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.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has published details of its latest provincial immigration draws, held between January 26 and February 2, 2026. Over this period, Alberta issued 1,169 invitations across its: Dedicated Health Care Pathways (Express Entry and non-Express Entry); The Alberta Express Entry Stream’s Accelerated Tech Pathway; and The Alberta Opportunity Stream. Assess […]

The post Alberta kickstarts 2026 by issuing over 1,100 invitations across four draws first appeared on CIC News.

Canadian law fully recognizes dual and multiple nationalities, meaning individuals can become Canadian citizens without being expected to give up their existing citizenship(s). However, by the very nature of dual citizenship, an individual’s ability to hold two passports is subject to the laws of both countries involved. If you wish to pursue Canadian citizenship (through […]

The post Citizens of these 10 countries can hold dual citizenship with Canada first appeared on CIC News.

On February 2, the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) conducted two draws, extending over 300 invitations to apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination. The province invited candidates through two provincial immigration streams, focusing on French speakers, those already working in NB or who have a qualifying job offer, and qualifying graduates or letter of interest […]

The post New Brunswick invites skilled workers, in-province graduates, and French speakers in latest draws first appeared on CIC News.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published updated instructions to officers on the processing of study permit applications with respect to provincial or territorial attestation letters (PALs/TALs), with good news for international students pursuing joint programs. Under the new instructions, published on IRCC’s website on February 6, 2026, students in joint programs only require […]

The post New rules for processing of study permit applications first appeared on CIC News.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 8,500 ITAs in a draw for candidates with French language proficiency. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 400; and Created an […]

The post Canada holds largest category-based draw in Express Entry history first appeared on CIC News.

Canada is prioritizing French speakers and individuals with qualifying work experience in select sectors and occupations for permanent residence (PR) through Express Entry’s category-based selection (CBS). To qualify for a priority occupational category, you must have six months of full-time, continuous work experience in a single eligible occupation within the last three years (in Canada […]

The post This easy-to-use tool can help you build eligibility for priority permanent residence categories first appeared on CIC News.

Express Entry competition continues its cooling trend for the second month in a row, as even more top-scoring profiles leave the candidate pool. Competition within the Express Entry pool appears to be easing at the top end, even as the overall pool size has grown. Between January 4 and February 2, a total of 6,238 […]

The post Number of top-scoring Express Entry profiles falls 30% first appeared on CIC News.

On February 4, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held its first Skills Immigration draw of the year, issuing 429 invitations to apply (ITAs). Invitations were issued to candidates that the province identified as creating a high economic impact in BC based on wage/job offer or registration score. Assess your eligibility for enhanced […]

The post British Columbia invites 400+ provincial nominee candidates in latest Skills Immigration draw first appeared on CIC News.

Gaining foreign work experience can be one of the quickest ways to boost one’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score under Express Entry—especially through skill transferability points. But it’s also one of the easiest factors to get wrong. When Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews a permanent residence (PR) application, immigration officers don’t just look […]

The post Express Entry: What candidates need to know about claiming foreign work experience first appeared on CIC News.

Many people think Express Entry is just a numbers game: get a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and you’ll get invited to apply for permanent residence (PR). While certainly important, it isn’t the only thing that ultimately decides success—factors like eligibility for certain draw types, timing of profile creation, and submitting a complete, strong […]

The post Beyond CRS: the top factors that impact success in pursuing permanent residence through Express Entry first appeared on CIC News.

A two-year program at a Canadian college can lead to a three-year post-graduation work permit (PGWP), allowing an international student to become a competitive candidate for Canadian permanent residency (PR), provided they plan ahead. See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams and categories When pursuing PR through this study-to-immigrate pathway, plan for Meeting the […]

The post How to get Canadian PR with a two-year college diploma first appeared on CIC News.

Foreign nationals who arrive in Canada may still be able to apply for (or be issued) a work permit at a port of entry (POE)—but this option is far more limited than it used to be. In recent years, the federal government has tightened POE access through several measures, including ending the practice of “flagpoling” […]

The post Who can get a Canadian work permit at the border? first appeared on CIC News.

The Government of New Brunswick has implemented numerous changes to its provincial immigration programs, including restrictions on occupations eligible for consideration, a new application consideration model, and a pilot extension. These updates will affect both in-Canada and overseas candidates of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and New Brunswick’s Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Assess […]

The post New Brunswick overhauls provincial immigration pathways first appeared on CIC News.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 423 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 749; and Created an […]

The post First Express Entry draw of February sees PNP candidates invited first appeared on CIC News.

Starting your immigration journey in Canada in 2026? Your language test is a big step in making Canada your new home. 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 what to expect. Get the CELPIP […]

The post Exclusive Preparation Materials from CELPIP to Help You Approach Your Language Test with Confidence! first appeared on CIC News.

For many, getting drawn through an Express Entry category remains one of the most accessible paths to permanent residence (PR). Compared to other draw types, category-based selection (CBS) typically requires a lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score and work experience requirements. There are, however, drawbacks to consider that may reduce accessibility for some—such as […]

The post Why category-based selection remains the most accessible pathway to PR for many first appeared on CIC News.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held six draws on February 2, 2026, issuing a total of 1,825 invitations to apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination. These targeted draws were held through the province’s Employer: Job Offer streams, and focused on physicians, Regional Economic Development candidates through Immigration (REDI), and health occupations, plus early childhood educators […]

The post Ontario issues more than 1,800 invitations in first draws of the year first appeared on CIC News.

The occupation listed on your Express Entry profile can help you get both a provincial nomination and an Express Entry invitation to apply (ITA). Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) across Canada have special, Express Entry-aligned (or enhanced) streams, wherein provinces can pick and nominate candidates in the pool based on their immigration and labour market needs. […]

The post These are the occupations that PNPs prioritize for PR invitations through Express Entry first appeared on CIC News.