Immigration News


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IRCC walks back current employee restriction on reciprocal employment work permits

Canada’s immigration department has walked back a rule change that would have limited reciprocal employment work permits to workers already employed outside Canada. The change, which had been conveyed through the publication of updated instructions to officers on the department’s website on July 29, 2026, “was posted in error due to a version control issue […]

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Categories: Work , C20 , reciprocal work permits
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Canada invites French-speaking Express Entry candidates to apply for PR

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 5,000 ITAs in a draw for candidates with French-language abilities. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have: A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 391; and Created an Express Entry […]

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Temporary residence applicants see wait times increase

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its temporary residence processing estimates on August 5, revealing longer waits across most application categories. Of the increases seen in IRCC’s latest wait time refresher, the most notable include A 14-week surge in work permit processing for applications from Pakistan; A one-week increase in study permit processing for […]

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Washington’s deep Canadian ties could mean citizenship for tens of thousands through ancestry

From Blaine to Sumas, a string of Washington towns sits so close to the Canadian border that generations of cross-border families – and their influence – are simply part of the community. As a matter of fact, Point Roberts, a Washington town, can only be reached by land through Canada — residents leave the U.S., […]

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IRCC releases updated distribution of candidate scores in the Express Entry pool

The Express Entry pool contracted by more than 2,400 profiles between July 19–August 3, despite an increase of over 1,500 candidates in the 501–600 CRS score range, according to the latest data provided by Canada’s immigration department. Declines occurred across all ranges up to 470, while growth was recorded in almost every range above that […]

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Canadian Experience Class candidates invited to apply for permanent residence

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 3,000 ITAs in a draw for Canadian Experience Class candidates. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have: A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 516; and Created an Express Entry candidate […]

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Alberta invites workers in agriculture and construction to apply for provincial nomination

Alberta held two provincial immigration draws between July 16 and July 21, with both rounds focused on workers in priority sectors. In total, the province issued 82 invitations to apply for provincial nomination through its dedicated Express Entry Stream. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams With these selection rounds, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program […]

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Submitting a Canadian citizenship by descent application? Double check these seven details first

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who can now apply for a citizenship certificate under Canada’s new citizenship by descent law, you may have spent a considerable amount of time preparing your application. You’ve gathered the documents. You’ve filled out the forms. Before you seal the envelope, check your application package one more […]

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Immigration department finds PR pathway for self-employed persons “no longer fit for purpose”

Canada’s immigration department has found a key pathway to permanent residence for world-class athletes and entertainers “no longer fit for purpose.” The federal Self-Employed Persons Program (SEPP) has been plagued by a significant backlog, high refusal rates, and lengthy processing times, in large part due to the SEPP’s “unclear program objectives and overly broad eligibility […]

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Ontario opens intake for new permanent residence pathway

Ontario has opened the door to its new pathway to permanent residence. Eligible foreign nationals can now be considered for provincial nomination by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) through the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS). Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams The province announced the opening of the OWPS in a post on […]

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Watch the Webinar: New to Canada? Understanding Banking, Credit, and Managing Your Money in Canada

New to Canada? Understanding how the Canadian banking system works may help you manage your finances and prepare for everyday life in your new community. Watch this session to learn about everyday banking products and services, credit options, and practical tips to help you build a strong financial foundation as you settle into life in […]

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Provincial nominees invited in first Express Entry draw of August

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 507 ITAs in a draw for Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have: A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 768; and […]

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My American parent never had a Canadian passport. Can I still claim Canadian citizenship?

One of the most common misconceptions about Canada’s citizenship by descent law is that your parent had to be born in Canada, or have held a Canadian passport, for you to be a Canadian citizen yourself. Since Bill C-3 took effect on December 15, 2025, that’s no longer the full picture. The bill removed the […]

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We asked a chatbot five questions about Canadian citizenship by descent. Here is where it missed the mark

Ever since the passing of Bill C-3, many Americans are turning to AI for information on Canada’s citizenship by descent laws. For routine questions, AI tools can be a helpful starting point, and guide people in the right direction. That being said, when AI is used in place of an immigration professional, that can carry […]

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Quebec issues invitations to apply for permanent selection across all PSTQ streams

On July 30, Québec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration held an immigration selection round, through which 523 candidates received invitations. Selections were held under all four streams of its Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), with the greatest share of invitations going to workers with intermediate and manual skills (stream 2). Learn more about your […]

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Adopted by a Canadian citizen? Here’s how citizenship by descent works for you

Bill C-3 removed the former first-generation limit for some people born or adopted before December 15, 2025. As a result, some adopted people who were previously unable to inherit Canadian citizenship through a Canadian ancestor now qualify. Adopted by a Canadian citizen? Get a Free Consultation on Applying for Proof of Canadian Citizenship That said, […]

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British Columbia invites entrepreneurs in provincial immigration draw

In its July 28 draw, British Columbia issued invitations to entrepreneurs seeking to establish or take over an existing business in the province. A total of 10 invitations to apply were distributed through the Base Stream of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) Entrepreneur Immigration category. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams Those […]

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Newfoundland and Labrador issues provincial immigration invitations to 445 candidates

On July 28, Newfoundland and Labrador issued 445 invitations to provincial immigration candidates. Invitations were issued through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams This draw represents the province’s ninth selection round of the year. Draw details Invitations were distributed as […]

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Seven things you might not know about the Canadian passport

Whether you already have a Canadian passport or are thinking about applying for one, it has some lesser-known features that are bound to impress. And more people can apply for one than ever before. Since Bill C-3 expanded citizenship by descent in December 2025, millions of Americans with a Canadian ancestor are learning that they […]

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Manitoba issues invitations for provincial immigration to workers in transportation, utilities, and manufacturing

On July 30, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 766 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAS) for provincial nomination. Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams Draw details Invitations issued in Expression of Interest (EOI) draw #276 were issued through the following MPNP streams and pathways: Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway; and Employment in […]

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Canada restricts common LMIA-exempt work permit to current employees

Foreign nationals can no longer be issued reciprocal employment work permits if their employment is set to begin only upon their arrival in Canada. Editor’s note: Subsequent to the publication of this article, the immigration department indicated that due to a version control issue, it had published an erroneous version of the instructions which was […]

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IRCC reports increased wait times for work permits and study permits

Canada’s immigration department has updated its processing time estimates for a range of temporary residence applications, with the latest figures current as of July 28—and wait times are largely on the rise. Most notably, study and work permit wait times rose by one week for applicants in both Pakistan and Nigeria. Schedule a Free Work […]

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Tens of thousands of Michiganders may be Canadian citizens today, and not yet know it

Few U.S. states share a history as closely entwined with Canada as Michigan. Bordering the province of Ontario, the state has deep ties to its northern neighbour. As a matter of fact, for decades, Detroit, its most populous city, was a French settlement tied to the fur trade and governed from Quebec, and families whose […]

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Canada tightens financial checks for study permits

Applicants for Canadian study permits now face tougher financial checks. The immigration department detailed the stricter assessment process on the government website, in instructions to officers updated on July 24, 2026. Plan your study-to-immigrate journey with CanadaVisa+ The updated instructions, “Study permits: Assessing the application,” direct officers to scrutinize the amount(s) and source(s) of applicants’ […]

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