Last Updated On 1 January 2025, 9:39 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has rolled out significant changes in 2024, aiming to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of Canada’s immigration system.
The IRCC continues to manage a high volume of applications, processing over 2 million applications at any given time across citizenship, immigration, and temporary visa streams.
According to the latest official data, IRCC was handling a total of 2,267,700 applications, with 1,006,500 applications in backlog.
While processing times remain slower than desired, noticeable improvements have been reported across several categories, providing hope for faster outcomes in the near future.
Click here for the latest official IRCC processing times.
To help you stay informed and prepared for 2025, here is a comprehensive breakdown of all major Canadian immigration changes announced in 2024, organized month-by-month as they happened.
Save this article to keep at your fingertips all the new Canadian immigration changes introduced or announced in 2024 that will shape 2025.
Important Month-Wise Canada Immigration Changes Announced In 2024
January 2024
IRCC Update: PTE Core Is Now Eligible For Canada Immigration
As per the official new IRCC update, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Core) language test from Pearson Canada Inc. is now acceptable for Canadian immigration, effective January 30, 2024. Furthermore, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will now also be accepting electronic copies of the language test results. However, PTE Core will not be acceptable…
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B.C. Announces New Measures For International Students
On January 29, 2024, the Canadian province of B.C. announced multiple new measures to improve the experience of international students and set them up for success. The province is taking these steps to eradicate exploitative practices and improve postsecondary education quality by raising quality standards and implementing new safeguards for foreign students in the province.…
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Ontario Announces New Measures For International Students
Ontario announces a set of new measures to better protect international students and improve the quality of Ontario’s postsecondary education. Ontario, Canada’s most populated province and home to half of the country’s international students, will compel all schools and institutions to ensure housing is accessible for new cohorts. The action came after Immigration Minister Marc…
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New Cap on International Students Canada 2024
Cap on International Students Canada: Today, the Canadian government announced that it will establish an intake cap on international student visa applications for the next two years in order to moderate new growth. Previously, on January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living requirement for study visa applicants was revised to better represent the genuine cost of living…
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February 2024
Canada Visa Requirement For Mexicans 2024
New Canada Visa Requirement for Mexicans: Mexican citizens will require a visa to enter Canada effective February 29, 2024, at 11:30 p.m. EST, unless they meet specified criteria. This is in response to a rise in asylum petitions filed by Mexican citizens that are denied, withdrawn, or abandoned. These modifications apply even if you’ve already…
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New Canada Post Graduation Work Permit Eligibility 2024
Some significant new changes are made to the Canada Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP), starting February 15, 2024, that you’ll want to know about. The Canadian government is recognizing just how valuable master’s degree graduates can be to Canada’s job market. So, here are the PGWPP updates for 2024 to make it even better…
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New Alberta Immigration Path For Tourism Sector 2024
New Alberta Immigration Path: On March 1, 2024, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will open a new stream in an effort to assist the province’s tourism and hospitality sectors in addressing employment shortages and other issues. So beginning March 1, 2024, applications for a limited number of spots in the Tourism and Hospitality Stream…
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IRCC Express Entry Draws 2024 Categories to be Same As 2023
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue targeting the same 6 categories in the Express Entry draws during 2024 as they were in 2023. In 2023, IRCC implemented a new method of selecting candidates via Express Entry rounds of invitations (ITAs) to better assist in meeting certain economic goals. Immigrants with specific credentials, such…
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Canada Agri-Food Pilot Changes 2024
Two new changes to the Canada Agri-Food Pilot for permanent residency (PR) came into effect on February 10, 2024. First off, candidates who live in Canada at the time of application may now choose to meet either the job offer requirement or the educational requirement. Second, for vulnerable foreign workers, the IRCC is now crediting work experience…
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Canada Announces New Funding of $362 Million for Housing Asylum Claimants
On January 31, 2024, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced new funding of $362.4 million to support housing for asylum claimants. Minister Miller announced this funding for the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP) as part of the 2023–2024 fiscal year. Out of this, Quebec alone is set to get $100 million.…
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Canada Agri-Food Pilot Changes 2024
Two new changes to the Canada Agri-Food Pilot for permanent residency (PR) came into effect on February 10, 2024. First off, candidates who live in Canada at the time of application may now choose to meet either the job offer requirement or the educational requirement. Second, for vulnerable foreign workers, the IRCC is now crediting work experience…
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Canada Announces New Funding of $362 Million for Housing Asylum Claimants
On January 31, 2024, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced new funding of $362.4 million to support housing for asylum claimants. Minister Miller announced this funding for the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP) as part of the 2023–2024 fiscal year. Out of this, Quebec alone is set to get $100 million.…
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March 2024
Ontario To Align International Students With In-Demand Jobs
Today, Ontario announced in a news release that they are giving priority to public postsecondary education programs that will help graduates get into in-demand jobs. This new measure is to meet the demands of the province’s labour market in reaction to the federal government’s cap on the number of applications for study permits from international…
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Canada PGWP Eligibility Criteria 2024
On March 22, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provided an update on the change in the new post-graduation work permit (PGWP) requirements’ effective date. Initially, IRCC announced on January 22, 2024, that international graduates of college programs offered through a public-private curriculum licensing partnership will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit…
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IRCC Update On Temporary Residents In Canada
Today, the minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Marc Miller, provided an update on temporary resident levels in Canada announcing new reforms. Randy Boissonnault, the employment minister, was present with him during a media availability to discuss the number of temporary residents. The update was provided at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa…
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New Canada Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Eligibility 2024
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made new eligibility requirements for the Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) public today. These new requirements come into effect today, on March 19, 2024. This was a much-needed clarification after the new rules for international students announced by the Immigration Minister at the beginning of 2024. Initially, announced…
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Canada Announces New Immigration Pilots For Rural Communities
Today, immigration Minister Marc Miller announces new Canada immigration pilots for rural and Francophone minority communities in Sudbury, Ontario. Marc G. Serré, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, as well as Viviane Lapointe, an Ontario legislator, were present with him. You can watch the live announcement below: The immigration minister…
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New Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream Requirements 2024
The new Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Stream requirements for permanent residency (PR) are now out, providing clarity and information about the full eligibility criteria. The best thing about this immigration stream is that most eligible occupations fall under TEER 4 and 5 of the National Occupation Classification (NOC), which are usually ineligible under Canadian high-skilled…
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April 2024
Changes To Canada Business Immigration 2024
Today, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, unveiled a number of modifications to federal business programs in Canada. The new changes aim to shorten application backlogs and processing times and will come into effect on April 30, 2024. In order to enhance the Start-up Visa Program, IRCC encourages designated venture capital firms,…
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Canada Streamlines Passport Renewal Process With Automation
Canada is expanding the use of validated automation technologies to streamline the processing of adult passport renewal applications. Currently, the Canadian immigration department has been using automation tools to process various immigration and visa categories for foreign nationals. The new passport applications, child applications, and complex files do not use automation; instead, the passport officers…
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New Canada Work Permit Innovation Stream Pilot Is Now Open
On April 15, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new 2-year Innovation Stream Pilot via the Global Hypergrowth Project. This new Innovation Stream Pilot will allow certain Canadian companies to bring in highly skilled foreign workers on work permits without needing an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). Jobs in National Occupational Classification (NOC)…
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New Canada Study Permit Allocations and Approvals 2024
The immigration minister of Canada, Marc Miller, released an official statement outlining that they are targeting to approve a total of 235,600 new study permits in 2024. Furthermore, 392,667 is the cap set for new study permit applications (excluding primary and secondary school students and master’s or doctoral degree students) and based on a 60%…
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Canada Provincial Attestation Letter Quota 2024
Canada announced a cap on new international students’ applications for the next two years in January 2024, with the requirement of a provincial attestation letter (PAL). The federal cap on international students is set at approximately 360,000 approved study permits this year, a drop of 35% from 2023. Province-wise implementation of capping is broadly weighted…
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Canada Work Permit Median Wage Increase 2024
The new increased median hourly wage for the Canada Work Permit under the temporary foreign worker program comes into effect on April 2, 2024. Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia are the four provinces with the highest new median hourly wage requirement to apply for a LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). To apply…
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New Rules For Working Hours For International Students in Canada
Today, Minister Marc Miller held a media availability addressing new rules governing off-campus working hours for international students in Canada. The Minister held a media scrum at 1 p.m. EDT (Toronto time) at the Foyer of the House of Commons of Canada. Minister Miller announces increasing off-campus working hours for international students while class is in…
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New Canada Immigration Processing Fees Increase 2024
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced an increase in Canada’s immigration fees for all permanent residency applications, effective April 30, 2024. IRCC increases the immigration fees every two years since 2020 and the new raise in fees is significant as compared to the previous fee increase in 2022. The previous increase occurred in April…
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May 2024
Canada To Speed Up Spousal Sponsorship Processing With 2 New Tools
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is improving the processing time of overseas spousal sponsorship, including the common-law partner, by using 2 new automation tools. The initiative’s goal is to automate the eligibility approval process for both the sponsor and principal applicant of routine family-class overseas spouse and partner applications. The immigration department is aiming…
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CBSA Limits Flagpoling Service Hours at 12 POEs
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is recommending temporary residents avoid flagpoling and access immigration services online. Flagpoling is the term used when temporary residents in Canada depart and return within 24 hours to seek immigration services at the port of entry (POE) or border. CBSA advises that if you opt to visit a port…
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BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot Is Now Permanent
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot is now a permanent stream for permanent residency (PR) as of May 27. The BC PNP provided an update saying that they will continue to assist regional communities in expanding their local economies by making this regional pilot a permanent stream. The BC…
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New Canadian Citizenship By Descent Bill C-71
Today, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that they are introducing new Canadian citizenship by descent legislation, called Bill c-71. This bill would expand citizenship by descent beyond the first generation in an inclusive manner that preserves the value of Canadian citizenship. This bill would immediately provide Canadian citizenship to those born abroad to a Canadian…
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New Express Entry Proof of Funds Requirement 2024
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the Express Entry proof of funds table with new requirements for 2024. IRCC updates these numbers every year based on 50% of the low income cut-off totals. Express Entry candidates in the pool need to update their profile with settlement funds based on the new requirements prior…
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New Canada Provincial Nominee Program Changes April 2024
There have been multiple updates and changes from various Canada provincial nominee programs (PNPs) during the month of April. Having knowledge of these new modifications helps existing candidates in the pool and future applicants, as well as authorized representatives, prepare the applications with up-to-date instructions. In the month of April, the provincial nominee programs (PNPs)…
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June 2024
Quebec sets limit on spousal sponsorship applications effective jun 26
Quebec has set a limit on applications for spousal sponsorship and children (18 and older), as well as for parent/grandparent/other relatives sponsorship, with some exemptions. Effective June 26, 2024, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation, and de l’Intégration (MIFI) will only accept 13,000 applications for a two-year timeframe. This family sponsorship cap is a…
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IRCC Ends Flagpoling For International Students To Apply For PGWP
Today, IRCC Minister Marc Miller announced that international students will no longer be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border. This new measure is effective immediately to reduce the action of “flagpoling.” Flagpoling is the practice of temporary residents of Canada leaving the nation and returning right away to obtain…
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B.C. To Ease International Credentials Recognition For 29 Occupations
A new International Credentials Recognition Act will come into effect in British Columbia (B.C.) on July 1, 2024, that will ease licensing for 29 occupations. The act will require 18 regulatory authorities to remove barriers for qualified professionals in 29 professions, allowing them to pursue and gain certification recognition, regardless of whether they received their…
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AAIP Updates: New Guidelines For 4 Alberta PNP Streams/Pathways
New AAIP Updates: The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), officially known as the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), made 2 important guideline changes. These AAIP updates confirmed that the province will resume accepting applications under the Alberta Opportunity Stream on June 11. Furthermore, the program provided more clarity with new guidelines to manage nomination targets…
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Canada Announces New Caregiver Pilots With Direct PR On-Arrival
Today, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced new, upgraded caregiver pilots that will allow caregivers to continue coming to Canada while they work to make the caregiver pilot programs permanent. The new pilot programs will grant home care professionals permanent residency (PR) as soon as they arrive in Canada. They will also be able to work…
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Canada Super Visa Income Requirement 2024
New Canada super visa income requirement 2024: On June 3, 2024, the IRCC revised the minimum income requirement for the Canada super visa. There has been an increase of around 6.8% in the super visa income requirement this year, as compared to a hike of only 3.33% last year. Parents or grandparents of a Canadian…
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July 2024
CBSA Turning Back Indian And Nigerian Visitors At Airports
As per recent reports, Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officials are turning back many Indian and Nigerian visitors from Canadian airports or alternatively offering them to apply for refugee status. While CBSA strives to secure borders, this recently surfaced issue is denying entry to genuine family members with approved visitor visas stamped on their passports.…
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CBSA’s Clarification On Reports Of Denying Entry To Some Indian Visitors
Recently, multiple visitors from India reported that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was denying entry to Canada at Montreal airport even after having a valid visa. Similar reports were also reported in previous months, with visitors from India and Nigeria saying that they are having a hard time at airports with CBSA’s increased scrutiny.…
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Canada’s new proposed Express Entry Draw categories for 2025
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) opened public consultations to decide categories for the 2025 Express Entry draws earlier this year. These consultations were open between June 27, 2024, and July 28, 2024, collecting feedback from stakeholders and partners. Furthermore, the IRCC also outlined the priorities set for the selection of immigrants under the Express…
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Ontario Adds 35 Occupations To In-Demand Skills Stream
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) adds 35 new occupations to the list of eligible occupations for the in-demand skills stream for permanent residency. Previously, only 22 were eligible for the in-demand skills stream. With new additions, the list now has 56 occupations eligible. This permanent residency stream under the provincial nominee program (PNP) of…
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August 2024
New ChatGPT 4o based AI Chat Launched By Immigration News Canada
Today, Immigration News Canada is proud to announce the launch of the first-of-its-kind chatbot in the world, a ChatGPT-based AI-powered chatbot dedicated to answering questions related to Canadian immigration. Developed using OpenAI’s most advanced ChatGPT-4o model, it is set to revolutionize the way individuals seek information about Canada and Canadian immigration. Gone are the days…
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Canada Ends Visitor To Work Permit Policy Effective Aug 28
Ottawa, August 28, 2024 — In a significant policy shift, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has abruptly ended the temporary public policy that permitted visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada. This policy is effective today, i.e., August 28. This policy was actually set to expire on February 28, 2025. However, in…
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IRCC Work Permit Extension 2024 Policy For PNP Candidates
New IRCC Work Permit Extension 2024 Policy: Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Marc Miller, has introduced a new work permit public policy. This policy, effective from August 11, 2024, aims to streamline the issuance of open work permits to eligible foreign nationals currently residing in Canada under Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). The initiative is…
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Canada to stop LMIAs in Low-Wage Stream effective September 26
Today, the Government of Canada has announced stopping processing LMIAs under the low-wage stream for metropolitan cities with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. Furthermore, the Canadian government announced a series of significant changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program aimed at reducing reliance on foreign workers and prioritizing Canadian talent. This move…
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Canada To Halt Low-Wage LMIAs For Montreal Effective September 3
In a significant policy shift aimed at addressing the ongoing concerns of local job market saturation, the Government of Canada has approved a provincial request for a temporary freeze on the hiring of temporary foreign workers in low-wage occupations in Montreal. This move will come in effect on September 3rd, 2024, and marks a pivotal…
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Canadian Francophone Student Pilot Program Effective Aug 26
Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a new Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program. The initiative, set to begin on August 26, 2024, aims to attract and retain French-speaking international students from across Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. In a parallel announcement, Minister Miller revealed the…
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September 2024
New Alberta Permanent Residency Scoring System | September 30, 2024
The new Alberta permanent residency scoring system will open on September 30, 2024, for individuals aiming to receive an invitation to apply for Alberta’s worker immigration streams. Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s (AAIP) new system aims to streamline the selection process, aligning candidate profiles with Alberta’s labour market needs. The Worker EOI is designed to help…
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3 Canada LMIA Rules Are Now In Effect | September 26, 2024
Today, new Canada LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) rules come into effect, marking a major shift into the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. These changes were originally announced on August 26, 2024, with an effective date of today, September 26. This move targets metropolitan areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, aiming to prioritize…
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New PGWP Rules for International Students In Canada
New PGWP rules 2024: Effective November 1, 2024, new language proficiency requirements are introduced as part of the PGWP application process. These updates aim to improve the integration of international graduates into Canada’s workforce, ensuring they possess the necessary language skills to succeed in the country’s labour market. Most of these updates align with what…
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Canada announces measures to reduce temporary residents
In response to the evolving needs of the Canadian immigration system, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, unveiled significant new measures aimed at managing the influx of temporary residents, particularly international students and foreign workers. These measures come as part of a broader strategy to address labour shortages, safeguard the…
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Marc Miller announces actions to protect immigration system
The Canadian government made a significant announcement on September 18, 2024, that will impact the future of Canada’s immigration and temporary resident programs. The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, along with the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, revealed additional measures aimed at strengthening the temporary…
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2 New Canada PR Pathways For Healthcare & Agriculture By SINP
On August 30, 2024, Saskatchewan introduced two new Permanent Residency-PR pathways under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to address labour shortages in the province’s health care and agriculture sectors. There is still opportunity for many working in-demand sectors, while getting permanent residency in Canada is now more difficult than ever generally. These new pathways, called…
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October 2024
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027
Today, the minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announces the new immigration levels plan 2025-2027. This article lists all the official category-wise new permanent resident and temporary resident targets. Official announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marc Miller: Permanent resident targets Permanent resident targets focus on measures from the…
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Stricter Canada Work Permit Rules Effective October 28
The Canadian Government has announced new changes for Canada work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that will take effect on October 28, 2024, and November 8, 2024. These changes are aimed at strengthening worker protections, enhancing program integrity, and prioritizing the hiring of Canadian workers. Employers who depend on foreign talent will need…
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Canada cracks down on illegal workers, CBSA conducts raids
In recent weeks, it has been reported that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has ramped up enforcement, conducting raids and spot checks to identify individuals working illegally in the country. This sudden surge in activity, aimed at ensuring compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and reports are coming from various provinces,…
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Quebec Sets Immigration Cap For 2024-2025
New immigration cap by Quebec: As part of the October 9, 2024 edition of the Gazette Officielle du Québec, a new ministerial order establishes the maximum number of foreign nationals the Québec Minister of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration will invite during the 2024-2025 period. This policy ensures a balanced and strategic immigration approach that supports…
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PGWP changes 2024 | Full Details
New PGWP Changes 2024: The Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program has been a crucial pathway for international students to gain work experience in Canada after completing their studies. However, significant changes to PGWP eligibility were announced on September 18 and are set to come into effect starting November 1, 2024. Full details of the…
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Canada Study Permit Pilot For Faster Judicial Reviews
Starting today, October 1st, 2024, Canada’s Federal Court is launching a new initiative designed to fast-track judicial reviews for study permit refusals. This groundbreaking pilot project aims to significantly reduce the processing time for judicial review applications from the current 14-18 months to just 5 months. The program comes at a critical time, as Canada’s…
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November 2024
Canada Pauses Private Refugees Sponsorship Effective November 29
In a significant move, the Government of Canada has announced the immediate pause of new applications under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program from Groups of Five and community sponsors. This pause, effective November 29, 2024, will remain in place until December 31, 2025, as part of efforts to address the growing application backlog and ensure shorter, more…
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Ontario Legislation To Crack Down on Immigration Fraud
Ontario is taking bold action to protect vulnerable newcomers and ensure integrity in its immigration system. The provincial government has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at cracking down on fraudulent immigration representatives who exploit immigrants. If passed, the legislation will enforce strict standards for representatives assisting with Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) applications and…
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New CBSA Service Hours Across Canada-U.S. Border Effective January 6
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced significant adjustments to service hours at 35 land ports of entry across the Canada-U.S. border, set to take effect at 12:01 am (local time) on January 6, 2025. These changes aim to enhance border security and optimize resource allocation in collaboration with the United States Customs and…
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Canada PM Explains On “What Went Wrong” With Immigration
Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau explains in a video message about the sweeping reforms to the country’s immigration system, aiming to stabilize population growth and address systemic exploitation. In a video message, Trudeau outlined the government’s decision to reduce both permanent and temporary immigration levels over the next three years and what went wrong…
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International Students In Canada Can Now Work 24 Hours Per Week
Today, Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, has announced a new regulation allowing eligible international students in Canada to work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic terms. This new change is effective as of November 8, 2024, marks an increase from the previous 20-hour limit, providing students…
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Canada LMIA work permit wage increase effective November 2024
In a significant update for employers seeking to hire foreign talent, Canada has set new wage thresholds for its Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) program effective November 8, 2024. This change affects employers in all Canadian provinces and territories, altering the minimum wage criteria used to determine whether a foreign worker’s job falls under the…
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Canada Ends Student Direct Stream (SDS) For Study Visas
Canada has officially ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) visa programs, effective immediately. These programs, which were established to expedite study permit processing for eligible students from specific countries, have been phased out to ensure a more equitable and streamlined application process for all international students. The termination of…
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Canada Visitor Visa Rules Effective November 2024
Canada has revised its visitor visa policy, giving immigration officers greater flexibility in issuing single or multiple-entry visas. Learn what factors affect visa decisions, new guidelines for validity, and how this impacts international travellers.
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December 2024
Ontario PNP Reaches Annual Quota For 2024
As of December 23, 2024, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has fulfilled its 2024 permanent residency nomination quota. In 2024, the Federal Government allocated 21,500 nominations for OINP across all segments. OINP announced on December 23 that they have distributed all 21,500 nominations for 2024. New applications, as well as those that have been…
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No More LMIA Points In Express Entry Effective Spring 2025
Starting in spring 2025, candidates in the Express Entry pool will no longer receive additional points for having a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
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International Experience Canada – IEC 2025 Season Is Now Open
The new season of International Experience Canada – IEC 2025 has officially begun, with the pools now open to eligible candidates as of December 16, 2024. If you’ve been dreaming of working and exploring Canada, now is the time to act. Candidates can create their profiles online and begin preparing for the first round of…
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3 Canada Immigration Changes Announced By Marc Miller
On December 17, 2024, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced significant reforms to Canada’s immigration system. These measures aim to enhance fairness, security, and efficiency in managing migration while addressing challenges at the U.S. border. Furthermore, Marc Miller also kind-off confirmed the removal of LMIA-based job offer points in the…
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2 New Canada Permanent Residency Pathways Eligibility Criteria
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada published the eligibility criteria for two new permanent residency pathways in the official Canada Gazette on December 14. These 2 new Canada PR pathways are the Rural Community Immigration Class (RCIC) and the Francophone Community Immigration Class (FCIC). These programs aim to attract skilled workers to rural and Francophone communities outside Quebec, addressing…
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Express Entry Draw Changes Expected To Come In 2025
New Express Entry Draw Changes Expected in 2025: Canada’s Express Entry program, a flagship pathway for economic immigration, is entering a new era in 2025. Recent consultations from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and statements by Minister Marc Miller have outlined significant changes, including category-based draws, expanded pathways for in-Canada applicants, and possible adjustments…
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4 New Canada Permanent Residency Pathways Coming In 2025
Explore these four Canada permanent residency pathways expected to launch in 2025 and the opportunities they promise.
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Canada Immigration Fees Increase Effective December 2024
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increased fee for several temporary resident applications effective December 1, 2024.
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How many immigrants will Canada welcome in 2025?
In 2025, Canadian governments aim to welcome 395,000 new permanent residents and 673,650 new temporary residents.
Has Canada stopped immigration?
No, Canada has not stopped immigration, but reduced the annual target from 500,000 to 395,000 for 2025.
How much money do you need to immigrate to Canada?
In general, an individual candidate would require approximately $20,500 CAD.
Couples will require approximately $24,000 CAD, while families with children will require between $27,000 and $30,000 CAD.
Which countries have visa-free entry into Canada?
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
British citizen
British National (Overseas)
British overseas citizen (re-admissible to the United Kingdom)
Anguilla Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Gibraltar
Montserrat
Pitcairn Island
Saint Helena
Turks and Caicos Islands
British Subject with a right of abode in the United Kingdom
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Antigua and Barbados
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, must have a passport issued by Hong Kong SAR.
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel, must have a national Israeli passport
Italy
Japan
Republic of Korea
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Samoa
San Marino
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan must have an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Vatican City State must have a passport or travel document issued by the Vatican.
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