The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) announced significant regulatory changes, affecting Ontario Regulation 421/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. These amendments grant the Minister authority to redesign the OINP by creating or removing selection streams, a power approved through the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025. The updates streamline application processing, refine program streams to address provincial labour market demands, and strengthen program i

On March 16, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the Express Entry draw #403 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 362 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 742 points, 32 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 05, 2025, at 20:35:25 UTC. As of March 15, 2026, 231,362 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. This

Over the last week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new  draws  under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From March 7 to March 13, Canada invited 3,496 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of March 13, 28,448 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 196 ITAs for Australia, 4 ITAs for Austria, 25 ITAs for Belgium, 4 ITAs for Chile, 2 ITAs for Costa Rica, 5 ITAs for

Kelowna has broadened its Francophone Community Immigration Pilot by introducing eight new occupations and launching a dedicated business and finance sector. French-speaking professionals can now pursue permanent residence through 25 priority roles that offer hourly wages of $21- $28 across six economic sectors. The program features seven intake periods beginning June 2026, with applications accepted from the 15th to the 30th of each month. Applicants need NCLC Level 5 Frenc

Alberta’s education minister says the province expects to spend about $600 million this year on educating the children of temporary residents. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides told legislators that exact figures cannot be separated from Alberta’s $10.8 billion education budget because school funding varies depending on student needs. The province currently educates 45,554 students who are children of temporary residents, with average education costs estimated at about

The Government of Canada has announced the extension of temporary special measures under the Employment Insurance Work-Sharing program to help employers facing economic slowdowns avoid layoffs and retain their workforce. The flexibilities will now remain in place until March 31, 2027, giving businesses more time to stabilize while employees continue working reduced hours and receive partial Employment Insurance support for lost income. Since the program’s expansion, more tha

On March 10, 2026, British Columbia  held  two draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The BCPNP issued 7 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 117 points. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration - Reg

Canada's International Experience Canada program has introduced two new opportunities for young professionals. The Inov Contacto initiative now welcomes participants from Portugal, while Taiwan's Global Pathfinder Initiative opens doors for Taiwanese applicants. Both programs fall under the Young Professionals stream of the International Mobility Program, which promotes cultural exchange and work experience between Canada and partner countries. These bilateral arrangements s

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) continues to manage its Skills Immigration registration pool, which stood at 10,907 candidates as of March 3, 2026. The program regularly invites qualified candidates to apply based on their scores. Current data shows the highest concentration of registrants falls within the 100-109 range, with 2,165 candidates, followed by 1,982 in the 90-99 bracket. Score distributions reveal 15 top-tier candidates above 150 points.

On March 6, 2026, New Brunswick  published  the results of its recent draws using an expression of interest system to streamline immigration applications for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). From March 3 to March 6, 2026, the province conducted four new draws and issued a total of 622 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream – E

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up his groundbreaking visit to India, announcing new opportunities for Indian students. The initiatives include 300 funded research positions at Canadian universities, up to $100 million in scholarships from the University of Toronto, and 13 new university partnerships between the two nations. Additionally, Dalhousie University will establish an innovation campus in India, while the University of Toronto and McGill will open Centre

Starting March 31, 2026, Canadians will see modest increases in passport and travel document fees as the government adjusts pricing to reflect inflation and rising operational costs. A 10-year adult passport will cost $163.50, up $3.50 from the current rate, while 5-year adult passports increase by $2.50 to $122.50. Child passports rise by $1.50 to $58.50. This marks the first fee adjustment in 13 years. The government also announced a new service guarantee: beginning April

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association has published a comprehensive report recommending the creation of a Canadian Business Immigration Council to reshape how the country approaches entrepreneur and investor immigration. The report, titled "Engine of Growth," addresses Canada's declining business immigration numbers—from 30,000 annual admissions to just 500 under current plans. CILA's proposal centers on adaptive governance rather than fixed policies, calling for coll

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) has announced the annual Fraud Prevention Month campaign for March 2026 to help employers and prospective immigrants recognize and avoid immigration scams. Immigration fraud remains a serious concern, with consequences including financial loss, legal penalties, and application refusals. The BCPNP reminds applicants that hiring a representative is optional, and any representative used must be licensed with the College of

A recent study from HEC Montreal reveals that the route immigrants take into Canada matters more than their qualifications alone. Workers arriving with closed permits typically earn higher incomes than other groups, while foreign students show the fastest wage growth once they enter the job market. The research, which surveyed 2,500 university-educated immigrants in 2025, found that the current points-based selection system does not always identify candidates who will perfor

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has clarified how work permits will be issued to applicants under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) in 2026. Candidates who have submitted a complete permanent residence application under either pilot and hold a valid job offer may qualify for a work permit valid for up to two years while their PR application is processed. These work permits are exempt from t

Employers who break the rules of Canada's temporary foreign worker program now face much steeper penalties. Fines have jumped from $102,250 across 74 companies in 2018-19 to $4.8 million for 147 companies last fiscal year. McMaster University professor Catherine Connelly notes the government shifted from an educational approach to a deterrence strategy. The change comes as public scrutiny of the program intensified. Despite larger penalties, experts believe many violations s

Rodney Sidloski has been charged with six offences under Saskatchewan's immigration legislation for allegedly exploiting two foreign workers at HELP International Shelterbelt Center near Weyburn between 2022 and 2024. The charges include producing false payroll records, misrepresenting employment terms, and taking advantage of the workers' trust and lack of knowledge. These alleged violations occurred at the tree farm operation and involve breaches of the Foreign Worker Recr

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program will reopen on March 9, 2026, with significant changes to its Employer-Driven Stream. The territory has been allocated 197 nominations for the year and is introducing an Expression of Interest system to improve fairness and transparency. Employers will submit profiles for foreign workers, which will be scored based on work experience, education, language proficiency, and connections to the NWT. The first selection draw is scheduled f

Canada is shifting its immigration strategy to prioritize high-skilled professionals and economic sustainability. On February 18, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab revealed new Express Entry categories designed to fill labour gaps. The new update introduces priority streams for researchers, senior managers, and aviation experts. Additionally, the government will streamline immigration pathways for foreign military personnel for roles within the Canadian Armed Forc