Express EntryJul 23, 2026
Express Entry Update
IRCC held 5 Express Entry draws between July 6–22, 2026, issuing a combined 15,034+ invitations across PNP, CEC, French-language proficiency, and a targeted senior managers category.
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Immigration Updates
Deep dives and daily analysis across Express Entry, PNP, study permits, work permits, and more.
Work PermitsJul 23, 2026
Work Permits Update
The open work permit deadline for TR-to-PR pathway applicants (who applied in 2021) has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible applicants to continue working for any employer while awaiting a PR decision.
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Family SponsorshipJul 23, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update
Family sponsorship processing times dropped in February 2026, with notable decreases under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), while most temporary resident application types saw increases.
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PR & CitizenshipJul 23, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update
Citizenship ceremonies in Canada are conducted either virtually (most common) or in person; all formats require taking the oath of citizenship, singing the national anthem, and signing the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship (OAC) form.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJul 23, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
On July 20, 2026, IRCC issued 511 invitations to Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination, requiring a minimum CRS score of 744 — a notable drop from recent PNP draws that required scores of 786–805 earlier in 2026.
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IRCC PolicyJul 23, 2026
IRCC Policy Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets new temporary resident arrival targets of 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028, with a goal of reducing Canada's temporary population to under 5% of the total population by end of 2027.
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Study PermitsJul 20, 2026
Study Permits Update
Canada set its 2026 international student cap at 408,000 study permits — 7% lower than 2025's target of 437,000 and 16% lower than 2024's target of 485,000 — as part of a broader effort to reduce the temporary population below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.
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Family SponsorshipJul 20, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update
Quebec will reopen its capped family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, accepting up to 15,700 applications over two years: 13,300 for spouses and 2,400 for parents or grandparents.
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IRCC PolicyJul 20, 2026
IRCC Policy Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 385,000 new temporary resident arrivals in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028, with a goal of reducing Canada's temporary population to under 5% of total population by end of 2027.
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Work PermitsJul 20, 2026
Work Permits Update
The open work permit deadline for TR-to-PR pathway applicants (who applied in 2021) has been extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible applicants and their families to continue working for any employer while awaiting a PR decision.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJul 20, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
The July 6 PNP-specific Express Entry draw had a CRS cut-off of 708 — the lowest PNP cut-off of 2026 so far — issuing 534 ITAs, compared to cut-offs of 730–805 in previous PNP draws this year.
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Express EntryJul 20, 2026
Express Entry Update
IRCC held four Express Entry draws between July 6–10, 2026, issuing 8,034 ITAs total across PNP, CEC, French-language proficiency, and a new targeted Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category.
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PR & CitizenshipJul 20, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents per year, with economic immigrants accounting for approximately 244,700 of that total annually.
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PR & CitizenshipJul 16, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents annually, with the economic class accounting for roughly 244,700 admissions per year.
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Express EntryJul 16, 2026
Express Entry Update
IRCC held four Express Entry draws between July 6–10, 2026, issuing a total of 8,034 invitations to apply (ITAs) across PNP, CEC, French-language proficiency, and a targeted senior managers category.
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IRCC PolicyJul 16, 2026
IRCC Policy Update
As of April 1, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased (e.g., 10-year adult passport now $163.50, up from $160), and a new '30 days or free' processing guarantee took effect, automatically refunding fees if processing exceeds 30 business days.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJul 16, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
IRCC ran four targeted Express Entry draws between July 6–10, 2026, issuing 8,034 ITAs: the largest was a French-language draw (5,000 ITAs, CRS 420), followed by a senior managers with Canadian work experience draw (CRS 392), a CEC round (CRS 517), and a PNP round (CRS 708).
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Work PermitsJul 16, 2026
Work Permits Update
LMIA processing times rose for most Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams in May 2026, but the permanent resident stream dropped sharply from 140 days to 114 days — a 26-day improvement.
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Family SponsorshipJul 16, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update
Quebec will reopen family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, accepting up to 15,700 applications over two years (13,300 for spouses, 2,400 for parents/grandparents); adult dependent children aged 18+ are now exempt from the cap.
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Study PermitsJul 16, 2026
Study Permits Update
Canada is reducing the number of study permits issued in 2026 to 408,000 (including 155,000 for new arrivals and 253,000 extensions), down 7% from 2025 and 16% from 2024, as part of a plan to cut the temporary population to below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.
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Work PermitsJul 13, 2026
Work Permits Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan raises the LMIA-exempt work permit (International Mobility Program) admissions target to 170,000 — a 32% increase from the prior plan's 2026 target of 128,700 — while cutting LMIA-based Temporary Foreign Worker Program admissions to 60,000, down 27% from the prior target.
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Study PermitsJul 13, 2026
Study Permits Update
Starting January 1, 2026, master's and PhD students at public Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) are exempt from Canada's study permit cap and no longer need a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL).
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Family SponsorshipJul 13, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update
Quebec will reopen family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, accepting up to 15,700 applications over two years (13,300 for spouses, 2,400 for parents/grandparents); adult dependent children aged 18+ are now exempt from the cap.
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IRCC PolicyJul 13, 2026
IRCC Policy Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets new temporary resident arrival targets of 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028, with a goal of reducing Canada's temporary population to below 5% of the total population by end of 2027.
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Express EntryJul 13, 2026
Express Entry Update
On July 10, 2026, IRCC held a category-based draw for Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience, issuing 500 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 392 — a notably low score for this occupation-specific category.
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PR & CitizenshipJul 13, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update
Processing times dropped significantly for Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) applicants — down 12 months to 26 months as of June 8, 2026, the lowest since September 2025 — while PNP applicants saw a 1-month decrease and Quebec Business Class dropped 2 months.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJul 13, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
On July 6, 2026, IRCC issued 534 ITAs in a PNP-specific Express Entry draw with a CRS cut-off of 708 — the lowest PNP cut-off score of 2026 so far, down significantly from 730 on June 22 and 805 on May 25.
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PR & CitizenshipJul 9, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update
Canada launched the In-Canada Workers Initiative (TR-to-PR pathway), a one-time program to fast-track up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence in 2026–2027, targeting applicants already in the PNP, Atlantic Immigration Program, Rural/Francophone Community Pilots, Caregiver Pilots, and Agri-Food Pilot who have lived in smaller communities for at least two years.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJul 9, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
The July 6, 2026 Express Entry PNP draw issued 534 ITAs at a CRS cutoff of 708 — the lowest PNP cutoff score of 2026 so far, down significantly from 730 on June 22 and 805 on May 25.
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Study PermitsJul 9, 2026
Study Permits Update
Starting January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students enrolled at public Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) are exempt from the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) requirement when applying for a study permit.
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IRCC PolicyJul 9, 2026
IRCC Policy Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan caps new temporary resident arrivals at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028, with a goal of reducing Canada's temporary population to under 5% of the total population by end of 2027.
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Express EntryJul 9, 2026
Express Entry Update
On July 7, 2026, Canada issued 2,000 invitations in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw with a CRS cut-off of 517, up slightly from the June 23 CEC draw cut-off of 516.
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Family SponsorshipJul 9, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update
Quebec will reopen family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, accepting up to 15,700 applications over two years (13,300 for spouses, 2,400 for parents/grandparents); adult dependent children aged 18+ are now exempt from the cap.
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Work PermitsJul 9, 2026
Work Permits Update
Canada's 2026 Immigration Levels Plan increased the LMIA-exempt work permit admissions target to 170,000 new entrants through the International Mobility Program (IMP) — a 32% increase from the previous notional target of 128,700.
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Work PermitsJul 6, 2026
Work Permits Update
Canada's 2026 Immigration Levels Plan increased the admissions target for LMIA-exempt work permits (via the International Mobility Program) to 170,000 — a 32% jump from the previous notional target of 128,700.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJul 6, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
As of March 30, 2026, provinces and territories are now solely responsible for assessing candidates' intent to reside and economic establishment — IRCC can no longer reassess these criteria once a provincial nomination certificate is issued.
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Study PermitsJul 6, 2026
Study Permits Update
Canada will issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026 — 7% fewer than 2025 (437,000) and 16% fewer than 2024 (485,000) — continuing the push to reduce temporary residents below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.
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IRCC PolicyJul 6, 2026
IRCC Policy Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 385,000 new temporary resident arrivals in 2026, dropping to 370,000 in 2027 and 2028, with a goal of reducing the temporary population to under 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.
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Express EntryJul 6, 2026
Express Entry Update
The most recent Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on June 23, 2026 issued 4,000 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 516, continuing a trend of CEC scores hovering in the 507–518 range throughout 2026.
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PR & CitizenshipJul 6, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update
Canada launched the In-Canada Workers Initiative, a one-time program to fast-track up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence in 2026–2027, prioritizing workers who already have a pending PR application through specific programs (PNP, AIP, RCIP, FCIP, Caregiver pilots, Agri-Food Pilot) and have lived in a smaller community for at least 2 years.
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Family SponsorshipJul 6, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update
Spousal sponsorship processing times as of March 2026 are 16 months (Outland) and 25 months (Inland), with Quebec-destined applications taking longer due to provincial processing requirements.
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Work PermitsJul 2, 2026
Work Permits Update
The TR-to-PR open work permit deadline has been officially extended to December 31, 2026, allowing eligible applicants with pending 2021 PR applications to maintain status and work for any employer while waiting for a decision.
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Express EntryJul 2, 2026
Express Entry Update
IRCC held 34 Express Entry draws between January 5 and June 25, 2026, issuing a total of 89,067 invitations to apply (ITAs) across 10 active categories.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJul 2, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
IRCC held a PNP-specific Express Entry draw on May 25, 2026, issuing 334 invitations to apply (ITAs) with a CRS cut-off of 805, requiring profiles created before October 16, 2025.
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IRCC PolicyJul 2, 2026
IRCC Policy Update
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sharply cuts new temporary resident arrivals from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026, with targets of 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028, aiming to reduce Canada's temporary population to under 5% of the total population by end of 2027.
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Family SponsorshipJul 2, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update
Quebec will reopen family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, accepting up to 15,700 applications over two years (13,300 for spouses, 2,400 for parents/grandparents); adult dependent children aged 18+ are now exempt from the cap.
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PR & CitizenshipJul 2, 2026
PR & Citizenship Update
Canada's In-Canada Workers Initiative (TR-to-PR pathway) is fast-tracking PR applications for up to 33,000 temporary workers in 2026–2027, targeting those already in IRCC's inventory who applied through specific programs (PNP, AIP, RCIP, FCIP, Caregiver pilots, Agri-Food Pilot) and have lived in a smaller community for at least 2 years.
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Study PermitsJul 2, 2026
Study Permits Update
As of January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions (DLIs) no longer need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) to apply for a study permit, and doctoral students now qualify for expedited processing in as little as two weeks.
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Provincial Nominee ProgramJun 29, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update
IRCC issued 955 ITAs to PNP candidates on June 22, 2026 — the first PNP draw since May 28 — with a CRS cut-off of 730, significantly lower than the previous PNP draw cut-off of 805 on May 25.
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Study PermitsJun 29, 2026
Study Permits Update
Starting in 2026, Master's and PhD students at public universities are officially exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) and Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) requirements that have applied to most applicants since 2024.
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