IRCC Policy Update — May 28, 2026
Thursday, May 28, 2026
New regulations to strengthen oversight of immigration consultants take effect July 15, 2026, including increased penalties for rule-breaking, a more detailed public register of licensed consultants (starting April 2027), and improved investigation processes.
Bill C-12 (Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act) received royal assent on March 26, 2026, introducing new asylum eligibility rules: claims made more than one year after first Canadian entry (post-June 2020) and claims filed more than 14 days after irregular land border entry will no longer be referred to the IRB.
Eight immigration changes took effect April 1, 2026, including a passport fee increase (adult 10-year passport now $163.50), a new 30-day passport processing guarantee, and flexible income requirements for super visa sponsors.
What You Should Do
- Before hiring an immigration consultant, verify their license on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants public register at college-ic.ca — new regulations effective July 15, 2026, strengthen the register and increase penalties for unlicensed practice.
- If you or someone you know is considering filing an asylum claim after irregular land border entry, note that under Bill C-12 (in force March 26, 2026), claims filed more than 14 days after entry will not be referred to the IRB — seek legal advice immediately.
- If you need a new or renewed Canadian passport, budget $163.50 for a 10-year adult passport (up from $160) and note the new 30-day processing guarantee — apply at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports.html.
- Review all recently announced IRCC public policies (including those for Ukraine OWP extensions, Gaza TRV holders, and Quebec PR candidates) at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies.html to check if any apply to your situation.
Sources
Topics Covered
Service Fee Adjustments: Effective March 31, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased for the first time since 2013 — adult 10-year passports now cost $163.50 (up from $160) — attributed to inflation and rising production costs.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Multiple April 2026 policy changes — including flexible super visa income requirements and new TR-to-PR open work permit extensions — reflect IRCC implementing specific provisions from the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — June 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
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