The federal government is increasing fees for all permanent residence (PR) applications, effective April 30, 2026. Fees will similarly go up for citizenship applications (via the right of citizenship fee) as of March 31, 2026. Consult with a lawyer at Cohen Immigration Law The PR fee changes affect processing fees across every PR category, including […]
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Starting March 31, 2026, Canadians will face higher passport fees for the first time since 2013, followed one day later by the launch of a new processing guarantee that promises automatic refunds when application finalization takes more than 30 business days. The back-to-back changes mark the most significant overhaul of Canada’s passport program in years […]
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Canada’s immigration system has been subject to major reforms, including expansive executive powers over immigration applications, immigration documents, and temporary residents, under a new bill which has just become law. Bill C-12, “An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other […]
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High-skilled foreign nationals with a job offer from eight specific Canadian companies qualify for a Labour Market Impact Assessment*-exempt work permit—meaning these companies can facilitate the issuance of employer-specific work permits with greater ease than other employers in Canada. That’s because these eight companies are all participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project, making them eligible […]
The post These eight companies can grant LMIA-exempt work permits in Canada – and some are hiring first appeared on CIC News.
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) published its latest university rankings by subject, and two Canadian universities have ranked in the top 30 globally. The University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia ranked within the top 30 across all five subject areas. A total of six Canadian universities made it into the top 100 for various […]
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The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held five targeted draws on March 25, 2026, issuing a total of 1,112 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates with job offers in high-demand occupations across different regions of the province. The draws targeted candidates under the province’s Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (FW), International Student (IS), and In-Demand […]
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The Vancouver International Airport has just ranked among the top 10 best airports worldwide, in Skytrax’s 2026 World Airport Survey. A wide array of factors contributed to this ranking, including immigration system efficiency, terminal comfort and staff friendliness, and check-in facilities. Out of over 500 airports across the globe, three Canadian transit locations have placed […]
The post One Canadian airport ranks among the global top 10 for first time in over a decade first appeared on CIC News.
Getting ready for a high-pressure exam like CELPIP can feel daunting, especially when speaking in a second language. To help you gain confidence and perform at your best, here’s our 8-step guide to strengthen your speaking skills and improve your score. Book a CELPIP Test Date 1. Practice Regularly The most effective way to improve […]
The post Read Our 8-Step Guide to Boost Your CELPIP Speaking Score! first appeared on CIC News.
The Canadian government is set to launch SIN@Entry — a program that will let newcomers get their Social Insurance Number (SIN) online, via their immigration account, before even entering Canada—in the fall of 2027. This program will apply to all newcomers to the country, including foreign workers, international students, and new permanent residents—allowing them to […]
The post Newcomers to gain faster access to employment and government benefits in fall of 2027 first appeared on CIC News.
The latest processing times for temporary residence applications have been released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with no reported increases to wait times. For wait time improvements, the most notable among the changes (in order), included Super visas: Five-week improvement for submissions from the Philippines, three-week improvement for US-based submissions; Study permits: Four-week […]
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Work experience is one of the most important parts of an Express Entry profile—it is often the single greatest factor contributing to your eligibility for a program, and your competitiveness as a candidate. It’s also where many applicants make costly mistakes that can see their profiles greatly diminished or even thrown out altogether. The problem? […]
The post Six common work experience mistakes Express Entry candidates should avoid first appeared on CIC News.
If you’re planning a visit to Canada, it’s important to know that even having a misdemeanour on your record can lead to your being denied entry. Only Canadian citizens are guaranteed entry into Canada. Foreign nationals, including US citizens, may be found inadmissible under Canadian law if they have a past criminal history. Schedule a […]
The post Catching a concert in Canada this summer? Why you could be denied entry for a misdemeanor, and how to avoid it first appeared on CIC News.
Foreign workers currently residing or soon-to-reside in British Columbia (BC), who work for one of two select companies, can facilitate work permits for their spouses or partners—regardless of their compensation or seniority at the company. These two companies are: Lulu Lemon Athletica; and Microsoft Vancouver. Schedule a Free Spousal Work Permit Consultation As of March […]
The post Canada expands access to open work permits for spouses of workers at two BC companies first appeared on CIC News.
The Innovation Stream, which grants employer-specific work permits to eligible high-skilled foreign nationals, has been extended for two more years. Under this steam, foreign nationals can obtain work permits more easily, as the permits do not require Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation Eligibility for Innovation Stream work permits Innovation […]
The post Canada extends pilot granting LMIA-exempt work permits first appeared on CIC News.
Canada is making it easier for families to qualify for the parents and grandparents super visa by changing how it calculates the minimum income requirement. Starting March 31, 2026, hosts will have more flexibility in how they can meet the financial requirement for the super visa, according to a government announcement. Get a Free Super […]
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International students wishing to settle in Canada can get permanent residence (PR) years faster simply by planning ahead. We’ll look at a fictional example of two international students, Priya and Marco: by planning ahead, Priya gets permanent residence a full three years before Marco, even though they both start in the same place. See your […]
The post How international students can fast-track their journey to Canadian PR first appeared on CIC News.
Foreign-trained lawyers must now meet additional requirements to become accredited in common-law jurisdictions* in Canada. As of March 1, 2026, Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation (NCA)** has added two additional requirements for foreign-trained lawyers to become accredited in Canadian common-law jurisdictions—these are: Mandatory language screening; and A stand-alone Indigenous Law and Peoples knowledge requirement. Foreign-trained […]
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Over the past three weeks, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has held six provincial immigration draws between February 26 and March. Over 1,400 invitations were issued to candidates through the following streams and pathways: Alberta Opportunity Stream; Rural Renewal Stream; Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors pathway (Health Care); Alberta Express Entry Stream […]
The post Alberta invites rural immigration candidates and workers in health and tech sectors in latest series of draws first appeared on CIC News.
You can meet the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score for an Express Entry draw, and still not receive an invitation to apply (ITA). The date and time of your Express Entry profile submission can play a key role in determining whether your receive an ITA for permanent residence (PR). Recently, due to one specific […]
The post Why older Express Entry profiles have an advantage in getting selected first appeared on CIC News.
The three Ontario regions participating in the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) have released their priority sectors and occupations for 2026. All regions have removed certain occupations from eligibility, replacing them with newly-selected occupations that match evolving local labour demands. Consult with a lawyer at Cohen Immigration Law This article will detail the 2026 priority […]
The post These occupations qualify for permanent residence in Ontario FCIP regions first appeared on CIC News.
Canada has been ranked 25th out of 147 countries in the 2026 World Happiness Report, which evaluates global well-being by country. This year, Canada placed two spots below the US and ranked between Poland, in 24th place, and Taiwan, in 26th. Join the Angus Reid Forum and get $5 in points! The annual report was […]
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Canada has announced a new initiative to support francophone international students and graduates on their path to permanent residence (PR) The initiative gives students at the Université de Hearst—a public French-language institution whose main campus is in Hearst, Ontario—access to tailored support as they explore their long-term immigration options. Consult with a lawyer at Cohen […]
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The number of profiles in the Express Entry candidate pool continues its downward trend, easing competition as a net 1,172 profiles exited the pool over the latest two weeks as of March 15 (the latest data available). The most recent data on the pool’s composition, however, does not account for recent draws that issued over […]
The post Number of top-scoring Express Entry profiles dips 10% below previous low first appeared on CIC News.
Canada has published new rules applying to foreign nationals seeking entry to Canada under the work permit exemption for business visitors. For many foreign nationals, seeking entry as a business visitor can be the quickest and easiest way to gain authorization to work in Canada, as many can apply at a port of entry, although […]
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On March 18, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued invitations to apply (ITAs) under its Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams for the first time in over a year. The province invited more than 1,100 international student graduates with Canadian work experience in targeted occupations. This is the first time the province has issued […]
The post Ontario Master’s and PhD graduates selected for provincial immigration for first time since 2024 first appeared on CIC News.