On November 26, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC again issued only 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to candidates in the CEC-targeted draw. In round #381, the cut-off score was 531 points, two points fewer than it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 08, 2025, at 19:02:26 UTC. As of November 24, 2025, 246,656 profi

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has released provincial and territorial allocations for 2026 under the international student cap, setting a national target of 408,000 study permits—down 7% from 2025. The cap, which has successfully reduced the number of study permit holders from over 1 million to approximately 725,000 since its 2024 introduction, aims to lower Canada's temporary population to below 5% by 2027. As announced before, master's and doctoral students

On November 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #380. The Government of Canada issued 777 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 699 points, 39 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 06, 2025, at 01:16:22 UTC. As of November 23, 2025, 245,758 profiles were registered in the Exp

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced policy changes on November 24, 2025, affecting study permit applications for designated learning institutions. Students moving from secondary to post-secondary education can now start classes at their new institution while awaiting permit approval, provided they applied before their current permit expired. The update also clarifies requirements for joint programs leading to a single credential. These students need only o

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has implemented a five-year temporary measure allowing out-of-status and unauthorized home care workers to regularize their immigration status while awaiting permanent residence decisions. The policy, which became effective March 31, 2025, enables eligible workers who applied under Stream A of the Home Care Worker Immigration program to restore their status and secure work authorization. Family members residing in Canada who are i

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced an extension to the temporary pause on new applications under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program's group of five and community sponsor streams, now lasting until December 31, 2026. The decision comes as the department works to address a significant backlog caused by high demand and lengthy processing times. While new applications remain on hold, previously submitted cases will continue to be processed, and C

The Government of Canada has announced the continuation of special immigration measures for Haitian nationals and foreign family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents beyond November 20, 2025. The extension allows eligible individuals to apply for study permits, open work permits, temporary resident permits, or status extensions without application fees. Initially launched in May 2024 in response to Haiti's deteriorating security conditions, these measures ref

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has updated its operational guidelines for work-permit applications submitted by family members of military personnel, effective November 14, 2025. The revision confirms that dependent children are no longer eligible for open work permits under codes C46 or C48 for applications filed on or after January 21, 2025, where no reciprocal agreement applies. It also clarifies that spouses of TEER 4 workers are no longer eligible for open

On November 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the sixth occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #379, IRCC issued 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 462 points (ten points fewer than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 02, 2024, at 22:19:41 UTC. This year, Canada issued 86,699 ITAs

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that protected persons and their family members can now apply for study permits from within Canada, regardless of whether they have submitted permanent residency applications. This policy update, effective November 13, 2025, expands access for various groups, including students at all educational levels, work permit holders, temporary residents, refugee claimants, and families of foreign government officials. The

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced the continuation of temporary measures for individuals affected by the Sudan conflict, extending support until October 28, 2026. Sudanese nationals in Canada — as well as eligible foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents — may continue to extend their temporary resident status or modify the conditions of their stay without paying the applicable fees. Sudanese nationals who are read

On November 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC again issued only 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to candidates in the CEC-targeted draw. In round #377, the cut-off score was 533 points, the same as it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 17, 2025, at 03:39:05 UTC. As of November 9, 2025, 245,706 profiles were re

Cambrian College in Sudbury has suspended intake for six additional programs after an earlier pause on ten, citing a “catastrophic” decline in international student enrollment following IRCC’s new post-graduate work permit rules. The college now faces a projected $1.4 million deficit for 2025–2026, ending a decade of surpluses. Enrollment of international students dropped to 1,430 from 2,631 last year, while domestic numbers rose only slightly. Affected programs include Busi

Canada's Express Entry system has experienced a notable transformation in recent weeks, with approximately 11% of all candidates now holding CRS scores exceeding 500 points. While the overall pool contracted by 2,547 profiles between late October and early November, the competitive landscape has intensified significantly. The number of candidates in the highest scoring bracket (601-1,200) more than doubled from 306 to 696, while the 501-600 range expanded by 417 profiles. Th

On November 10, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #377. The Government of Canada issued 714 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 738 points, 23 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was February 22, 2025, at 2:12:01 UTC. As of November 9, 2025, 245,706 profiles were registered in the Expres

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has extended its public policy allowing certain foreign workers in Provincial Nominee Program expression of interest pools to obtain open work permits until December 31, 2025. The program, originally scheduled to end in late 2024, enables eligible foreign nationals currently employed in participating provinces to secure work permits valid for up to 2 years with provincial support letters. Manitoba and Yukon remain active participa

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced measures to strengthen graduate student recruitment following recent enrolment restrictions. Starting January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral candidates at public universities will be exempt from the international student cap, eliminating the need for provincial attestation letters. Additionally, doctoral applicants will benefit from expedited 14-day study permit processing, extended to accompanying family mem

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced important updates to the provincial and territorial attestation letter framework for study permits. Effective November 4, 2025, IRCC has introduced several key clarifications affecting the 2025 allocation period, including revised protocols for PAL/TAL reuse, joint program applications, and processing criteria. The updates also address exception cases requiring Organization/Entity IDs and provide sample docume

On November 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rolled out updated guidelines following regulatory amendments that took effect January 31, 2025. These changes grant designated officers the authority to individually cancel electronic travel authorizations, temporary resident visas, work permits, and study permits when circumstances warrant. The new provisions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations apply exclusively to issued document

Canada's partial release of its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan alongside Budget 2025 reveals a strategic recalibration of the country's immigration framework. Temporary resident admissions will decline from 516,600 to 385,000, reflecting efforts to balance infrastructure capacity with population growth amid housing pressures and institutional constraints across Canadian provinces. International student spaces will face a 50% reduction to 155,000 in 2026 (150,000 in 2027 a