Recent Canadian immigration policy changes
Every notable change from IRCC and ESDC since late 2024 — what changed, when it took effect, who's affected, and where to verify on canada.ca. Updated as new measures are announced.
Quebec Low-Wage LMIA Moratorium (Montréal/Laval)
Quebec requested and Canada granted a freeze on processing low-wage LMIAs in the Montréal economic region; extended to include Laval in March 2025; extended again to December 31, 2026. Exemptions: agriculture, construction, food processing, education, health/social services.
LMIA Refusal-to-Process and Wage-Threshold Reform
ESDC refuses to process low-wage LMIAs in Census Metropolitan Areas with ≥6% unemployment (with limited exemptions). High-wage LMIA threshold increased to provincial median wage + 20%. TFW workforce caps reduced from 30% to 10% (20% in select sectors).
Parents and Grandparents Program — 2025 Round and 2026 Freeze
PGP 2025 sent 17,860 invitations to 2020 interest-form pool (target 10,000 sponsorships). No new PGP intake announced for 2026 — Super Visa is the alternative. Processing time approximately 24 months.
CUAET Ukraine Measures Extension
Ukrainians and family members who arrived under CUAET on or before March 31, 2024 can apply for new 3-year open work permits or extensions, and study permits, until March 31, 2026. A subsequent extension policy effective April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 continues these measures.
Citizenship Test and Online Ceremony Rules
Online self-administered citizenship test became default for ages 18–54 — 45 minutes, 20 questions, 15 to pass, up to 3 attempts. In-person and Microsoft Teams tests retained for specific cases. Virtual oath-of-citizenship ceremonies are now standard.
Student Direct Stream (SDS) Closed
IRCC permanently closed the Student Direct Stream and the Nigeria Student Express. Fast-track processing for residents of 14 countries (India, China, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Brazil, etc.) is no longer available.
24-Hour Off-Campus Work Rule for International Students
The off-campus work limit for eligible international students rose from 20 to 24 hours per week during academic sessions. The COVID-era unlimited-hours waiver permanently ended.
PGWP Field-of-Study Restrictions for College Graduates
Non-degree college graduates must now graduate from a program in one of five priority fields (agriculture/agri-food, healthcare, STEM, trades, transport). Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD graduates are exempt. The eligible-CIP-code list was frozen for 2026.
PGWP Language Test Requirement Introduced
First-ever language requirement added to PGWP — CLB/NCLC 7 for university grads, CLB/NCLC 5 for college grads, in all four skills, with results within 2 years.
Super Visa Income Rule Changes (March 2026)
Two new flexibilities for the Super Visa LICO test: (1) host can meet the test in either of the two preceding tax years, and (2) host can add the visiting parent/grandparent's income if the host meets a minimum percentage of LICO. Applications in process and submitted on/after March 31, 2026 use the new criteria.
Express Entry — Job Offer CRS Points Removed
All CRS bonus points for arranged employment removed (50 points for skilled positions, 200 for senior management). Aimed at curbing LMIA-fraud schemes. A federal consultation closed in May 2026 on potentially restoring points only for high-wage offers.
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots — Cap Hit and Pause
New Home Care Child Care and Home Support Worker pilots replaced the older HCCP/HSWP pilots (which ended June 17, 2024). Both new streams hit caps the day they opened. The 'Applicants Not Working in Canada' stream was cancelled without ever opening; intake remains paused.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) Launch
RCIP launched as a 5-year pilot PR pathway across 14 designated rural communities (North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, North Okanagan-Shuswap, NEBC, Steinbach, Brandon, Pictou County, and others), succeeding the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) — Mandatory for Most Study Permits
A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) is now required for most study permit applications, confirming the applicant is included in the province's intake cap. Public-DLI Master's and PhD applicants were exempted again on January 1, 2026.
Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Restrictions
SOWPs restricted to spouses of TEER 0/1 workers (and select TEER 2/3 priority occupations). Spouses of low-skilled workers no longer eligible. Spouses of students restricted to those in Master's programs ≥16 months, doctoral, or specific professional programs. Most dependent children no longer eligible.
2026 Study Permit Cap and Provincial Allocations
National cap reduced to 309,670 application spaces (~408,000 issued permits — about 7% below 2025). Ontario receives 70,074 PAL seats, Quebec 39,474, BC 24,786. Public-DLI Master's and PhD students no longer require a PAL.
Updated Cost-of-Living / Proof-of-Funds for Study Permits
IRCC now annually adjusts the proof-of-funds amount required for a study permit, indexed to LICO. Single applicants need approximately CAD $22,895 in living expenses for 2026 (verify on canada.ca before applying), plus tuition.
Flagpoling Ban for Work and Study Permits
Foreign nationals in Canada can no longer obtain new or renewed work/study permits by leaving and re-entering at a port of entry ('flagpoling'). Limited exceptions: U.S. citizens/PRs, cross-border truckers, and CUSMA/free-trade professionals from select countries.
Bill C-3 — Citizenship by Descent Reform
Bill C-3 removes the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent. People born abroad before December 15, 2025 who would have been citizens but for the limit are now Canadian and may apply for proof. For those born/adopted abroad after December 15, 2025, the Canadian-citizen parent must show 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada (substantial-connection test).
2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan
PR target stabilized at 380,000/year for 2026–2028. PNP raised to 91,500 (2026) and ~92,500 (2027/28). New temporary-resident arrivals capped at 385,000 (2026), 370,000 (2027/28). New 33,000-person two-year initiative to convert in-Canada skilled workers to PR.
Express Entry Category-Based Selection — 2026 Categories
2026 categories: Senior Managers (Canadian experience), Researchers (Canadian experience), Healthcare/Social Services, Education, Trades, French-language proficiency, Transport, Skilled Military Recruits, and Physicians. STEM and Agriculture categories removed for 2026.
Start-Up Visa Intake Suspension and 2026 Replacement
Each designated entity capped at 10 startups/year (820 total); SUV PR target cut to 3,000 (2025) and 2,000 (2026/27); applicants gained 3-year open work permit; new application intake suspended December 19, 2025. Final commitment-certificate submissions accepted until June 30, 2026; new entrepreneur pilot launching 2026.
Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) Launch
PSTQ replaced the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP/PRTQ), introducing four streams prioritizing French proficiency, in-Quebec study/work, and labour-shortage occupations. Applications submitted before Nov 29, 2024 had to be updated.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) Launch
New PR pathway for French-speaking workers settling in 6 Francophone-minority communities outside Quebec (Acadian Peninsula NB, St. Pierre Jolys MB, Kelowna BC, Sudbury, Timmins, Superior East ON), supporting the federal francophone-immigration target.
End of Visitor-to-Work-Permit Public Policy
The temporary public policy that allowed visitors in Canada to apply for an inland work permit (with a valid job offer) ended on August 28, 2024. Visitors must now apply from outside Canada through the regular work permit stream.