TEER

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

With the closure of BC’s main PNP graduate streams and a 50% reduction in nominations, international students in British Columbia face new challenges for permanent residency (PR).
But strong alternatives still exist if you plan carefully.

The newly released Express Entry Year-End report for 2023 reveals a significant increase in the number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) distributed 110,266 ITAs across 42 draws in 2023, marking a 136% rise from 2022’s 46,539 ITAs.

Eligibility for Spouses of International Students
Under the new policy, Family Open Work Permit (OWP) will only be available to spouses of international students who are enrolled in:

Canada has launched a new work permit under the Innovation Stream of the International Mobility Program (IMP), aiming to attract skilled foreign workers. This initiative is part of the Tech Talent Strategy, launched in 2023 to make Canada a global tech leader.

Canada will launch a new permanent immigration pathway in 2025, transitioning the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) into a full program. The change was outlined in IRCC’s 2025–2026 Departmental Plan, ahead of the EMPP’s scheduled expiry on December 31, 2025.

To qualify, applicants must have completed at least 12 months of full-time—or equivalent part-time—skilled work in Canada within the past 36 months. This experience must fall under the TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.

IRCC will give preference to Express Entry candidates who have a strong French language proficiency or work experience in the following fields:

The temporary expansion of Canada’s Francophone Mobility Program officially expired yesterday, June 16, 2025, unless IRCC announces a last-minute extension.

The facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) helps Quebec employers efficiently address labor shortages in the province.

In a significant policy shift, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that Express Entry candidates will no longer receive additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for having a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This change aims to address fraud concerns and improve the integrity of Canada's immigration system.

In January 2025, British Columbia will introduce three new PNP streams for international graduates, aimed at providing clearer pathways to permanent residence and improving employment prospects.

Immigration minister Sean Fraser said that temporarily extending work permits to family members of principal applicants in the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP). This measure will help Canada combat chronic labour shortages

Five provinces have issued invitations in the most recent round of draws through provincial immigration programs.

IRCC proposes a new immigration class for workers under TEER levels 4 and 5 to diversify skills among permanent residents.

A growing number of immigration applicants are facing confusion around whether remote foreign work performed from within Canada can be counted for Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under Express Entry. While many candidates continue working for foreign employers remotely after entering Canada, recent decisions from IRCC indicate that the matter remains legally grey.

Under current federal guidelines, foreign work experience is defined as skilled employment acquired outside Canada, in occupations listed under TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3. However, the regulations do not explicitly require that the applicant must have been physically outside Canada while performing this work. This omission has led to significant debate, especially as remote work has become more common post-COVID.

In some cases, IRCC officers have refused applications on the grounds that the applicant was not physically outside Canada during their foreign work period. In contrast, IRCC responses to authorized representatives suggest that remote work may be eligible, provided it clearly falls outside the Canadian labour market and meets all Express Entry requirements.

To strengthen their case, applicants must submit clear documentation, including:

• Remote job offer or contract
• Employer and employee location details
• Pay slips, communications, and meeting records
• Evidence that the job was not part of the Canadian labour market

Professionals in fields like IT, marketing, engineering, and virtual assistance are most commonly affected by this ambiguity. While some remote foreign work applications have succeeded, others have not, indicating that case-by-case discretion still plays a major role.

Until federal courts offer definitive jurisprudence, applicants are urged to prepare robust evidence and consult legal professionals if facing refusal. Misrepresentation or poor documentation can not only lead to application rejections but also future inadmissibility.

This remains a developing issue. Candidates planning to claim foreign work experience performed remotely while in Canada should proceed with caution and transparency.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals who want to live and work in designated rural communities in Canada. Local economic development organizations in each community help identify labour shortages, approve employers, and recommend candidates for permanent residence (PR). RCIP replaces the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which ended in August 2024.

A rundown of the most impactful changes to Canadian immigration in 2022—and what it can tell us about 2023.

An Open Work Permit (OWP) allows foreign nationals to work for any employer in Canada, without needing a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This type of permit is commonly issued to eligible family members of international students, foreign workers, and permanent residence applicants.