Covid-19 Restrictions

Canada's international student population has recovered quickly amid the pandemic.

Canada saw nearly 450,000 new study permits take effect last year, a staggering figure that easily broke the previous all-time record set in 2019.

Canada is one of the world's most attractive destinations for international students.

Last year, Canada welcomed 450,000 new international students, an all-time record.

Record breaking admission in all classes in 2021

The Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024 had targets of over 451,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2024 and nearly 432,000 for 2022.

A fast-track visa processing pathway for Ukrainians is now accepting applications.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the launch of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), an accelerated temporary residence pathway for Ukrainians fleeing war.

Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality may stay in Canada for up to three years. Overseas applicants need to apply online for a visitor visa and provide their biometrics.
The Canadian government encourages CUAET applicants to apply for a three-year open work permit at the same time as their visa application. This will allow them to work in Canada for any employer.

Canada is lifting its COVID-19 test requirements for fully vaccinated travellers.

Starting April 1, fully vaccinated travellers to Canada will no longer need a pre-arrival COVID-19
test.

The Canadian government announced the new measures would affect travellers arriving at all ports of entry. Although pre-arrival testing requirements will be dropped, the government may still randomly test travellers upon arrival. The purpose of the random tests will be to identify and track COVID-19 variants. If fully vaccinated travellers are selected for an on-arrival test, they will not need to quarantine while waiting on their result.

You no longer have to be fully vaccinated to board a plane or train in Canada, but mask mandates still apply.

Travellers will no longer need to show proof of vaccination or use the ArriveCan app to enter Canada

After a five-week break, Canada has resumed mandatory random testing for fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air.

The Environics Institute of Canada, in partnership with the Century Initiative, has released survey data on Canadian’s opinions on immigration. The Environics Institute is a research agency that conducts public opinion surveys and collects data on Canadian issues such as the government or economy. Century Initiative is a registered charity run by business leaders and academics that advocates for the population of Canada to reach 100,000,000 by 2100.

Pre-entry tests are no longer required of fully vaccinated travellers.

As of April 1, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need a pre-arrival COVID-19 test to enter Canada.

ESDC has expanded the Global Talent Stream to a variety of eligible engineering positions.

As a producer, you may be exempt from needing a work permit whereas production crew members and actors may get an LMIA-exempt work permit.Movie and TV shoots generate jobs, revenue, and infrastructure development. As such, the Canadian government offers facilitated work permit processing for foreign film industry workers to shoot on location in Canada.

Whether you have a minor or major offence on your record, it is important to plan ahead of your trip to Canada.

This year marks the first since the start of the pandemic that Canada is fully open to tourists.

Canada imposed travel restrictions on tourists in March 2020 and lifted them for those fully vaccinated in late summer 2021. Effective April 1st, fully vaccinated tourists do not need to complete a COVID-19 test before entering Canada.

This is good news for tourists since Canada is making it much easier to visit the country.

After the pandemic slowed IRCC operations, spousal sponsorship is back to service standard, the government says.

In January 2022, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced that Canada’s spousal sponsorship has returned to its 12-month processing standard for new applicants.

Statistics Canada’s recent census reveals some key insights into the path to, and trends surrounding obtaining Canadian citizenship for immigrants.

Canada is experiencing a shortage of truck drivers due to pandemic layoffs and an aging workforce.