Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its processing times for various temporary resident application types—work permits, study permits, and visitor visas. Most notably, study permit processing times have skyrocketed for Pakistan-based submissions (an eight-week climb compared to one week ago), and US wait times have dropped by one week. Work permits remained relatively […]

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Settling into life in Canada involves managing finances in a new country. Along the way, you may be asked to share personal or banking information. Knowing how to recognize and respond to potential fraud may help you protect yourself and your finances. Book an Appointment at a TD Branch Now This article outlines common types […]

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Quebec has released an updated list of occupations that can benefit from expedited Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Following this update on February 24, 2026, which has removed many IT and engineering professions, there are now just 60 occupations eligible for this simplified LMIA processing across all […]

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A bill proposing major changes to Canada’s immigration system is set to advance to the next stage, with no amendments proposed. Should it become law in its current form, the bill will provide sweeping executive powers over Canada’s immigration system to the Governor in Council, that is, to the governor general, acting upon the advice […]

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The five Ontario communities participating in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) have released their priority sectors and occupations for 2026. Foreign nationals with a job offer that aligns with an Ontario community’s labour market needs can pursue permanent residence (PR) through this pilot. Assess your eligibility for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot This article […]

The post Ontario regions announce jobs eligible for permanent residence through the RCIP first appeared on CIC News.

Obtaining a police certificate for the period you’ve resided in China for an Express Entry application can prove difficult, particularly for those no longer in the country. This is because China, in most cases, requires in-person applications and the lack of a national standard for issuing police certificates. Consult with an experienced immigration representative In […]

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American country music star Charley Crockett was forced to cancel the Canadian portion of his tour after having been denied entry to Canada on account of his criminal record. According to a post on his Instagram account on February 23, 2026, Crockett sought entry to Canada at Kelowna on February 22, only to be told […]

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Canada’s immigration department has clarified the rules around the issuance of special work permits to permanent residence applicants under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP). Foreign nationals who have submitted a complete application for permanent residence under the FCIP or RCIP may be eligible for a work permit that […]

The post IRCC clarifies work permit rules for RCIP and FCIP applicants first appeared on CIC News.

On February 18, Canada’s immigration department launched a new priority category under the Express Entry system, targeting foreign skilled military recruits to immigrate to the country. This measure signals the importance of these recruits to Canada, a view echoed in the country’s recently released Defense Industrial Strategy—which emphasizes continued immigration initiatives for skilled military personnel […]

The post Canada is prioritizing foreign military members to immigrate to the country – here’s what you need to know first appeared on CIC News.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published its first-ever AI strategy. The strategy sets out guiding principles and objectives, identifies opportunities, and provides a framework for categorizing AI use cases. Join the Angus Reid Forum and get $5 in points! According to the published strategy, IRCC aims to implement AI in ways that are […]

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A class of labour-market-impact-assessment (LMIA)-exempt work permits is now being issued under revised rules. Work permits issued on the basis of reciprocal employment through the International Mobility Program are now subject to revised instructions to officers, under the new title “Reciprocal employment general guidelines [R205(b) – C20] – Canadian interests – International Mobility Program.” Schedule […]

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To qualify for an occupational category, Express Entry candidates now require at least 12 months’ work experience in an eligible occupation within the past three years. This work experience need not be continuous. See your eligibility for all Express Entry Streams and Categories Prior to this change, qualifying for an occupational category required six months […]

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On February 19, 2026, Prince Edward Island held its latest selection round under the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), aligning with the province’s anticipated Invitation to Apply (ITA) schedule. As in earlier draws this year, PEI prioritized candidates with in-province ties and strong alignment with occupations and priority sectors seen as having high economic […]

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The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has held six provincial immigration draws between February 6 and February 19, 2026, spanning multiple immigration streams. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams Over this period, Alberta issued no less than 441 invitations through its: Rural Renewal Stream; Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway; Alberta Express […]

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International students arriving in Canada to complete prerequisite courses prior to starting longer programs will now be issued shorter study permits. Under the old rules, officers were instructed to issue a study permit for a period equal to the length of the prerequisite course(s) plus one year. Now, a study permit is to be issued […]

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 4,000 ITAs in a draw for candidates in the Healthcare and social services category. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 467; […]

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has granted the Northwest Territories a nomination allocation of 197 for 2026—the same number of slots it ended 2025 with post-nomination increase. The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has also changed its selection process for 2026, introducing an Expression of Interest (EOI) model for all pathways under its Employer-Driven […]

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Foreign nationals with work experience in one of four occupations may now be prioritized for Canadian permanent residence under the newly created transport category. See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams and categories As of February 18, 2026, Express Entry candidates can qualify if they have at least 12 months’ work experience within the […]

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Nova Scotia has consolidated its provincial immigration pathways. As of February 18, 2026, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) now has a total of four provincial immigration streams, down from its previous 10. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams Eligibility criteria for all ten pathways remain unchanged, having been consolidated under the following streams: […]

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 391 ITAs in a draw for candidates in the Physicians with Canadian work experience category. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of […]

The post Canada holds first Express Entry draw under new category, with lowest CRS cut-off score since 2021 first appeared on CIC News.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held a targeted draw on February 18, 2026, issuing invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in skilled trades-related occupations through the province’s Employer Job Offer streams. To have been invited, candidates must have declared that they are currently residing in Canada with a valid work or study permit. Assess […]

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Provincial nominees may be able to obtain a new closed work permit to begin working in Canada before their permanent residence (PR) application is finalized, or extend their existing permit. This permit, granted to those who meet certain criteria (such as having a provincial support letter and a qualifying job offer), is exempt from the […]

The post Qualifying provincial nominees can benefit from this special LMIA-exempt work permit first appeared on CIC News.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) application backlog as of December 31, 2025, reached the highest level seen all year, following a relatively steady month-by-month increase since May of last year. By 2025’s end, the overall application backlog reached 1,014,700 applications. The most notable change seen from IRCC’s recent update is attributable to the declining […]

The post IRCC’s total backlog hits new highs, as Express Entry inventory plummets first appeared on CIC News.

The Canadian federal government will be prioritizing three new occupational categories for permanent residence through the Express Entry system: researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport occupations, and military personnel. See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories and streams The minimum work experience requirement for all occupational categories has been increased to […]

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Canada’s Express Entry pool, from which candidates are selected for permanent residence, may have nearly 50% fewer top-scoring profiles under the government’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) than it did two weeks ago. We can draw this conclusion if we consider the published data of the top-scoring ranges alongside recent draw results. See how competitive your […]

The post Invitations to apply outpace growth in top-scoring Express Entry profiles, latest data shows first appeared on CIC News.