identi
Apr 21


Alberta hosts a summit to bridge newcomer skills and career opportunities
The fourth annual Premier’s Summit on Fairness for Newcomers recently convened in Alberta, bringing together employers, educators, and newcomers to address barriers to professional integration. Under the theme of unlocking newcomer skills, Premier Danielle Smith emphasized the importance of improving foreign credential recognition and expanding mentorship opportunities to ensure immigrants can contribute to their full potential. The provincial government highlighted recent l
Apr 21


Minister Diab concludes Citizenship Week by welcoming 6,000 new Canadians
Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), recently concluded Citizenship Week 2026 by hosting ceremonies across Ottawa, Lunenburg, and Halifax. From April 12 to 18, approximately 6,000 individuals from 40 different countries took the oath of citizenship in over 80 ceremonies nationwide. This year’s events emphasized the importance of reconciliation, with many ceremonies featuring Indigenous Elders who shared land acknowledgements and
Apr 21
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