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

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has revised the list of countries requiring medical examinations for temporary residence applications, effective November 3, 2025. Four countries—Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela—have been added to the requirement list, while six territories —Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan —have been removed. The changes affect individuals who have resided in or travelled to these nations for six co

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab launched the 13th National Francophone Immigration Week on November 3, highlighting the theme "Thank you for enriching our Francophonie." The week recognizes the vital contributions Francophone newcomers make to Canada's cultural and economic landscape. Minister Diab announced that the government remains on track to achieve its 2025 target of 8.5% French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec. Federal and provincial ministers are w

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the last draws in International Experience Canada (IEC) pools for 2025. Since October 10, Canada has invited 2,946 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of October 27, 40,086 candidates were registered in the pool and waiting for the invitation. In the last round, there were 398 ITAs for Australia, 4 ITAs for Austria, 6 ITAs for Belgium, 3 ITAs for Chile, 6 ITAs for Costa Rica, 7 ITAs for Croatia, 6

On October 29, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for French language proficiency candidates. In round #376, IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 416 points, 16 points fewer than in the previous draw in this category. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 8, 2025, at 15:27:09 UTC. This year, Canada issued 81,485 ITAs through 46 Express Entry

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced temporary special processing measures to assist those affected by the 2025 wildfire season across Canada. These provisions, in effect from July 2 to November 30, 2025, support temporary residents who need to restore or extend their status or replace key immigration documents such as visas, permits, or visitor records. For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, the measures retroactive to April 1, 2025, co

On October 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #374. The Government of Canada issued 302 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 761 points, 17 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 26, 2025, at 02:14:06 UTC. As of October 26, 2025, 248,253 profiles were registered in the Expre

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced procedural updates to the Recognized Employer Pilot program. Effective October 24, 2025, applicants may now use a single Labour Market Impact Assessment for multiple work permit applications under the REP framework, contingent upon available positions remaining on the approved LMIA. IRCC has simultaneously established standardized procedures for officers to verify position availability on REP LMIAs. These clar

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has issued an important clarification regarding nomination certificates, emphasizing that nominees who have already received certification from the Province of New Brunswick are not permitted to withdraw their certificates for the purpose of reapplying under alternative immigration programs or streams administered by Immigration New Brunswick. Furthermore, NBPNP nominees are required to submit their permanent residence app

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has concluded its facilitation period for Express Entry applications submitted without upfront medical examinations. Effective October 21, 2025, applications lacking an immigration medical examination (IME) may be rejected under updated completeness check requirements . This policy shift follows the August 21, 2025, mandate requiring all Express Entry permanent residence applicants to submit medical examinations at the time