As of July 2, IRCC has updated its estimated processing times for several immigration and temporary residence applications. Applications for work permits submitted from within Canada are currently processed in 129 days, while study permits take approximately 7 weeks and visitor visas 38 days. For applicants outside Canada, work permit processing ranges from 4 weeks in the United States to 9 weeks in India, while study permit processing ranges from 4 weeks in the Philippines t

On June 25, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the second occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #422, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 475 points (8 points more than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was May 21, 2026, at 12:14:09 UTC. As of June 21, 2026, 239,645 profiles were regist

IRCC has updated its internal guidance for officers assessing whether international students are complying with their study permit conditions. While the underlying regulations have not changed, the revised instructions provide clearer direction on how officers should evaluate enrolment at the designated learning institution (DLI), changes of school or program, academic progress, authorized leaves, and work during periods of leave. The guidance also reinforces that officers sh

On June 24, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the second Express Entry draw for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience. IRCC issued 271 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #421, the cut-off score was only 223 points. The tie-breaking rule for this round was May 31, 2026, at 18:13:49 UTC. As of June 21, 2026, 239,645 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. So far in 2026, the Government of Canada has issued 85,067 invita

On June 23, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in this draw. In round #420, the cut-off score was 516 points, two points fewer than it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 14, 2026, at 00:03:10 UTC. As of June 21, 2026, 239,645 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. So f

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is sending surrender letters to some people who received Canadian citizenship by descent under Bill C-3. The letters ask these individuals to return their citizenship certificates. The government is questioning the third-party genealogy records used in their applications. Many affected people live in the United States. They relied on these certificates to make major life decisions. Some people even gave up their American cit

On June 22, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #419 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 955 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), and the round’s cut-off score was 730 points, 75 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was March 09, 2026, at 01:02:28 UTC. As of June 21, there were 239,645 profiles registered in the Express Entry pool. This year

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is temporarily lifting the twelve-month waiting period for some Ugandans to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). This change comes because of the worsening security and human rights situation in Uganda. A PRRA checks if a person faces danger or persecution if they return home. Normally, people must wait one year after a negative immigration decision to apply. Now, eligible Ugandan nationals who received a negative

Canada's Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab, marked World Refugee Day on June 20, 2026. This year also represents the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The minister highlighted Canada's proud history of helping those who flee danger and stated that refugees make valuable contributions to local neighbourhoods and the economy. Canada aims to welcome refugees through fair and well-managed programs. The government will continue working with partners to build l

The number of new international students and temporary workers arriving in Canada has declined sharply. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), total arrivals fell by 73 percent between January and April 2026 compared to the same period in 2024. New study permits dropped by 84 percent following strict annual caps and enhanced fraud prevention measures. Work permits fell by 67 percent due to a ten percent limit on low-wage hiring. Meanwhile, the gover

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