New data from Statistics Canada reveals that the median entry wage for immigrants arriving in Canada fell by 10.6% in 2023, marking the steepest decline since 1991. Despite this drop, newcomers' earnings one year after admission remained above pre-pandemic figures. The decrease coincided with a 1.1% rise in overall Canadian wages and appears linked to shifts in admission categories, particularly a reduction in Canadian Experience Class principal applicants—who typically comm

Canada is streamlining the path to permanent residence for international physicians already working in the country. The Federal Government announced a dedicated Express Entry category for doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian work experience, with invitations expected in early 2026. Additionally, 5,000 federal spaces have been allocated for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers, who will benefit from expedited 14-day work permit p

A recent study by the Canadian Council for Refugees highlights significant delays in processing refugee applications from Africa, with wait times averaging 42 months for government-sponsored cases, nearly double those from other regions. The report attributes these disparities to insufficient staffing at African visa offices, calling it evidence of systemic inequity within Canada's immigration system. Despite a 2023 Auditor General report flagging these issues, African appli

President Trump's decision to halt asylum claims has intensified calls for Canada to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement, with legal experts warning the pact may no longer be valid. Immigration lawyers argue the U.S. has abandoned its obligation under the UN Refugee Convention, eliminating the agreement's foundation. While some specialists caution that suspension could trigger an influx of asylum seekers—potentially millions currently in the U.S.—others insist Canada fa

Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration Michelle Rempel Garner announced that the Conservative Party has introduced an amendment to Bill C-12 to prevent the government from using extraordinary powers to mass-extend temporary resident visas. The move comes amid growing concerns over immigration oversight, following Statistics Canada's revelation that 38 per cent of temporary residents were missed in the last census and reports indicating over a million temporary resident

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

An extensive investigation has uncovered disturbing patterns of exploitation affecting nearly 80,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada's agricultural sector. These workers, who harvest the produce that reaches Canadian tables, face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, inadequate housing, and in some cases, physical and sexual abuse. The Investigative Journalism Bureau's findings, supported by Simon Fraser University research , reveal that the Temporary Foreign Worker Prog

IRCC has officially updated several immigration fees effective December 1, 2025, affecting International Experience Canada (IEC) applicants, restoration of status, and multiple inadmissibility services. The changes include higher charges for authorizations to return to Canada, temporary resident permits, criminality and serious criminality assessments, as well as restoration of visitor, worker, and student status. Applicants who submit online must pay the new fees immediatel

Nova Scotia has introduced a formalized Expression of Interest process for all Nova Scotia Nominee Program streams and Atlantic Immigration Program designations. The new system addresses the gap between high application volumes and available federal allocations by allowing the province to select candidates through periodic draws based on labour market priorities. All current and future submissions will enter an EOI pool, and selected applicants will receive direct notificati

A recent immigration enforcement action at the construction site of Calgary's new arena has raised concerns that Canada is adopting aggressive tactics similar to those used by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Canada Border Services Agency, accompanied by Calgary police, required workers to present identification, resulting in four individuals being barred from returning to work for lacking proper documentation. Experts warn that involving local police in immig

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

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

Canada has announced a temporary public policy exempting certain FIFA-invited foreign nationals from work authorization requirements ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The policy, effective through July 31, 2026, applies to FIFA employees, contractors, and subcontractors who hold invitation letters confirming their involvement in official FIFA events. Eligible individuals can enter Canada between December 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026, without obtaining traditional work permits.

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

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has granted Canada's Federal Government an additional two months to finalize amendments to the Citizenship Act, pushing the deadline from November 20, 2025, to January 20, 2026. This extension provides Parliament with crucial time to advance Bill C-3, legislation designed to eliminate the First-Generation Limit that currently blocks Canadians born overseas from transmitting citizenship to their foreign-born children. The court ruled this

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program has officially closed the 2025 intake after receiving sufficient applications to meet its federal nomination allocation of 300 candidates. Applicants will receive email notifications regarding the status of their submissions. The program is scheduled to reopen in 2026, with further details to be announced. In the interim, employers facing workforce challenges can explore alternative pathways such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Progr

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) has invested over $1 million to expand bilingual workforce development and Francophone entrepreneurship in southern Ontario. Funding will support Francophone-led organizations such as the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario and the Conseil régional des Mille-Îles to strengthen up to 12 businesses in tourism, sustainability, and services. The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de

A federal initiative designed to help Canadian employers hire skilled refugees from overseas is facing serious challenges , with processing times ballooning from an initial six months to 54 months. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, launched in 2018 to address labour shortages by connecting businesses with qualified refugee workers, has left more than 20 companies struggling with production cuts and lost revenue while applicants remain in precarious situations abroad. Refu