Foreign home care workers in Canada are facing potential employment gaps after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) clarified that applicants under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots are not eligible for bridging open work permits. The exclusion means applicants cannot rely on a BOWP to keep working while their permanent residence applications are processed and may need to find another way to maintain their temporary status and work authorization as existi

Temporary foreign workers in British Columbia’s Okanagan region are facing financial and employment uncertainty after the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland forced thousands of residents to evacuate. Migrant worker organizations estimate that around 100 workers were evacuated, with many agricultural workers going days without pay. Employment and Social Development Canada said affected workers can receive support with temporary housing and replacing identification documents,

New official data shows a sharp reduction in new temporary residents entering Canada. Between January and May 2026, overall new arrivals fell by nearly 70% compared to the same timeframe in 2024. New study permit arrivals dropped by almost 83%, while new temporary work permits decreased by over 62%. These figures highlight the ongoing impact of federal policy changes, including strict study permit caps and tighter work eligibility rules. The government aims to lower the tempo

The Canadian Government will launch the Manitoba Workforce Transition Bridge to extend temporary work permits for thousands of foreign workers. Announcements from Winnipeg Members of Parliament Kevin Lamoureux and Terry Duguid confirm that roughly 2,700 provincial nominee candidates can extend their status until December 31, 2027. This temporary measure serves as a follow-on to previous public policies, preventing critical work authorizations from expiring while the provincia

On June 9, 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 except the Permanent Residence Stream. Global Talent Stream - 10 business days (+2 days) Agricultural stream – 22 business days (+1 day) Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 11 business day

Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new draws under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From May 23 to June 5, Canada invited 3,179 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of June 5, 33,227 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 656 ITAs for Australia, 3 ITAs for Austria, 20 ITAs for Belgium, 18 ITAs for Chile, 10 ITAs for Costa Rica, 8 ITAs for

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expanded a temporary immigration measure to help families stay together. Spouses and common-law partners of eligible temporary foreign workers in Quebec can now apply for an open work permit. To qualify, the partner must hold a valid temporary resident status or have lost it within the last ninety days. The partner must also be listed on the main applicant's permanent selection application for Quebec's Skilled Worker Selecti

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its program instructions for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The new operational guidance focuses on changes to job positions and business ownership. Applicants who change job duties or TEER codes with the same employer must submit an updated provincial endorsement and a new offer of employment form. If an employer changes ownership, the supporting province will assess if the applicant can still be supported.

International graduates face growing permit rejections due to confusing language requirements on the federal immigration website. Vital details about the mandatory language test remain difficult to find when applying for post-graduate work permits (PGWP). The online application survey fails to flag the test requirement on automated checklists. Applicants often miss the rule because the information stays hidden inside expandable boxes without distinct fonts or colours. Immigra

The Ontario Government has opened a new apprenticeship exam testing centre in Kenora to support the skilled trades sector in Northwestern Ontario. Previously, apprentices in this region had to travel five hours to Thunder Bay to write their final certification exams, facing high travel costs and scheduling delays. The new centre allows local tradespeople to test closer to home, complete their training quickly, and enter the workforce sooner. Over the next ten years, Northern

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its program delivery instructions to clarify that the IMM 5707 Family Information form is no longer a mandatory requirement for work permit applicants applying from within Canada. The change affects several streams, including open work permits for Hong Kong residents and foreign nationals with a support letter from Manitoba, Alberta, or Yukon. Under the new guidance, applications cannot be refused solely because

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its policy regarding continued work authorization under section R186(u) for applicants awaiting a decision on their work permit renewals. The revised instructions clarify that the interim proof of work letter provided to applicants is now valid for 365 days. Importantly, if an application remains in progress beyond the date specified in the letter, workers may continue their employment until a final decision is r

Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new draws under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From April 11 to April 24, Canada invited 4,447 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of April 24, 28,471 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 530 ITAs for Australia, 8 ITAs for Austria, 60 ITAs for Belgium, 60 ITAs for Chile, 14 ITAs for Costa Rica, 8 ITA

As of April 23, 2026, the Employer Position Assessment (EPA) replaces the Job Approval Form (JAF) under SINP, introducing a more structured and time-sensitive process. Employers must submit EPAs through their OASIS account with complete documentation, as incomplete applications will not be accepted. The system now distinguishes between capped sectors, which are limited to intake windows and one candidate per EPA, and non-capped sectors, where submissions are open and can incl

The Federal Government has introduced a series of regulatory amendments under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration Systems and Borders Act to modernize the in-Canada asylum system. These changes focus on addressing system-wide bottlenecks caused by a surge in refugee claims through several key measures, including a new single online application process and the enforcement of stricter timelines for ministerial due diligence. Notably, the reforms ensure that eligible claiman

On April 9, 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 decreased for all streams except the Agricultural and Low-wage streams, which had a very slight increase. Global Talent Stream - 7 business days (-5 days) Agricultural stream – 16 business days (+1 day) Seasonal Agr

On April 7, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to reduce administrative hurdles for international students and apprentices. Key changes include removing the co-op work permit requirement for students and eliminating study permit mandates for foreign apprentices under specific conditions. Furthermore, the proposal allows international graduates and students to continue w

A Scottish-born midwife accredited through the University of British Columbia’s bridging program says she is leaving Canada after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) denied her work-permit application a second time. Heather Gilchrist, a native English speaker, was initially refused for not uploading an English test, saying the application did not clearly request it. After submitting the results, her file was reconsidered but rejected again because officials w

Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new draws under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From March 14 to March 27, Canada invited 3,167 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of March 27, 31,077 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 233 ITAs for Australia, 6 ITAs for Austria, 38 ITAs for Belgium, 4 ITAs for Chile, 4 ITAs for Costa Rica, 10 IT

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a major policy change on March 23, 2026, expanding eligibility for open work permits for spouses of workers under Significant Investment Projects in British Columbia. The update removes previous restrictions that limited eligibility to spouses of high-skilled workers at specific TEER levels. Now, spouses of all SIP workers—whether employed in high-skilled occupations (TEER 0-3) or low-skilled positions (TEER 4-5)—