Immigration News


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What to Expect in a Job Interview: A Guide for Newcomers

When applying for jobs in Canada, many employers may ask you to take part in an interview. Preparing ahead of time may help the experience feel less stressful and more manageable. Here are some tips to make things easier. Learn more about the TD New to Canada Banking Package   1. Learn About the Employer […]

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Coming to Canada on a study permit? Your spouse may be eligible for PR before you are

A couple may be able to get Canadian permanent residence (PR) years sooner—by having one spouse work while the other studies. If a foreign national comes to Canada on a study permit and enrolls in a qualifying study program, their spouse could begin working on a spousal open work permit (SOWP). By the time the […]

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Government instructions leave the door open for the Parents and Grandparents Program to return in 2026

Recent news coverage around the closure of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2026 does not tell the full story. While Ministerial Instructions issued by the Canadian government do explicitly state that new application intake to the program will be closed this year, it is worthwhile to note that they do also include the […]

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Year in review: How did the Rural Community Immigration Pilot fare in 2025?

In the first year of its operation, the Rural Community and Immigration Pilot (RCIP) helped more than a thousand newcomers gain permanent residency (PR) and settle in 14 of Canada’s fast-developing communities. The RCIP is set to continue facilitating the immigration of newcomers this year as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues initiatives to […]

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ANALYSIS: How Canada reversed the US immigration playbook

Canada and the United States (US) both scaled back on immigration in 2025, but did so in dramatically different ways. US immigration policy under Donald Trump took a more protectionist approach, cutting back on foreign workers across the board with the view that such workers displace Americans from the US labour market. In contrast, Canada […]

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What Canada’s upcoming free trade negotiations mean for workers from India, Thailand, UAE, and Mercosur countries

Foreign workers and businesspeople from multiple countries may soon see easier access to Canada following upcoming trade negotiations. Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Should trade negotiations prove fruitful (and depending on the exact terms of each trade agreement), the Canadian government has signaled that it will look to […]

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Four kinds of candidates who are now eligible for CEC invitations after falling cut-off scores

After stagnating around 533–534 from August to November 2025, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) cut-off scores have begun to drop significantly—to as low as 509 on January 1, 2026. With the recent drop in cut-off scores, thousands of CEC candidates who previously scored too low to receive a chance at Canadian permanent residence have been newly […]

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British Columbia PNP increases nomination application fees for its worker streams

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has raised its application fees for the Skills Immigration category, from $1,475 to $1,750. The new fees were announced on the BC PNP’s news webpage on January 22, 2026. Only applications submitted on or after January 22 are subject to the new fee; those who applied prior […]

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Newcomers can receive hundreds of dollars from Canadian government this year under revamped benefit

Each eligible newcomer in Canada could receive up to an additional $417 this year, and up to an additional $167 per year over the next five years, under upcoming measures announced by the federal government. The money comes in the form of a refundable tax credit, dubbed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which revamps […]

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Changes are coming to LMIA-exempt work permits this year – here’s what to expect

Some major changes to Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt work permits are on the docket for the year 2026, including an increase in the admissions target, a freeze on eligible fields of study for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs), and a suite of additional planned, expected, and potential measures. Admissions target increase for foreign workers The […]

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Statistics Canada is hiring for 32,000 jobs across Canada – work permit holders qualify, may build eligibility for PR

The next Census of Population is being conducted in May of 2026, and Statistics Canada is hiring for approximately 32,000 jobs across the country to aid in data collection. Work permit holders will qualify for consideration for a variety of supervisory and non-supervisory roles. The hiring of associated roles for the census will begin between […]

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These employers can help international students and recent graduates immigrate to Canada

By choosing the right employer and occupations, international students and recent graduates in Canada can put themselves on a strong track to gain permanent residence (PR). Gaining at least six months of work experience (in addition to meeting minimum program requirements) in an eligible occupation under an Express Entry category can help PR candidates in […]

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ANALYSIS: How Canada’s immigration strategy supports Carney’s “third path” to global prosperity

Canada’s immigration strategy underpins Carney’s ambitious plan to spearhead the development of a new global economic order. Join the Angus Reid Forum and get $5 in points! In an acclaimed speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos on Tuesday, the Canadian prime minister called out the recent “rupture” of the “rules-based international order” that […]

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Extend your stay in Canada with this accessible, LMIA-exempt work permit overlooked by most

Canada’s Francophone Mobility Work Permit (FMWP) lets foreign workers with modest French abilities qualify for an employer-specific work permit, whether they’re applying from abroad or seeking to extend their worker status from inside Canada.  The FMWP is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process, and is among the most accessible to workers both […]

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Live Webinar: Starting Your Canadian Immigration Journey in 2026

Starting your immigration journey in Canada in 2026? Don’t miss this live webinar on February 12 at 11AM EST and get your questions answered by leading experts in immigration, language testing, and financial services.  This webinar brings together Express Entry legal professionals from CanadaVisa, along with language testing specialists from Prometric and HR experts from […]

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Express Entry candidates in these situations may need to decline their invitations to apply

Whether you’re entering the Express Entry pool in 2026, or you already have a profile submitted, it’s worth knowing that there are some situations wherein a candidate might have to decline an Invitation to Apply (ITA), if they do receive one. Understanding why – and what to do – if this happens, can help you […]

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New law grants thousands Canadian citizenship: Can you apply in 2026?

If you were born outside Canada and have a Canadian grandparent, you may be able to apply for proof of Canadian citizenship under new rules, even if neither of your parents has a Canadian passport. On December 15, 2025, new legislation came into force that eliminated the first-generation limit (FGL) to citizenship by descent. With […]

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These are the candidates Alberta is prioritizing for permanent residence in 2026

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has released its nomination allocation for 2026, mirroring its 2025 allocation post-increase. For 2026, the federal government granted the AAIP 6,403 nomination spaces—a roughly 31% increase compared to the Program’s initial 2025 nomination allocation (4,875). Details regarding its 2026 nomination allocation and intended distribution were published on the AAIP’s […]

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CEC draw: Express Entry cut-off score drops to a new low as thousands of candidates receive invitations

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 6,000 ITAs in a draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 509; and Created an […]

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Express Entry application backlog hits highest level in three years

The Canadian immigration department’s backlog of Express Entry applications has reached its highest level since October 2022. The most recent data, published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on January 20, 2026, show the state of the application backlog as of November 30, 2025, on which date IRCC had 1,005,800 applications in its backlog, […]

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Express Entry continues to see reduced competition, as over 4,600 top-scoring candidates exit the pool

Competition within the Express Entry pool continues to ease for the second month in a row, as thousands more top-scoring profiles leave the pool. Since the start of the year, 4,672 profiles between the 501-600 score range have left the Express Entry pool, largely attributable to the massive Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw that took […]

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Arrivals under Temporary Foreign Worker Program drop to lowest level in two years

Monthly new arrivals on work permits issued through Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) have sunk to their lowest level in nearly two years, according to the latest data published by the federal government. There were only 2,615 new admissions through the TFWP in November of 2025—the most recent month for which data is available. […]

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Canadians to have visa-free travel to China under new trade deal

Canadians will have access to visa-free travel to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), per statements made by Prime Minister Mark Carney during a news conference in Beijing on January 16. As of the time of this writing, it has not been announced when Canada will formally join China’s list of visa-exempt countries, nor have […]

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Latest Express Entry draw targets provincial candidates

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 681 ITAs in a draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 746; and Created an […]

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Pourquoi Apprendre l’Anglais et Atteindre le Niveau CLB 7 Peut Augmenter Vos Chances d’Immigrer au Canada

Pour les candidats francophones, apprendre l’anglais est bien plus qu’une compétence supplémentaire. C’est un outil puissant qui peut augmenter votre score du Système de classement global (SCG) et ouvrir des portes dans l’ensemble du système d’immigration canadien. Obtenez des Ressources de Préparation Gratuites de CELPIP Le Canada est officiellement bilingue, mais l’anglais est la langue […]

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