On May 21, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held another selection round targeting candidates directly invited under a strategic recruitment initiative. Invitations were extended to candidates through both pathways of the MPNP’s Skilled Worker Stream. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams This marks the province’s 10th immigration selection round of the year, the […]

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) application backlog has continued its downward trajectory, according to newly-released figures covering the period ending March 31, 2026. An application is classified as backlogged if it has not been processed within the immigration department’s official service standards*. See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams The most notable changes […]

The post IRCC’s latest update reveals Express Entry application backlog at all-time low first appeared on CIC News.

Americans who now qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent can use a checklist to avoid common mistakes that can result in the return, delay, or refusal of their proof of Canadian citizenship applications. If you’re an American born before December 15, 2025 with at least one Canadian ancestor, you have the right to Canadian citizenship. […]

The post The top 11 mistakes that can derail a proof of Canadian citizenship application, according to a lawyer first appeared on CIC News.

Nova Scotia has begun sending out Notices of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry candidates, to connect them with employers in priority sectors that are experiencing labour shortages. As of the time of this time of writing, only two sectors have been identified under this initiative: construction and healthcare. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams […]

The post Nova Scotia launches initiative to connect Express Entry candidates with job offers first appeared on CIC News.

On May 20, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its latest processing time estimates for newly-submitted applications. Significant improvements to wait time can be seen across various application types, primarily for submissions from India and Pakistan, while Nigerian and U.S. applicants experienced notable slowdowns. Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation Most distinctly, Nigerian-based work […]

The post IRCC releases updated processing times for temporary residence applications first appeared on CIC News.

Are you thinking about starting a business in Canada? This is an exciting step, with some new processes to explore. If you’re a newcomer, it is helpful to learn how businesses are structured, what rules apply, and where to find support. In this article, we’ll cover five steps you may take to plan your business […]

The post Starting a Small Business in Canada as a Newcomer: 5 Steps From Legal Eligibility and Registration to Taxes and Funding first appeared on CIC News.

Canada’s one-year ban on asylum claims no longer applies to unaccompanied minors. On May 19, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) instituted a new temporary public policy, exempting unaccompanied minors from the ban on asylum claims filed more than a year after the claimant’s entry to Canada. Under the ban, instituted under Bill C-12, […]

The post Unaccompanied minors exempted from Canada’s asylum ban first appeared on CIC News.

Three trends have emerged in the direction of Canadian immigration under the first year of Lena Metlege Diab’s tenure as immigration minister: a more targeted approach to permanent residence selection, a streamlining of temporary residence administration, and stricter measures for the asylum system. In this analysis piece, we’ll trace the through-line of recent policy under […]

The post What’s Lena Diab done with Canada’s immigration system in her first year as minister? first appeared on CIC News.

Shiloh Jolie is among the many Americans who acquired Canadian citizenship by descent when Canada changed its citizenship law. On December 15, 2025, changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act removed the first-generation limit to inheriting Canadian citizenship for everyone born before that date. Get a Free Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship Shiloh Jolie […]

The post Shiloh Jolie is among the Americans who are now U.S.-Canadian dual citizens, after Canada changed its citizenship law first appeared on CIC News.

This spring, thousands of Americans are requesting copies of official documents from vital statistics offices and archives to prove their eligibility for Canadian citizenship by descent. Last December, Canada eliminated the generational limit to inheriting Canadian citizenship, making millions of Americans with Canadian ancestry eligible to obtain Canadian passports. Get a Free Consultation on Applying […]

The post Where Americans are finding the documents needed to prove Canadian citizenship by descent first appeared on CIC News.

Canada has placed 19th overall in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Countries rankings. The country’s strongest showing came in the Culture & Tourism scoring category, where it placed 8th globally—with notable performances in Governance and Infrastructure categories also bolstering Canada’s overall ranking. See your eligibility for Canada’s largest immigration programs Switzerland claimed […]

The post Canada places among world’s best countries in updated rankings first appeared on CIC News.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP held another Skills Immigration draw on May 14, 2026. Invitations were extended to candidates who met one of two selection factors, centred around wage/salary and TEER 0–3 job offer, and profile registration score. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams Draw details This latest selection round, which saw […]

The post British Columbia issues more than 430 invitations to apply to high economic impact candidates first appeared on CIC News.

On May 11, Newfoundland and Labrador held its fifth provincial immigration draw of the year—and the second this month, thus far. A total of 186 candidates were sent an invitation to apply (ITA), through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams […]

The post Newfoundland and Labrador’s second May draw sees over 180 candidates invited first appeared on CIC News.

Canadian citizens by descent applying for proof of Canadian citizenship certificates from abroad now have their applications subject only to a minimal completeness check prior to processing. Under new instructions to officers, proof of citizenship applications from outside Canada and the United States are only to be rejected as incomplete if they are lacking one […]

The post Proof of Canadian citizenship applicants from abroad face easier completeness check under new rules first appeared on CIC News.

Foreign professionals applying for an *LMIA-exempt work permit in Canada under a global trade-in-services agreement now have clearer rules to follow, after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its guidance for officers. These new rules apply to professionals seeking entry under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), a World Trade Organization (WTO) […]

The post Canada clarifies rules for LMIA-exempt work permits under WTO trade agreement first appeared on CIC News.

The Public Archives and Records Office of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island has seen a drastic surge in document requests from Americans seeking Canadian ancestry records, after Canada changed its citizenship laws in December 2025. Bill C-3, which took effect on December 15, 2025, eliminated Canada’s first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, opening […]

The post Prince Edward Island Archives logs four years worth of document requests in four months, as Americans rush for Canadian passports first appeared on CIC News.

If you’re among the millions of Americans now eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent, taking extra care with your proof of citizenship application can increase your chance of on-time processing and reduce the risk of return or refusal. We’ve spoken with Ala Bujac, a Canadian immigration lawyer at Cohen Immigration Law, to get 10 tips […]

The post Applying for proof of Canadian citizenship? Here are 10 tips from a lawyer first appeared on CIC News.

Starting your career journey in Canada in 2026? Your language test is an important step toward finding a job, advancing professionally, or transitioning into a new career. To help you prepare, CELPIP is offering preparation materials designed to support effective exam preparation and help you approach the test with confidence and a clear understanding of […]

The post Exclusive CELPIP Preparation Resources to Help You Feel Ready and Confident for Your Language Test! first appeared on CIC News.

Applicants for refugee settlement to Canada are legally exempt from the requirement to produce an exit permit or proof of legal status in their host country in order to process their application. New program instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirm that these documents are not required under the Immigration and Refugee Protection […]

The post Canada increases flexibility for refugees facing exit barriers first appeared on CIC News.

In the second quarter after Canada changed its citizenship law, the processing time for proof of Canadian citizenship certificates has increased to 12 months. In July 2025, it was five months. Get a Free Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship The increase can be chalked up to Americans, millions of whom are now […]

The post There’s now a one-year wait for proof of Canadian citizenship certificates, as thousands of Americans apply first appeared on CIC News.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has permanently closed the Four Falls, New Brunswick, port of entry (POE). The crossing (which would previously open seasonally) has been out of service since May 2020. The May 11 announcement formalizes a closure that began as a temporary COVID-19 measure. The CBSA extended the suspension several times over […]

The post Canada announces permanent closure of Four Falls port of entry first appeared on CIC News.

On May 12, Canada’s immigration department published updated processing times for various permanent residence and citizenship application types. Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications each saw one-month jumps in processing time. This update saw the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) queue increase by over 6,000 applicants, and the base PNP inventory by more than […]

The post Processing times climb for Express Entry, PNP applicants first appeared on CIC News.

His Toronto fans would surely affirm Elton John’s recent claim of being “Canadian.” After all, though he holds only British citizenship, John’s been partnered with his husband, Canadian filmmaker David Furnish, for over three decades, and he and Furnish have two children together, both Canadian citizens. While likely to grant John’s claim of being Canadian […]

The post Elton John identifies as Canadian by choice, while millions around the world are Canadian by blood first appeared on CIC News.

Public libraries in Canada are often described as “community hubs,” but for newcomers, they can be something even more powerful: a gateway to belonging. From language learning to employment support, today’s libraries offer far more than books: they provide practical tools, social connections, and trusted information that help people build a new life. Here’s a […]

The post How Public Libraries in Canada Help Newcomers Access English Classes, Employment Resources, and Settlement Support first appeared on CIC News.

If you’re planning to attend the 2026 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, taking place in Montreal, Quebec, between May 22–24, you may be denied entry if you have a criminal record. With less than two weeks until the event kicks off, deemed rehabilitation—if applicable to your circumstances—provides the best path toward overcoming criminal inadmissibility. Schedule […]

The post Americans heading to the Canadian Grand Prix could be denied entry for a misdemeanour – here’s what to do about it first appeared on CIC News.