IRCC

New Innovation Stream under the IMP

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited 1,000 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates to apply for permanent residence in the latest Express Entry draw, held on September 3, 2025.

Applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) seems simple, but even small errors can lead to refusal. Here are the most frequent causes:

Fewer draws and an updated NOC set the stage for a higher number of Express Entry ITAs in 2023.

Immigration Levels Plan Target for 2023

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled its 2025–2026 Departmental Plan, outlining major reforms that will shape the future of Canadian immigration. The plan includes new pathways to permanent residence (PR), upcoming changes to work and study permit programs, and a continued reduction in temporary resident levels.

In the latest draw on September 19, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

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.

According to a recent report by The Globe and Mail, nearly 50,000 international students were labeled as "non-compliant" during March and April 2024 by IRCC. These students, despite receiving study permits, did not enroll or attend the colleges and universities they were assigned to, making up 6.9% of the tracked international student population.

Candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 520 and had to create their Express Entry profile before July 15, 2025.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw on October 29, 2025, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 416, and only those who created their Express Entry profile before September 8, 2025, were considered.

This was the third-largest draw of the year, following two other major French-language draws held on February 19 and March 21. Altogether, candidates in the French category have received 36,000 ITAs in 2025, more than any other Express Entry category. This trend reflects IRCC’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Francophone immigration outside Quebec, consistent with the objectives of Canada’s Official Languages Act.

The October 29 draw also capped a busy month, coming right after consecutive draws for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and Healthcare and social services streams.

So far in 2025, IRCC has issued 80,485 ITAs through 46 draws, distributed across key categories:

• French-language proficiency: 36,000 ITAs
• Canadian Experience Class: 22,850 ITAs
• Healthcare and social services: 9,792 ITAs
• Provincial Nominee Program: 7,249 ITAs
• Education: 3,500 ITAs
• Trade: 1,250 ITAs

These results underline Canada’s growing focus on language diversity and workforce integration, particularly in sectors facing labour shortages.

Statistics Canada reports that 58% of internationally educated healthcare professionals (IEHPs) in Canada find work in their field, though this lags behind Canadian-educated counterparts. With 500,000 healthcare workers set to retire soon, IEHPs are crucial.

Canada invited 919 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence on March 30.

Effective May 1st, Alberta is lifting restrictions on the hiring of new temporary foreign workers.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) offers the Tourism and Hospitality Stream to help industry workers gain permanent residency. Applicants must meet job, language, and education requirements.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its policy regarding the collection of biometrics for permanent resident applicants.

You are eligible for Canadian citizenship if your parent is a Canadian, but you need to apply.

Canada's immigration system is entering a new era where the provinces want to have even more control than the federal government.

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.

IRCC’s backlog grew again in June, with 842,800 applications delayed beyond standard processing times. This marks a 5 percent increase compared to May. As of June 30, the department was processing 2.19 million applications in total, but only 61.5 percent were handled within service standards.