On December 11, 2025, the Government of Ontario  conducted more invitation draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), International Student Stream (EJO IS), and In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted candidates living in Eastern, Northern, and Southwestern Ontario. The OINP issued 305 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the EJO FW Stream, 373 ITAs under the EJO IS Stream, an

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

IRCC has officially updated several immigration fees effective December 1, 2025, affecting International Experience Canada (IEC) applicants, restoration of status, and multiple inadmissibility services. The changes include higher charges for authorizations to return to Canada, temporary resident permits, criminality and serious criminality assessments, as well as restoration of visitor, worker, and student status. Applicants who submit online must pay the new fees immediatel

Senator Yuen Pau Woo has brought attention to a growing concern affecting Chinese immigrants seeking careers in Canada's public sector. During a Senate foreign affairs committee meeting, the senator described how individuals with minimal ties to Chinese government entities are experiencing delays or rejections in their security clearance applications. These applicants, many of whom are young Canadians hoping to work for members of Parliament or senators, appear to be facing

The Canada Border Services Agency has initiated a month-long consultation period on regulatory changes that would eliminate mandatory check-ins for passengers transiting through Canadian airports to international destinations. The Free Flow International-to-International Transit initiative, part of the government's red tape reduction efforts, aims to streamline travel while maintaining security standards. Under the proposal, airlines would provide enhanced passenger data to

Nova Scotia has introduced a formalized Expression of Interest process for all Nova Scotia Nominee Program streams and Atlantic Immigration Program designations. The new system addresses the gap between high application volumes and available federal allocations by allowing the province to select candidates through periodic draws based on labour market priorities. All current and future submissions will enter an EOI pool, and selected applicants will receive direct notificati

On November 28, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for French language proficiency candidates. In round #382, IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 408 points, eight points fewer than in the previous draw in this category. The tie-breaking rule for this round was May 26, 2025, at 12:28:38 UTC. This year, Canada issued 94,476 ITAs through 52 Express Entry

A new study released by Statistics Canada reveals that 38% of non-permanent residents were not captured in the 2021 Census, marking a notable seven-percentage-point improvement from the 45% missed rate documented in 2016. The research identified distinct patterns in census participation across demographic groups. Ontario recorded the highest provincial omission rate at 45%, while Quebec achieved the lowest at 22%. Young adults aged 20 to 24 and individuals on short-term perm

On November 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #380. The Government of Canada issued 777 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 699 points, 39 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 06, 2025, at 01:16:22 UTC. As of November 23, 2025, 245,758 profiles were registered in the Exp

Canada has announced a temporary public policy exempting certain FIFA-invited foreign nationals from work authorization requirements ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The policy, effective through July 31, 2026, applies to FIFA employees, contractors, and subcontractors who hold invitation letters confirming their involvement in official FIFA events. Eligible individuals can enter Canada between December 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026, without obtaining traditional work permits.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced an extension to the temporary pause on new applications under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program's group of five and community sponsor streams, now lasting until December 31, 2026. The decision comes as the department works to address a significant backlog caused by high demand and lengthy processing times. While new applications remain on hold, previously submitted cases will continue to be processed, and C

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has granted Canada's Federal Government an additional two months to finalize amendments to the Citizenship Act, pushing the deadline from November 20, 2025, to January 20, 2026. This extension provides Parliament with crucial time to advance Bill C-3, legislation designed to eliminate the First-Generation Limit that currently blocks Canadians born overseas from transmitting citizenship to their foreign-born children. The court ruled this

A new national analysis shows that highly skilled immigrants, those with advanced degrees or expertise in fields such as engineering, ICT, and healthcare, are twice as likely to leave Canada within their first five years compared to immigrants with lower skill levels. Although one in five newcomers eventually departs within 25 years, early-stage departures are far more common among top-talent professionals who face challenges such as limited career opportunities, underemploy

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) has invested over $1 million to expand bilingual workforce development and Francophone entrepreneurship in southern Ontario. Funding will support Francophone-led organizations such as the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario and the Conseil régional des Mille-Îles to strengthen up to 12 businesses in tourism, sustainability, and services. The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de

A federal initiative designed to help Canadian employers hire skilled refugees from overseas is facing serious challenges , with processing times ballooning from an initial six months to 54 months. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, launched in 2018 to address labour shortages by connecting businesses with qualified refugee workers, has left more than 20 companies struggling with production cuts and lost revenue while applicants remain in precarious situations abroad. Refu

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

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

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

Statistics Canada published a detailed demographic analysis examining Arab communities across the country, revealing significant growth and notable characteristics. The Arab population has more than tripled since 2001, reaching nearly 796,000 people in 2021, with projections suggesting it could grow to between 1.4 and 1.9 million by 2041. The study highlights that half of Arabs aged 25 to 54 hold bachelor's degrees or higher, considerably above the national average. The repo