On March 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #400, the cut-off score was 508 points, the same as it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was June 24, 2025, at 22:35:48 UTC. As of March 1, 2026, there were 232,534 profiles registered in the Express Entry pool. So f

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) introduced new contact procedures effective March 2, 2026. Applicants must now submit inquiries via designated web forms instead of email. This shift aims to make the application process more efficient and cut down response times. French-speaking applicants can still reach out through the immigreraumanitoba.com mailbox. Program officials ask those waiting for replies to earlier emails not to resubmit requests, as duplicate subm

Saskatchewan launched the second intake window for 2026 on March 2, accepting applications across capped sectors including accommodation and food services, retail trade, and trucking. While the intake window filled quickly for accommodation and food services (240 positions) and retail trade (80 positions), the trucking sector remains open with 40 positions still available out of the original 80-position limit. Only workers with six months or less on a valid work permit were

On March 2, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the fifth Express Entry draw #399 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 264 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 710 points, 79 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw, and it was the lowest of the year. The tie-breaking rule for this round was August 07, 2025, at 18:02:56 UTC. As of March 15, 2026, 232,534 profiles were regi

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association has published a comprehensive report recommending the creation of a Canadian Business Immigration Council to reshape how the country approaches entrepreneur and investor immigration. The report, titled "Engine of Growth," addresses Canada's declining business immigration numbers—from 30,000 annual admissions to just 500 under current plans. CILA's proposal centers on adaptive governance rather than fixed policies, calling for coll

A temporary public policy allowing Iranians in Canada to apply for open work permits has officially expired. The policy , which was available to Iranian nationals who arrived in Canada by February 28, 2025, ended at midnight on March 1, 2026. It had offered open work permits, priority processing, and the option to apply for study permits from within Canada. Originally introduced in February 2023 following civil unrest in Iran after Mahsa Amini's death, the policy was part of

A Quebec-based resort is facing serious legal consequences after a lengthy investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Authorities laid charges on February 26 at the Granby courthouse against company directors and an employee for hiring 21 foreign workers without proper authorization. The violations allegedly took place between May 2022 and April 2024. The investigation began in December 2022 following a public tip, and a search in September 2024 yielded suffi

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) has announced the annual Fraud Prevention Month campaign for March 2026 to help employers and prospective immigrants recognize and avoid immigration scams. Immigration fraud remains a serious concern, with consequences including financial loss, legal penalties, and application refusals. The BCPNP reminds applicants that hiring a representative is optional, and any representative used must be licensed with the College of

On February 26, 2026, Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On February 20, 2026, the province invited 831 candidates under the Alberta Opportunity Stream – Priority Sectors. The minimum score for this draw was 56 points. Additionally, on February 24, 2026, Alberta invited 68 candidates under the Tourism and Hospitality Stream. Invited candidates had a minimum score of 73 points. So far, Alberta has invite

On February 26, 2026, Manitoba  held  the invitation round #265 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 72 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, 11 invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. This year, the MPNP invited 203 candidates, and 33 of them received

Manitoba has introduced a faster registration process for internationally trained pharmacists, including those from the United States. The new pathway reduces the licensing timeline from roughly four and a half years to about 75 days. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says the change will improve access to pharmacy services across the province, particularly in rural areas. Last year, 51 U.S.-trained pharmacists received their Manitoba licenses. Applicants from the U.S., Austral

Recent data from Statistics Canada shows a notable increase in the number of international students who remain in Canada after completing health degree programs. The 2019 cohort saw 68% of international health graduates filing tax returns three years after graduation, up from 52% in 2010. This surpasses the average retention rate for all international graduates. However, retention varies significantly by field and province. Pharmacy graduates had the highest retention at 64%

A joint study by Statistics Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reveals that provincial nominees screened through the Express Entry system achieve better economic outcomes than those admitted through base streams. Enhanced provincial nominees earned 7% to 16% more one year after arrival and 12% more three years later, even after accounting for demographic differences. The research, which analyzed data from 2016 to 2024, shows that 78% of enhanced nominees

A recent study from HEC Montreal reveals that the route immigrants take into Canada matters more than their qualifications alone. Workers arriving with closed permits typically earn higher incomes than other groups, while foreign students show the fastest wage growth once they enter the job market. The research, which surveyed 2,500 university-educated immigrants in 2025, found that the current points-based selection system does not always identify candidates who will perfor

On the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Parliamentary Secretary Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk highlighted Alberta's support for displaced Ukrainians. Since the conflict began, the province has welcomed almost 65,000 Ukrainian evacuees who now live in 213 communities across Alberta. Armstrong-Homeniuk noted that millions have been forced from their homes due to the ongoing war, which has become Europe's largest conflict since World War II. She emphasized that U

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has clarified how work permits will be issued to applicants under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) in 2026. Candidates who have submitted a complete permanent residence application under either pilot and hold a valid job offer may qualify for a work permit valid for up to two years while their PR application is processed. These work permits are exempt from t

Employers who break the rules of Canada's temporary foreign worker program now face much steeper penalties. Fines have jumped from $102,250 across 74 companies in 2018-19 to $4.8 million for 147 companies last fiscal year. McMaster University professor Catherine Connelly notes the government shifted from an educational approach to a deterrence strategy. The change comes as public scrutiny of the program intensified. Despite larger penalties, experts believe many violations s

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced plans for an October 2026 referendum on immigration policy, marking a significant departure from her previous support for high population growth. The proposal comes as the province grapples with rapid demographic changes that have strained public services. Smith attributes the shift to federal immigration reforms under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which moved away from merit-based selection toward increased temporary work

Rodney Sidloski has been charged with six offences under Saskatchewan's immigration legislation for allegedly exploiting two foreign workers at HELP International Shelterbelt Center near Weyburn between 2022 and 2024. The charges include producing false payroll records, misrepresenting employment terms, and taking advantage of the workers' trust and lack of knowledge. These alleged violations occurred at the tree farm operation and involve breaches of the Foreign Worker Recr

On February 19, 2026, Prince Edward Island  conducted  2026’s second invitation round under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). In this draw, PEI issued 109 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates working in priority sectors based on economic impact in PEI. The province prioritized candidates with employment offers from PEI-based organizations and international graduates from recognized institutions, including UPEI, Holland College, and Collège de