Recent data shows a major shift in Canadian international student demographics following federal cap restrictions on post-secondary levels. The overall number of international students in secondary schools or lower remained stable between 115,000 and 125,000 from 2023 to 2025. In contrast, post-secondary international student numbers fell drastically from 544,000 to 263,000 during the same period. Other study sectors also dropped from 47,000 to 21,000, causing the relative sh

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increased its daily capacity for online passport renewals to help travellers ahead of the summer season. The immigration department raised the daily application limit to 1,500 submissions. This adjustment follows previous caps of 1,250 applications per day. The government first launched this online renewal pilot program in late 2024 for a limited group of citizens. Officials stated that a gradual rollout allows staff to

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.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is investigating a technical issue with the Express Entry system. Several eligible candidates did not receive an invitation during the recent French-language proficiency round. This issue occurred during draw number 418 on May 28, 2026. Department staff are actively reviewing the situation to find out why the system missed these candidates. The government advises that affected individuals do not need to take any action right

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

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

On May 27, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #417, the cut-off score was 518 points, four points more than it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw, and the highest for the category in 2026. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 30, 2026, at 03:16:01 UTC. As of May 24, 2026, 238,847 profiles were

The Government of Canada has announced temporary border measures in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and growing regional concerns involving Uganda and South Sudan. Beginning May 27, 2026, Canada plans to temporarily suspend the issuance of certain immigration documents to residents of affected countries for 90 days. Starting May 30, some travellers who have recently been in high-risk regions will also be required to complete a 21-day self-is

Conservative Shadow Minister Michelle Rempel Garner has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to ensure Immigration Minister Lena Diab attends an upcoming parliamentary review. The official opposition selected the immigration minister for the upcoming Committee of the Whole session scheduled for Thursday night. This standard legislative procedure allows members of parliament to directly question ministers for four hours regarding departmental spending and policies. The opposit

The Canadian Government is making travel easier for eligible citizens from Indonesia and Malaysia. Starting May 26, 2026, select travellers from these countries can apply for an electronic travel authorization instead of a traditional visa. This rule applies to individuals who held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid United States visa. Eligible travellers must enter or transit through Canada by air to use this streamlined process. Immigration Minis

On May 25, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #416 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 334 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 805 points, seven points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw and the highest in 2026. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 16, 2025, at 18:16:33 UTC. It is important to note that IRCC has not updated the official E

Over the past month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new draws under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From April 25 to May 22, Canada invited 6,223 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of May 22, 31,606 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 1 ITA for Andorra, 1,071 ITAs for Australia, 5 ITAs for Austria, 60 ITAs for Belgium, 49 ITAs for Chile, 14 ITAs for Cost

International student interest in Canada is rising again after two years of decline. New search data shows a sharp increase in prospective students looking at Canadian institutions. This turnaround follows a major policy change after officials removed master's and doctoral students from the national enrolment cap. These postgraduate applicants no longer need a provincial attestation letter to apply. Online searches for master's programs jumped by 55 percent in December 2025.

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

The Canadian Government has updated instructions regarding study permit validity periods. Officers must generally issue study permits and temporary resident visas for the full length of the study program plus an extra 90 days. However, this validity period normally cannot outlast the applicant's passport. The new update clarifies a crucial exception under subsection 52(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Certain individuals do not need a passport that co

A new assessment of Canada’s migrant integration landscape reveals significant strain as federal funding for the IRCC Settlement Program is projected to drop to $935.7 million by 2026-27. Despite a 70 percent budget growth since 2016, a government-wide expenditure review and reduced permanent resident targets are triggering widespread staff layoffs across service provider organizations. Particularly controversial is the decision to discontinue federal funding for language ins

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