A new regulatory proposal indicates that Canada is preparing to redesign the selection of high-skilled immigrants, replacing the current Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades programs with a single, streamlined federal category. The goal is to simplify the system and make it more responsive to labour market needs, shifting away from a universal selection model toward a more targeted approach based on occupations and economic demand. Th

Statistics Canada’s latest analysis highlights how immigrants and non-permanent residents who arrived between 2019 and 2024 navigated a fast-changing labour market shaped by post-pandemic job vacancies. Using a 2024 Labour Force Survey supplement, the report examines core working-age newcomers (aged 25 to 54) and compares them with earlier immigrant cohorts. Many newcomers secured their first job quickly, with 42.5% of recent immigrants and 48.5% of recent non-permanent resi

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has added a new $135 fee to submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI), effective April 7, 2026. The other AAIP service fees remain unchanged for now. Under the current structure, applications to streams such as Alberta Opportunity, Alberta Express Entry, Rural Renewal, and Tourism and Hospitality are set at $1,500, while several entrepreneur streams carry a $3,500 application fee. Additional charges apply for entrepreneur

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued new processing instructions for a temporary public policy supporting certain Ukrainian nationals in Canada and eligible family members who have applied under the Family reunification for Ukrainian nationals pathway to permanent residence. Effective April 1, 2026, the measures allow eligible applicants to maintain or restore temporary resident status while their permanent residence application is processed. To qua

Canada has extended certain temporary work permit measures for Ukrainians in response to Russia’s ongoing war. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said Ukrainians who arrived under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and related measures will get an additional year to apply to extend their work permit. Eligibility includes Ukrainians and family members who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, as well as some CUAET holders permitted to a

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

Ottawa will raise key immigration fees this spring as it adjusts charges for inflation and program costs. As of March 31, 2026, the right of citizenship fee for adults will increase from $3.25 to $123, while the $530 processing fee for adult citizenship grants remains the same. A second increase follows on April 30, 2026, affecting permanent residence programs, including the right of permanent residence fee ($600) and higher rates for provincial nominees, business applican

A new commentary from the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association argues that international law has an important, but limited, role in Canadian immigration decisions. The commentary says countries still control who may enter under domestic rules, while universal human rights standards set real boundaries, including non-discrimination, protection from inhuman treatment, and respect for family life. In practice, tribunals interpret the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act u

The Canada Border Services Agency announced it has paused all deportations to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar due to dangerous conditions in those countries. The temporary measure applies to anyone facing removal from Canada, except those convicted of serious crimes or linked to security threats. Officials say the situation has become too risky for civilians across these nations. The suspension will stay in place until conditions improve and the risk to

A new proposal calls for Canada to establish a legal pathway to permanent residence for individuals who have lived in the country for ten years or more. The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association argues that thousands of people currently work, pay taxes, and raise families here while remaining legally temporary. The proposed policy would require proof of continuous presence, a clean record, and evidence of integration through tax filings or employment. Supporters say this

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab responded to the Auditor General's recent report on international student reforms, acknowledging progress while committing to further improvements. The government has successfully reduced the number of non-permanent residents by over 171,000 in late 2025, working toward a target of under 5% of Canada's population by 2027. While the Auditor General praised improvements such as the letter-of-acceptance verification system and program dive

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)—

Canada has announced changes to the super visa program that will make it easier for families to bring parents and grandparents to visit. Starting March 31, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will offer two new ways to meet income requirements. Families can now use income from either of the past two tax years instead of just one. They can also include the visiting parent or grandparent's income to reach the minimum threshold. The super visa allows parents and

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed 32,400 permanent residence applications and welcomed 24,100 new residents in January 2026. The department also granted citizenship to 227,300 individuals between April 2025 and January 2026. During the same month, IRCC finalized 34,200 study permit applications and 136,700 work permit applications, including extensions. These numbers reflect Canada's ongoing commitment to maintaining robust immigration pathways for

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a temporary public policy to help Quebec transition more temporary residents to permanent status. The initiative offers streamlined access to employer-specific work permits through the International Mobility Program for eligible foreign workers. Applications will be processed within 30 days, with submissions accepted until December 31, 2026. The policy targets three groups: workers with permits expiring by ye

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is introducing new fees effective April 1, 2026. Applications from skilled workers with job offers, which were previously free, will now require a $500 fee as the province shifts toward employer-driven streams and aims to recover administrative costs. In addition, a $250 fee will be charged for second-review requests to discourage non-genuine appeals, with refunds issued if the original decision is overturned. The new measure

New data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows a significant decline in temporary resident arrivals for January 2026. Canada welcomed 7,040 new international students and 11,850 temporary workers, marking a 28% overall decrease compared to January 2025. These figures reflect the government's commitment to reducing Canada's temporary population to below 5% through measures such as annual caps on study permits, stricter work-permit eligibility,

The Federal Government announced a temporary measure that allows eligible skilled workers in Quebec to extend their employer-specific work permits for up to 12 months. This gives Quebec additional time to process applications for the Quebec Selection Certificate, which is required before applying for permanent residence. The measure targets workers who received invitations to submit a Demande de Selection Permanente under Quebec's Skilled Worker Selection Program. Applicatio

The Government of Canada announced temporary measures allowing rural employers to increase the proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers they can hire from 10% to 15% of their workforce. The change is intended to help rural businesses address persistent labour shortages and will apply from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, following a request from a province or territory. At the same time, sector-specific rules will remain in place: employers in the health care,

A recent Postmedia-Leger poll reveals that most Albertans back Premier Danielle Smith's plan to limit temporary immigrants' access to provincial services. The survey found 63% support for restricting healthcare, education, and social programs to citizens, permanent residents, and provincially approved immigrants. This comes as Alberta faces a $9.4-billion deficit and strained public systems due to record immigration. Smith plans to present 9 referendum questions later this y