Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued new processing instructions for a temporary public policy supporting certain Ukrainian nationals in Canada and eligible family members who have applied under the Family reunification for Ukrainian nationals pathway to permanent residence. Effective April 1, 2026, the measures allow eligible applicants to maintain or restore temporary resident status while their permanent residence application is processed. To qua

On April 1, 2026, Ontario conducted immigration draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), International Student Stream (EJO IS), and In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted candidates working in the mining industry. The OINP issued 372 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the EJO FW Stream, 355 ITAs under the EJO IS Stream, and 32 ITAs under the EJO IDS Stream. In total, the

Canada has extended certain temporary work permit measures for Ukrainians in response to Russia’s ongoing war. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said Ukrainians who arrived under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and related measures will get an additional year to apply to extend their work permit. Eligibility includes Ukrainians and family members who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, as well as some CUAET holders permitted to a

Effective April 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has introduced a new service guarantee to strengthen accountability for passport processing. Under the “30 days or free” policy, applicants will automatically receive a full refund of their passport or travel document fee if processing takes longer than 30 business days. The processing clock begins once a complete application is received and ends when the document is printed and verified, excluding mailing

On March 31, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 2,250 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #407, the cut-off score was 509 points, two points more than it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was March 18, 2026, at 08:27:11 UTC. As of March 29, 2026, 230,186 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool

On March 30, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador held the second round of selection through the Enhanced Expression of Interest (EOI) system, issuing a total of 245 invitations. Of these, 209 were sent to candidates under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), while 36 went to applicants through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Last year, Newfoundland and Labrador invited a total of 3,376 applicants under the NLPNP and AIP. So far, the province

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program regulatory changes took effect on March 30, 2026, updating how applications are processed before permanent residence is granted. Under the new rules, provinces and territories assume expanded authority previously held by IRCC to assess whether nominees can become economically established and whether they intend to live in the nominating jurisdiction. IRCC says the guidance is posted as a courtesy to stakeholders and applies to both existin

On March 30, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #406 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 356 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 802 points, 60 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was February 12, 2026, at 03:54:03 UTC. As of March 29, 2026, 230,186 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. This

A Scottish-born midwife accredited through the University of British Columbia’s bridging program says she is leaving Canada after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) denied her work-permit application a second time. Heather Gilchrist, a native English speaker, was initially refused for not uploading an English test, saying the application did not clearly request it. After submitting the results, her file was reconsidered but rejected again because officials w

Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new draws under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From March 14 to March 27, Canada invited 3,167 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of March 27, 31,077 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 233 ITAs for Australia, 6 ITAs for Austria, 38 ITAs for Belgium, 4 ITAs for Chile, 4 ITAs for Costa Rica, 10 IT

Ottawa will raise key immigration fees this spring as it adjusts charges for inflation and program costs. As of March 31, 2026, the right of citizenship fee for adults will increase from $3.25 to $123, while the $530 processing fee for adult citizenship grants remains the same. A second increase follows on April 30, 2026, affecting permanent residence programs, including the right of permanent residence fee ($600) and higher rates for provincial nominees, business applican

A new commentary from the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association argues that international law has an important, but limited, role in Canadian immigration decisions. The commentary says countries still control who may enter under domestic rules, while universal human rights standards set real boundaries, including non-discrimination, protection from inhuman treatment, and respect for family life. In practice, tribunals interpret the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act u

Canadian-born families continued to hold about twice the median wealth of recent immigrant families in both 2016 and 2023, Statistics Canada reports , with the gap especially pronounced when the primary income earner lacks a university degree. Over the same period, established immigrant families increased their wealth and, by 2023, moved ahead of comparable Canadian-born families. Home equity remained the biggest driver of net worth across groups, while pension assets stayed

Payroll employment in Canada rose by 45,600 in January 2026, up 0.2% from December after a small decline the month before, Statistics Canada reported . Year over year, payroll employment was also up 0.2%. Average weekly earnings, including overtime, reached $1,320.46, a 2.0% increase from January 2025. Job gains were concentrated in educational services, construction, finance and insurance, and health care and social assistance, while retail trade posted the largest drop. Job

Thunder Bay has completed a Welcoming Communities Analysis aimed at improving support for newcomers and advancing long-term population growth under the city’s Growth Action Plan. The work was led by the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission with Community Services and the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association. Leaders say recent immigration strengthened the workforce, but expected policy shifts could slow arrivals, making retention essential. The analysis poi

Canadian-born families continued to hold about twice the median wealth of recent immigrant families in both 2016 and 2023, Statistics Canada reports , with the gap especially pronounced when the primary income earner lacks a university degree. Over the same period, established immigrant families increased their wealth and, by 2023, moved ahead of comparable Canadian-born families. Home equity remained the biggest driver of net worth across groups, while pension assets stayed

On March 25, 2026, the Government of Ontario conducted new invitation draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), International Student Stream (EJO IS), and In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted professionals living in Eastern Ontario, Northern Ontario, Southwestern Ontario, Central Ontario (excluding the GTA), and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The OINP issued 597 invit

The Canada Border Services Agency announced it has paused all deportations to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar due to dangerous conditions in those countries. The temporary measure applies to anyone facing removal from Canada, except those convicted of serious crimes or linked to security threats. Officials say the situation has become too risky for civilians across these nations. The suspension will stay in place until conditions improve and the risk to

Manitoba's 2026 budget focuses on strengthening healthcare across rural and northern regions through targeted workforce investments . The province is allocating $6.3 million for physician recruitment while creating new training pathways for internationally trained doctors, nurses, and paramedics. Major capital projects include emergency room construction at E.M. Crowe Hospital in Eriksdale and healthcare facility expansions in Portage la Prairie, Neepawa, Brandon, Winkler/Mor

A new proposal calls for Canada to establish a legal pathway to permanent residence for individuals who have lived in the country for ten years or more. The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association argues that thousands of people currently work, pay taxes, and raise families here while remaining legally temporary. The proposed policy would require proof of continuous presence, a clean record, and evidence of integration through tax filings or employment. Supporters say this