Canada’s immigration department has released its latest processing times update for various application types, including permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship applications. Many temporary resident applications have seen increases in processing times, based on the type of application and/or the location from which submissions are being made. Among the most notable are: All study permit […]

The post IRCC’s February processing times: Family sponsorship wait times drop, study and work permit applications spike first appeared on CIC News.

As of February 17, 2026, Canadian passport holders will now be able to travel to China without requiring a visa, for stays of up to 30 days. This policy will remain effective until at least December 31, 2026. Per an announcement made by the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Canadians travelling for […]

The post Canadians can now travel to China visa-free first appeared on CIC News.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system, in a surprise statutory holiday draw. 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) […]

The post Canadian Experience Class candidates invited at lowest CRS cut-off score since 2024 first appeared on CIC News.

Moving forward in your marketing career requires strategic decisions about professional development. The Chartered Marketer (CM) designation is the only professional marketing designation in Canada—and it’s becoming a key differentiator in our competitive job market. Understanding how this program can accelerate your career may help you plan ahead, avoid skill gaps, and build a strong […]

The post Futureproof Your Marketing Career with the Chartered Marketer Designation first appeared on CIC News.

With the world entering a new order characterized by increased geopolitical instability over that seen in recent decades, people around the world have been pursuing dual citizenship, both for increased direct benefits and as a way of hedging their bets. As a dual citizen, you can benefit from the protections of both nationalities, including passports […]

The post Holding dual citizenship with Canada – what you need to know first appeared on CIC News.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system, in a surprise statutory holiday draw. The immigration department issued 279 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) […]

The post Provincial nominees invited in surprise Express Entry draw first appeared on CIC News.

If you’re applying to renew your passport online, you’ll be subject to a daily cap on applications. You’ll be able to create an online account any time you like, but if the cap has been hit, you won’t be allowed to start your passport renewal application. Schedule a Free Canadian Citizenship Consultation with the Cohen […]

The post Canada is limiting the number of online passport renewals—here is how to get yours through first appeared on CIC News.

When conducting draws through Express Entry, the federal government does not make a decision about the cut-off score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) at which to invite candidates to apply for permanent residence. What takes place is, in fact, the opposite. The government determines the number of candidates to invite in a given draw, […]

The post How does IRCC determine cut-off scores for Express Entry draws? first appeared on CIC News.

This week, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) for provincial nomination through both the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas pathways. The province invited candidates through both of these pathways, based on their inclusion in current strategic recruitment initiatives. See your eligibility for all Express Entry-linked […]

The post Manitoba invites skilled workers in-Canada and abroad, in first draw of the month first appeared on CIC News.

Breaking into the Canadian job market can be challenging for the many international student graduates seeking employment on their post-graduation work permits (PGWPs). Finding a job upon graduation is challenging even for native-born Canadians, let alone international students, many of whom lack skilled Canadian work experience and may not possess as extensive professional networks among […]

The post Five tips for landing your first job in Canada after graduating as an international student first appeared on CIC News.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has issued no fewer than 474 invitations to apply (ITAs) over two days of draws—to both skilled workers and entrepreneurs wishing to settle permanently in the province. The majority of skills immigration (SI) invitations were issued to workers who were chosen for their strong potential for economic […]

The post British Columbia issues 400+ invitations to apply for provincial nomination in back-to-back draws first appeared on CIC News.

Canadian citizenship law allows for dual citizenship, which has become a hot commodity in today’s era of increasing geopolitical instability. Many citizens of the United States, for example, have been claiming Canadian citizenship to become dual citizens in recent years. Provided that the citizenship law of your current nationality allows it, there are two ways […]

The post Two ways to get dual citizenship with Canada first appeared on CIC News.

If you have a spouse, common-law partner, or one or more dependent children, you must properly declare these family members on your permanent residence (PR) application, even if they won’t be accompanying you to Canada. If your family members will be accompanying you, including them in your application is important to ensure that they receive […]

The post What every permanent resident applicant with a spouse, common-law partner, or child needs to know first appeared on CIC News.

For many, starting a new life in Canada may mean finding work – and landing job interviews. One of the most important tools in that process is a Canadian-style resume. In Canada, a resume should include a clear summary of your skills, experience and work history at a glance. While you may bring experience from […]

The post Preparing a Resume for the Canadian Job Market: Helpful Tips for Newcomers first appeared on CIC News.

Early-career workers from countries across South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania can work in Canada by obtaining special work permits that can be issued for up to two years. Citizens aged 18–35 or 18–30 of the following countries can qualify for priority-access work permits through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program: Get help applying for […]

The post Young professionals from these countries have easier access to Canadian work permits first appeared on CIC News.

Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) applicants can increase their chances of success by keeping in mind key provisions in the instructions that immigration officers use to assess their applications. Even if they’re already familiar with PGWP eligibility criteria, applicants can benefit from learning often-overlooked nuances gleaned from internal IRCC documentation on PGWP processing, which reveals what […]

The post Important factors often overlooked by applicants for post-graduation work permits first appeared on CIC News.

Foreign nationals working in Canada on International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits will continue to be able to receive permits for subsequent participations from within the country, under a recently-extended policy. Canada’s immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has extended a policy that allows qualifying IEC applicants to have their work permits mailed […]

The post IRCC extends policy allowing International Experience Canada participants to get subsequent permits from within Canada first appeared on CIC News.

Manitoba employers in all sectors can now support work permit extensions for workers in 16 skilled trades professions, under Manitoba’s Temporary Resident Retention Pilot (TRRP). Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with Cohen Immigration Law Sector-exempt occupations Prior to this change, employers had to be in one of the eligible sectors in order to support […]

The post Manitoba expands work permit options: 16 occupations now exempt from sector requirements first appeared on CIC News.

As North America’s major free trade agreement enters review, stakeholders are calling for the “modernization of the existing list of covered professionals to reflect digital and clean‑tech professions.” An expansion of the list might enable the inclusion of professions such as cybersecurity analyst, data scientist, and UI/UX designer. Get help applying for a USMCA/CUSMA work […]

The post With North American trade agreement under review, report calls for expanding list of professionals eligible for special work permits first appeared on CIC News.

The Canadian federal government has ushered in a new era of permanent residence (PR) selection, prioritizing foreign nationals with work experience in in-demand occupations. Assess your eligibility for Canadian permanent residence There are many in-demand healthcare jobs, some of which can be qualified for in less than two years, but what about PR-hopefuls who don’t […]

The post Six high-paying jobs outside healthcare that can fast-track your permanent residence journey first appeared on CIC News.

Foreign nationals who had previously sought permanent residence through the now-defunct Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) may have their best shot at permanent residence by settling outside Quebec. The Quebec government closed the PEQ to new applications on November 19, 2025, while Canada’s federal government continues to signal its intention to ramp up francophone immigration outside […]

The post Why former PEQ candidates now have better PR options outside Quebec first appeared on CIC News.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has released its nomination allocation for the year, with the number of slots it received having increased compared to last. For 2026, the federal government has granted the OINP a total of 14,119 nominations to distribute to nominees across its eight provincial immigration streams. Assess your eligibility for enhanced […]

The post Ontario announces its nomination allocation for 2026 – and it’s higher than the year prior first appeared on CIC News.

Permanent residents seeking a grant of citizenship can currently expect to have their applications processed within approximately 13 months—a wait time of over one year. Certain individuals, however, may be eligible for urgent processing of their citizenship application if they are an “exceptional case” warranting this need. Schedule a Free Canadian Citizenship Consultation with the […]

The post You may be eligible for expedited processing of your citizenship application — here’s how first appeared on CIC News.

International students and graduates in Canada have access to multiple provincial pathways that could lead to an invitation for permanent residence (PR) faster than through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This is because many of these alternative Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams feature greatly reduced work experience requirements, as compared to the CEC’s one […]

The post ITA faster than CEC: Alternatives for international graduates and students in Canada first appeared on CIC News.

Despite not being widely known, some candidates in the Express Entry pool can and do receive invitations to apply (ITAs), despite having a lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score than the cut-off for that draw. This situation most often comes up when a candidate is within the 60-day ITA validity window of completing a new […]

The post Express Entry: Candidates in this situation can receive an ITA before their score goes up first appeared on CIC News.