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

Canada has once again demonstrated its commitment to strengthening Francophone communities outside Quebec by exceeding its 2025 immigration target. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced that the country welcomed French-speaking permanent residents at a rate of 8.9%, surpassing the 8.5% goal and marking the fourth straight year of achieving the target. This success stems from coordinated efforts among federal, provincial, and territorial governments and community p

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program has officially closed its 2025 intake after receiving sufficient applications to meet the federal nomination cap of 300 candidates. Prospective applicants will receive email notifications regarding whether their submissions will proceed to assessment or be withdrawn. The program is scheduled to reopen in 2026, with further details to be announced. Employers seeking to fill workforce gaps can explore alternative pathways, including th

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

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its Instrument of Designation and Delegation, effective December 15, 2025. The update broadens authority across multiple roles, including Director Generals and case processing agents, while introducing three key changes. Officers in Resettlement Operations can now refuse permanent resident visas when Quebec selection criteria are not satisfied. The Director General of the Migration Health Branch regains the auth

The Government of Canada has announced new measures to support Ukrainian nationals who applied through the family reunification pathway to permanent residence. Effective immediately, eligible applicants and their family members can extend their stay in Canada until March 31, 2027, while awaiting decisions on their applications. This extension allows them to apply for new or extended work permits, study permits, or temporary resident status from within Canada—even without rec

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced new guidelines for processing family class permanent residence interviews. The updated procedures address situations where applicants living in Canada cannot attend overseas visa office interviews. Officers now have the authority to evaluate whether concerns can be addressed remotely from Canada or require an in-person meeting at the visa office abroad. The changes, effective January 16, 2026, apply to both f

On January 15, 2026, Manitoba  held  the invitation round #262 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 55 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, ten invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. Last year, the MPNP invited 7,765 candidates, and 1,469 of them rec

On January 15, 2026, Prince Edward Island  conducted  2026’s first invitation round under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). In this draw, PEI issued 26 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 l'

On January 15, 2026, New Brunswick  published  the results of its recent draws using an expression of interest system to streamline immigration applications for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). From January 13 to January 15, 2026, the province conducted three draws and issued a total of 379 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream– Employment in New Brunswick (20 ITAs),

A new global study has ranked Ottawa as the city with the highest quality of life in North America, surpassing major hubs like New York, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. The annual index, which evaluates factors such as safety, healthcare, purchasing power, and environmental quality, placed Canada’s capital at the summit of the continental rankings for 2026. Other Canadian cities also performed strongly, reflecting the country's high standards for public infrastructure and soci

Ontarians are increasingly concerned about the direction of healthcare and cost of living, with nearly half believing it is time for a government change. Housing affordability, medical wait times, and access to family doctors have emerged as critical pain points affecting both long-term residents and newcomers to the province. The strain on healthcare infrastructure has been particularly acute for immigrant families, who often face additional barriers in navigating an alread

Statistics Canada reports that population growth in major urban centres slowed dramatically between July 2024 and July 2025, marking a significant shift from recent trends. Canada's 41 census metropolitan areas grew by just 1.0%, down sharply from 3.5% the previous year. The decline stems primarily from a reduction in the number of non-permanent residents following new federal immigration policies. Toronto saw virtually no population change, while Montreal and Vancouver expe

New data shows Ontario's distribution of international student permits has created significant imbalances across the province's post-secondary landscape. In 2024, colleges received 189,416 Provincial Attestation Letters but utilized only 55 percent, while universities used 82 percent of their smaller 35,460 allocation. The disparity widened further within sectors—Humber College distributed nearly its entire allotment, yet Northern College used just 28 percent. The fallout ha

On January 13, 2026, the Government of Canada announced a $640,000, three-year investment to support the "Culture d’entreprise" project, an initiative led by the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF) and Culture pour tous. This funding aims to facilitate the integration of French-speaking newcomers into the workforce by developing intercultural toolkits that bridge the gap between business environments and Francophone culture. As part of the Action Plan for Offic

On January 13, 2026, British Columbia held a draw for business candidates in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). In the first draw of the year, the province invited seven candidates in the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream. The lowest score of this round was 115 points, the same as in the previous draw, held on December 16, 2025. This stream targets experienced entrepreneurs who plan to establish businesses in the province's urban areas. Last yea

The Government of Yukon has confirmed an allocation of 282 nominations for its 2026 Nominee Program, with two intake periods scheduled for January 19-30 and July 6-17. Employers can submit expressions of interest online, with applications scored based on priority criteria, including regulated healthcare professionals, rural Yukon employers, and foreign nationals who have established roots in the territory. Those who received Temporary Measure Letters of Support in 2024 or 20

Canada saw a decrease in international arrivals in December 2025, with combined figures for returning residents and foreign visitors down 12.7% from the previous year. Statistics Canada reported that 4.6 million people entered the country by air and automobile, continuing an 11-month streak of year-over-year declines. Non-resident air arrivals totalled 752,700, down 1.1%, driven primarily by an 8.9% drop in U.S. visitors, though overseas travellers increased by 6.6%. Canadia

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has reported a significant milestone: pending refugee protection claims reached 300,163 by December 2025. Despite processing 6,724 finalizations during the month, the new intake of 7,397 claims continues to outpace the resolution. The backlog has grown steadily throughout the year, reflecting ongoing challenges in the refugee determination system. Meanwhile, refugee appeals have also increased, with 4,665 cases pending by year-end,

Manitoba's post-secondary institutions are grappling with severe financial pressures after the Federal Government cut international student allocations by 40 per cent, dropping from 18,591 in 2025 to just 11,196 in 2026. Advanced Education and Training Minister Renee Cable criticized the unilateral decision, noting it was made without provincial consultation and has led to plummeting enrolment and revenue losses across universities and colleges. Cable emphasized that interna