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

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

The Government of Alberta has launched nominations for the 2026 Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards, a program honouring immigrants who have made meaningful contributions across the province. The awards span eight categories, including Arts and Sports, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Young Leader. Associate Minister of Multiculturalism Muhammad Yaseen emphasized the importance of recognizing how newcomers support businesses, drive innovation, and volunteer in communities. Nomination

Saskatchewan launched the second intake window for 2026 on March 2, accepting applications across capped sectors including accommodation and food services, retail trade, and trucking. While the intake window filled quickly for accommodation and food services (240 positions) and retail trade (80 positions), the trucking sector remains open with 40 positions still available out of the original 80-position limit. Only workers with six months or less on a valid work permit were

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) has called on Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab to address the mounting challenges facing international students following recent policy changes. The CCR expressed concern that shifting regulations around post-graduation work permits and provincial immigration pathways have left thousands of students uncertain about their legal status. The Council emphasized that international students contribute significantly to Canada's economy

On February 20, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the first occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #398, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 467 points (9 points fewer than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 9, 2025, at 18:22:06 UTC. As of February 15, 2026, 235,695 profil

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

On February 11, 2026, New Brunswick issued 196 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Skilled Worker Stream under the NBPNP, specifically targeting the NB Graduates and NB Experience pathways. This draw focused on essential Healthcare occupations for candidates who submitted their EOI by the February 10, 2026, cut-off date. The Skilled Worker Stream is designed for foreign nationals with the skills, education, and work experience needed to contribute to the provinc

On February 10, 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. Global Talent Stream - 11 business days (+1 day) Agricultural stream – 19 business days (+4 days) Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 16 business days (+6 days) Permanent Residence

On February 10, 2026, British Columbia  held  two draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The BCPNP issued 13 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 121 points. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration -

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) continues its regular invitation rounds for candidates registered in its Skills Immigration stream. As of February 8, 2026, the registration pool contains 10,988 candidates across various score ranges. The distribution shows significant concentration in the mid-tier brackets, with 2,134 registrations in the 100-109 range and 1,979 in the 90-99 category. Higher-scoring candidates remain competitive, as 41 registrations

Canada's Express Entry pool is showing signs of reduced competition at the top tier for the second consecutive month. Between January 4 and February 2, over 6,200 profiles with CRS scores above 501 exited the system, marking a significant 29% decrease in the 501-600 range alone. While the overall pool expanded by 2,366 candidates, the reduction in high-scoring applicants suggests improving prospects for mid-range candidates seeking permanent residence invitations. Immigratio

Starting February 3, 2026, Immigration New Brunswick has suspended new employer designation applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program while implementing sweeping reforms across three key immigration pathways. The province is introducing a candidate pool system for AIP endorsement applications, in which monthly selections prioritize provincial labour market needs rather than processing applications chronologically. Simultaneously, significant occupational restrictio

Canadian immigration tribunals are ordering the deportation of numerous clients who used the services of Sunny Wang, a Richmond-based immigration consultant at the center of what authorities call the country's largest immigration fraud case. Wang generated $10 million over eight years by creating falsified Chinese passports and fraudulent documents for hundreds of clients seeking permanent residency. While some family members are being permitted to remain on humanitarian gro

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission wrapped up a strong first year of its Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), issuing 475 recommendation certificates to skilled workers across priority sectors, including healthcare, business, and trades. The employer-driven program, which runs through 2029, designated 358 employers across the Thunder Bay region and reviewed nearly 900 applications. CEO Jamie Taylor emphasized the pilot's role in tackling local lab

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has revised its Skills Immigration application fee structure as of January 22, 2026. Workers seeking permanent residency through the program can now apply across three streams – Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and Health Authority – with an application fee of $1,750 CAD. Registration remains free of charge, while review requests cost $500 CAD. The program continues to prioritize candidates who address Bri

Alberta's Advantage Immigration Program has issued 111 nominations from its 2026 allocation of 6,403 spaces, leaving 6,292 spots available as the province continues processing 1,386 applications across multiple streams. The Alberta Opportunity Stream leads with 70 nominations issued and 741 applications under review, currently assessing submissions from October 2025. Meanwhile, the Tourism and Hospitality Stream has granted 10 nominations with 73 applications pending, and th

Canada's immigration system continues to show robust activity , with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processing over 414,000 permanent residence decisions between January and November 2025, welcoming 367,500 new permanent residents during this period. The citizenship program also demonstrated significant momentum, granting citizenship to 181,600 individuals from April through November. On the temporary residence front, IRCC finalized substantial numbers of applic

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its Instrument of Designation and Delegation, effective December 15, 2025. The update broadens authority across multiple roles, including Director Generals and case processing agents, while introducing three key changes. Officers in Resettlement Operations can now refuse permanent resident visas when Quebec selection criteria are not satisfied. The Director General of the Migration Health Branch regains the auth

The Government of Canada has announced new measures to support Ukrainian nationals who applied through the family reunification pathway to permanent residence. Effective immediately, eligible applicants and their family members can extend their stay in Canada until March 31, 2027, while awaiting decisions on their applications. This extension allows them to apply for new or extended work permits, study permits, or temporary resident status from within Canada—even without rec