An evaluation report published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) found that the federal Self-Employed Persons Program is no longer fit for purpose. Designed as a permanent residence pathway for world-class athletes and cultural talent, the program has been hindered by vague eligibility criteria, high refusal rates averaging 69%, and a processing backlog exceeding ten years. Application intake was paused in April 2024 and extended indefinitely in December

On July 22, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the 8th Express Entry draw of the year for French-language proficiency candidates. In round #429, IRCC issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 399 points – 21 points fewer than the last draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was November 19, 2025, at 21:21:56 UTC. So far this year, Canada has issued 104,612 ITAs across 41 Express Entry d

IRCC has paused intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program as of July 15, 2026. Existing applications continue to be processed, with up to 15,000 approvals planned for 2026 under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan; no interest-to-sponsor forms or invitations will be issued until further notice. The super visa remains available as the interim family-reunification option. (Source: IRCC) Actionable — practice impact: new regulations under the Colleg

A recent Abacus Data poll reveals how Atlantic Canadians view regional growth and public policy under the Federal Government. While 17% of respondents identify immigration as a top national issue, the broader regional consensus links population growth directly to local infrastructure capacity. Atlantic Canadians generally support economic expansion but want future growth to align with improvements in housing affordability, healthcare access, and the overall cost of living. Th

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially marked the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) as "Paused" on its website as of July 15, 2026. No new interest to sponsor forms or invitations will be accepted until further notice, although existing applications will continue to be processed. IRCC still plans to grant permanent residence to up to 15,000 parents and grandparents in 2026 under the current Immigration Levels Plan. The department says the paus

The Ontario Government introduced major changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) by replacing eight existing streams with the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream. This regulatory update aims to streamline permanent residence pathways for individuals with job offers in the province. The new program introduces higher language and education benchmarks to strengthen overall program integrity. It also lowers revenue thresholds for employers in rural communities to

According to Statistics Canada’s recent report, Canada's population decreased in the first quarter of 2026. The total population fell to 41,417,056 on April 1, 2026. This represents a drop of 55,025 people from January 2026. The decline is due to lower immigration targets and a drop in the number of temporary residents. Canada welcomed 83,149 permanent immigrants in this quarter. This is a 20% decrease compared to last year. The number of non-permanent residents also fell by

The number of new international students and temporary workers arriving in Canada has declined sharply. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), total arrivals fell by 73 percent between January and April 2026 compared to the same period in 2024. New study permits dropped by 84 percent following strict annual caps and enhanced fraud prevention measures. Work permits fell by 67 percent due to a ten percent limit on low-wage hiring. Meanwhile, the gover

Thousands of Canadians signed an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney calling for the protection of refugee rights. The letter arrives ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20, amidst rising anti-immigrant sentiment across the country. Advocates expressed deep concern over recent policy changes, including lower refugee admission targets and stricter asylum rules. The group urged the Federal Government to maintain fair hearings and expand private sponsorship pathways for vul

Canada’s Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) continues to support smaller communities facing labour shortages and demographic challenges. RCIP operates in 14 communities across the country and granted permanent residence to 800 individuals during the first two months of 2026. Participating regions can identify up to 25 priority occupations based on local economic needs, including health care, manufacturing, transportation, and skilled trades. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, h

Quebec Immigration Minister François Bonnardel announced that the province will reopen the Programme de l'experience Quebecoise on July 2, 2026. This popular immigration stream will first prioritize foreign workers and international graduates who were eligible before the program closed on November 19, 2025. The first application intake period will run until October 31, 2026, to help those affected by the previous closure. Both the worker and graduate streams will reopen, and

On May 28, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the sixth Express Entry draw for French-language proficiency candidates of the year. In round #418, IRCC issued 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 409 points – nine points more than the last draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 29, 2026, at 22:20:00 UTC. As of May 24, 2026, 238,847 profiles were registered in the Express Entry p

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

The Canadian Government has reported a major decline in temporary resident arrivals. Total arrivals for new students and temporary workers dropped by 75 percent between January and March of 2026 compared to the same period in 2024. This decrease follows federal caps on international study permits and stricter hiring limits for temporary foreign workers. Additionally, immigration officials are prioritizing temporary residents already in the country for permanent residency. Ove

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

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

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

On April 29, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the fifth Express Entry draw for French language proficiency candidates of the year. In round #414, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 400 points – 19 points fewer than the last draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 07, 2026, at 20:13:59 UTC. As of April 26, 2026, 234,452 profiles were registered in the Express Entr

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

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