On February 20, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the first occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #398, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 467 points (9 points fewer than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 9, 2025, at 18:22:06 UTC. As of February 15, 2026, 235,695 profil

On February 19, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the first Express Entry draw for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience. IRCC issued 391 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #397, the cut-off score was only 169 points. The tie-breaking rule for this round was January 03, 2026, at 03:25:14 UTC. As of February 15, 2026, 235,695 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. So far in 2026, the Government of Canada has issued

Canada is shifting its immigration strategy to prioritize high-skilled professionals and economic sustainability. On February 18, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab revealed new Express Entry categories designed to fill labour gaps. The new update introduces priority streams for researchers, senior managers, and aviation experts. Additionally, the government will streamline immigration pathways for foreign military personnel for roles within the Canadian Armed Forc

Over the last week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new  draws  under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From February 7 to February 13, Canada invited 6,986 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of February 13, 28,872 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 290 ITAs for Australia, 21 ITAs for Austria, 40 ITAs for Belgium, 128 ITAs for Chile, 12 ITAs for Costa Rica

According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the country saw 53% fewer international student and temporary worker arrivals in 2025 compared to the previous year, marking a significant shift in immigration policy. New figures released for December 2025 show just 9,665 study permits and 9,735 work permits were issued that month, reflecting the government's commitment to reducing temporary resident numbers to below 5% of the total popul

On February 17, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #396, the cut-off score was 508 points, one point fewer than it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was March 16, 2025, at 09:35:59 UTC. As of February 15, 2026, 235,695 profiles were registered in the Express Entr

On February 16, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the Express Entry draw #395. The Government of Canada issued 279 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 789 points, 40 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw, which was the highest of the year. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 05, 2025, at 0:59:13 UTC. As of February 15, 2026, 235,695 p

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the continuation of a streamlined process for International Experience Canada (IEC) participants. Those currently in Canada with valid IEC work permits can now request examination and document issuance domestically when submitting subsequent applications. The extension, effective February 10, 2026, will remain operational indefinitely, offering greater convenience for young professionals, working holiday parti

Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new  draws  under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From January 24 to February 6, Canada invited 14,982 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of February 6, 31,632 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 2 ITAs for Andorra, 1,029 ITAs for Australia, 82 ITAs for Austria, 159 ITAs for Belgium, 525 ITAs for Ch

The North Bay & Area Rural Community Immigration Pilot has announced significant updates to its 2026 Priority Occupation List, including the addition of a sixth priority sector focused on natural and applied sciences. Following consultation with over 170 designated employers and analysis of regional labour market data, the program has refined its occupations list to better address workforce needs across healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and newly added technology fiel

On February 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the Express Entry draw #393. The Government of Canada issued 423 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 749 points, 3 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 16, 2025, at 22:30:36 UTC. As of February 2, 2026, 238,920 profiles were registered in the Express

Canada's immigration system is under increasing strain as backlogs continue to grow. A year after initial job cuts, the department has seen permanent and temporary immigration applications rise by 2.6 percent to over 2.1 million, while backlogged cases exceeding service standards jumped 12.7 percent. Citizenship application backlogs increased from 17 to 23 percent, and refugee claims awaiting decisions climbed to more than 300,000. The situation appears set to worsen, with 3

Canada's immigration security apparatus is struggling with fundamental structural weaknesses that have allowed security threats to slip through multiple agency checkpoints, according to recent policy analysis . The system involves four separate federal bodies – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – each maintaining distinct databases and risk assessme

Ottawa has announced significant changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), with new co-payment requirements taking effect May 1, 2026. Under the updated policy outlined in Budget 2025, eligible beneficiaries will pay $4 per prescription medication and 30% of costs for supplemental services such as dental care, vision care, counselling, and assistive devices. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states these measures will ensure the program's long-t

Over the last week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the first draws of the year for the International Experience Canada (IEC) pools. From January 1 to January 23, Canada invited 12,693 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of January 23, 35,567 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 1 ITA for Andorra, 1,304 ITAs for Australia, 83 ITAs for Austria, 370 ITAs for Belgium, 2

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a freeze on eligible fields of study for Post-Graduation Work Permits for the remainder of 2026. International students planning to work in Canada after graduation should note that no programs will be added to or removed from the current list of eligible CIP codes this year. This decision provides stability for students already enrolled in qualifying programs, but means those in non-eligible courses will not s

On January 21, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #392, the cut-off score was 509 points, two points fewer than it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 29, 2025, at 04:35:24 UTC. As of January 19, 2026, 237,120 profiles were registered in the Express Ent

Canada's immigration system continues to show robust activity , with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processing over 414,000 permanent residence decisions between January and November 2025, welcoming 367,500 new permanent residents during this period. The citizenship program also demonstrated significant momentum, granting citizenship to 181,600 individuals from April through November. On the temporary residence front, IRCC finalized substantial numbers of applic

On January 20, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the Express Entry draw #391. The Government of Canada issued 681 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 746 points, 35 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was November 19, 2025, at 04:09:11 UTC. As of January 19, 2026, 237,120 profiles were registered in the Expres

The Government of Yukon has begun accepting expressions of interest for its 2026 Nominee Program, with submissions closing January 30 at 4:30 pm YST. Employers sponsoring foreign nationals will complete an online form, earning points based on program priorities, including regulated healthcare professionals, rural Yukon employers, and candidates with established territorial ties. The territory received 282 nominations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for 2026