Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced new guidelines for processing family class permanent residence interviews. The updated procedures address situations where applicants living in Canada cannot attend overseas visa office interviews. Officers now have the authority to evaluate whether concerns can be addressed remotely from Canada or require an in-person meeting at the visa office abroad. The changes, effective January 16, 2026, apply to both f

On January 13, 2026, British Columbia held a draw for business candidates in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). In the first draw of the year, the province invited seven candidates in the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream. The lowest score of this round was 115 points, the same as in the previous draw, held on December 16, 2025. This stream targets experienced entrepreneurs who plan to establish businesses in the province's urban areas. Last yea

The Government of Yukon has confirmed an allocation of 282 nominations for its 2026 Nominee Program, with two intake periods scheduled for January 19-30 and July 6-17. Employers can submit expressions of interest online, with applications scored based on priority criteria, including regulated healthcare professionals, rural Yukon employers, and foreign nationals who have established roots in the territory. Those who received Temporary Measure Letters of Support in 2024 or 20

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association is raising serious concerns about the state of Canada's immigration framework, which appears to be buckling under systemic pressure. Rick Lamanna, a board director with the organization, points to fundamental issues beyond typical backlogs — namely, the absence of a unified national strategy and policy decisions that seem detached from ground realities. With wait times stretching past a decade in certain programs and recent propos

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued a stern warning to Canadians about a surge in marriage-based immigration fraud. The alert comes as the federal government cuts permanent residency targets by more than 21 percent, dropping from 451,000 approvals in 2024 to 380,000 this year. Officials are urging citizens to exercise caution when considering sponsoring foreign spouses, particularly in cases involving rushed engagements or individuals with multiple

Canada faces a mounting challenge as nearly one million work permits have expired by late 2025, with close to another million set to lapse throughout 2026. This could result in roughly two million individuals without legal status by mid-2026, with South Asian nationals comprising approximately half of this figure. The situation has intensified due to recent policy shifts that have narrowed pathways to permanent residency, particularly affecting international students and tem

The Canadian restaurant sector is bracing for serious challenges as federal immigration restrictions threaten to worsen an already critical staffing crisis. With Ottawa slashing temporary resident admissions by 43 percent for 2026, industry leaders warn this could add another 50,000 vacant positions to the nearly 150,000 openings expected by 2027. Restaurant operators, many of whom are immigrants themselves, say the cuts not only make it harder to recruit reliable staff but

Quebec has become the top province in Canada for retaining newcomers one year after arrival. According to Statistics Canada, 91.5% of permanent residents who landed in 2022 and initially intended to settle in Quebec were still living there 12 months later, compared with 91.3% in Ontario. This comes at a time when interprovincial mobility has been rising across the country since the pandemic. Quebec’s retention rate has grown notably from 85.9% in 2019 to 91.5% in 2022, while

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced immediate changes to its business immigration programs as part of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan and Canada’s Talent Attraction Strategy. As of December 19, 2025, IRCC has stopped accepting applications for the optional work permit under the Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program, except for applicants already in Canada seeking to extend an existing SUV work permit. The department will also prioritize permanent residence

On December 18, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revised the eligibility criteria for Hong Kong residents applying through Stream B of the permanent residence pathways. Effective immediately, principal applicants must demonstrate at least 1,560 hours of authorized Canadian work experience obtained through paid employment at any skill level within three years prior to submission. Additionally, all applicants are required to have maintained a valid Can

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has officially reached its 2025 allocation after issuing 10,750 nominations across all available streams. Officials confirmed that applications submitted before the cap was reached, along with new submissions, will be processed under the province's 2026 allocation. The program continues to accept applications without interruption, though processing timelines may extend into next year. Ontario remains one of Canada's most popular destinat

On December 17, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for French language proficiency candidates. In round #388, IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 399 points, nine points fewer than in the previous draw in this category. The tie-breaking rule for this round was August 24, 2025, at 23:43:05 UTC. This year, Canada issued 113,998 ITAs through 58 Express Ent

On December 16, 2025, British Columbia held two draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The BCPNP issued 17 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 115 points. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration -

On December 11, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the seventh occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #385, IRCC issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 476 points (14 points more than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was November 26, 2025, at 07:44:30 UTC. This year, Canada issued 102,599 ITA

Alberta has once again proven its economic strength by creating 28,700 jobs in November 2025, accounting for more than half of all jobs added across Canada. This marks the third consecutive month of significant employment growth in the province. Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow highlighted that Alberta has added over 105,000 jobs since November 2024, demonstrating positive momentum that aligns with the province's rapid population expansion. Youth

Ontario has introduced a proposal to overhaul the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), aiming to simplify the system and better respond to labour-market needs by reorganizing current pathways, including the existing Employer Job Offer streams. The plan suggests merging these streams into clearer, more flexible job-offer pathways for both high-skilled and semi-skilled workers, with updated eligibility criteria. The proposal also highlights a new dedicated healthcare stre

Ontario's Immigration Minister David Piccini has officially announced the province will roll out new immigration pathways next year, including a specialized Talent Stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Speaking during the debate on Bill 30 in late November, Piccini outlined plans to target high-impact individuals, including major investors, elite culinary professionals, prominent artists, and leading researchers. The legislation grants the province greater flex

On November 28, 2025, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) published the results of a new invitation round in Quebec’s online system Arrima. In this draw, the province issued six supplementary invitations for permanent selection under special provisions of the Quebec Immigration Act. These candidates were originally scheduled to receive their invitations during the July 31 selection round; however, a technical issue in the system delayed the

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