Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently updated its instructions regarding the restoration of temporary resident status to provide greater flexibility for foreign nationals. Under the revised policy, applicants can now apply to restore their temporary resident status independently, without the obligation to restore the specific work or study authorizations they previously held. This means individuals who no longer qualify for or require their former autho

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly announced $6 billion Team Canada Strong program signals a significant federal commitment to the skilled trades, creating a development that prospective immigrants should monitor closely. While the initial framework focuses on domestic recruitment, the goal of adding 100,000 Red Seal workers highlights a critical labour shortage that has traditionally driven skilled immigrants into the country. As Canada aims to fill 1.4 million trade positio

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program has announced that Employer Position Assessments (EPA), replacing the former Job Approval Form, will open for submissions on May 4. Intake follows a strict schedule based on industry: the Transportation and Retail Trade sectors open at 8:30 AM CST, followed by Accommodation and Food Services at 12:30 PM CST. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and employers are urged to have their documentation fully prepa

On April 30, 2026, the Government of Ontario conducted new invitation draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW) and International Student Stream (EJO IS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted candidates working in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The OINP issued 720 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the EJO FW Stream (57 points and above) and 277 ITAs under the EJO IS Stream (81 points and above). In total

Statistics Canada is overhauling its Demographic Estimates Program to keep pace with the country’s volatile migration landscape. Following the unprecedented population surge of 2023 and a subsequent cooling in 2025, the agency is integrating real-time administrative data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to better track permit extensions and non-permanent residents. New projects slated for 2026 include releasing sub-provincial data for urban centers to

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its policy regarding continued work authorization under section R186(u) for applicants awaiting a decision on their work permit renewals. The revised instructions clarify that the interim proof of work letter provided to applicants is now valid for 365 days. Importantly, if an application remains in progress beyond the date specified in the letter, workers may continue their employment until a final decision is r

On April 29, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the fifth Express Entry draw for French language proficiency candidates of the year. In round #414, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 400 points – 19 points fewer than the last draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 07, 2026, at 20:13:59 UTC. As of April 26, 2026, 234,452 profiles were registered in the Express Entr

The permanent residence fees will increase on April 30, 2026, to account for inflation and the rising costs of program delivery. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, these adjustments occur every two years to ensure the immigration system can manage growing demand while maintaining reliable service standards. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) will see a $25 increase, bringing the total to $600. Other significant adjustments include the Provincia

Nova Scotia has refined its immigration priorities to address critical labour shortages, with a primary focus on healthcare and skilled trades. Effective April 27, 2026, candidates in these sectors at TEER levels 0–4 are prioritized, including both international applicants and temporary residents already working in the province. Additionally, the province may consider candidates already working in Nova Scotia in selected sectors, including natural sciences, education, natural

On April 28, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in this draw. In round #413, the cut-off score was 514 points, one point fewer than it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 24, 2025, at 14:18:43 UTC. As of April 26, 2026, 234,452 profiles were registered in the Express Entry po

Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is under fire from federal ministers and advocacy groups following remarks made at a recent town hall regarding "frerism" and Muslim immigration. St-Pierre Plamondon suggested that an ideology linked to the Muslim Brotherhood is a documented reality in Europe but remains undocumented in Canada because it aligns with the Federal Government's "post-national" agenda. Federal ministers Jean-Yves Duclos and Marc Miller dismissed the

Effective May 1, 2026, Nova Scotia will implement a 12-month validity period for all Expressions of Interest (EOI) to enhance inventory management and ensure alignment with current labour-market needs. Under the new measures, EOIs submitted before May 1, 2024, will be closed immediately on the effective date. Those submitted between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, will remain active until April 30, 2027, unless selected sooner. For all new submissions moving forward, profile

On April 27, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #412 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 473 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 795 points, nine points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 13, 2026, at 23:10:05 UTC. As of April 26, 2026, 234,452 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. This ye

Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new draws under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From April 11 to April 24, Canada invited 4,447 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of April 24, 28,471 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 530 ITAs for Australia, 8 ITAs for Austria, 60 ITAs for Belgium, 60 ITAs for Chile, 14 ITAs for Costa Rica, 8 ITA

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) has issued a formal letter to Immigration Minister Lena M. Diab, expressing grave concerns over the "piecemeal" release of details regarding the upcoming Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Program. CILA reports that significant program signals are reaching the public through social media interviews and commercial platforms before official IRCC channels. This information gap has led to widespread anxiety amon

On April 23, 2026, the Government of Ontario conducted more 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 candidates living in Eastern, Northern, and Southwestern Ontario. The OINP issued 697 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the EJO FW Stream, 686 ITAs under the EJO IS Stream, and 719

Canada’s longstanding commitment to multiculturalism is facing a critical test as temporary residents remain in prolonged legal limbo. While the Federal Government provides robust support for Francophone communities, non-official language ethnocultural groups often lack similar institutional recognition. Current policies frequently prioritize overseas applicants over integrated temporary workers and students who have already proven their success within the Canadian economy. E

On April 23, 2026, Manitoba held the invitation round #269 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 308 candidates under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream. The draw invited 192 candidates under the occupation-specific selection and 116 candidates under the Skilled Worker pathway. In this round, 105 invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. In 2026, the MPNP invited

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has overhauled its selection criteria to align with the province’s "Look West" strategy, focusing on three pillars: Care, Build, and Innovate. Effective immediately, the program will prioritize 36 healthcare and education roles, 9 skilled trades for infrastructure projects, and high-impact talent across all sectors. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream has officially closed, and no new international student st

As of April 23, 2026, the Employer Position Assessment (EPA) replaces the Job Approval Form (JAF) under SINP, introducing a more structured and time-sensitive process. Employers must submit EPAs through their OASIS account with complete documentation, as incomplete applications will not be accepted. The system now distinguishes between capped sectors, which are limited to intake windows and one candidate per EPA, and non-capped sectors, where submissions are open and can incl