IRCC Policy Update — July 2, 2026
Thursday, July 2, 2026
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.
IRCC's 2025-2026 Departmental Plan announces several new measures: making the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot permanent by end of 2025, creating a new agriculture and fish processing work permit stream, changing spousal open work permit eligibility, and testing a new Express Entry settlement algorithm (GeoMatch) developed with Stanford University.
Effective April 1, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased (10-year adult passport now $163.50), and a new '30 days or free' guarantee means applicants receive a full refund if their passport isn't processed within 30 business days of a complete application being received.
What You Should Do
- If you are a temporary resident (student or worker) in Canada, check whether your current status or renewal plans are affected by the reduced 2026 arrival targets at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028.html
- If you hold or are applying for a spousal open work permit (SOWP), monitor IRCC's official updates page at canada.ca for announced eligibility changes referenced in the 2025-2026 Departmental Plan, as specific new rules have not yet been finalized.
- If you are applying for or renewing a Canadian passport, submit your application as of April 1, 2026 knowing the new fee is $163.50 for a 10-year adult passport (from within Canada) and that you are entitled to a full fee refund if processing exceeds 30 business days. Apply at passport.canada.ca.
- If you are an Express Entry candidate interested in where to settle in Canada, watch for the rollout of the GeoMatch tool (developed with Stanford University) on the IRCC website, as it is currently in testing phase per the 2025-2026 Departmental Plan.
- If you are a low-wage employer in Montréal or Laval, note that the LMIA moratorium has been extended to December 31, 2026. Verify your sector's exemption status (agriculture, construction, food processing, education, health/social services) at canada.ca before submitting any LMIA applications.
- If you are considering sponsoring a parent or grandparent, note that no new PGP intake has been announced for 2026. The Super Visa is the current alternative — review eligibility and apply at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa.html. Current PGP processing time is approximately 24 months.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Canada's 2026-2028 Levels Plan cuts new temporary resident arrivals from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027-2028, targeting a temporary population share of under 5% by end of 2027 while stabilizing permanent resident admissions below 1% of population annually beyond 2027.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: IRCC's 2025-2026 Departmental Plan announces plans to create a new dedicated foreign labour stream and work permit type for the agriculture and fish processing sector, and to implement new FTA work permits with Indonesia, Ecuador, and CPTPP accession candidates.
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: IRCC's 2025-2026 Departmental Plan signals upcoming changes to eligibility requirements for spousal open work permits (SOWPs) issued to spouses of both foreign workers and international students, though specific rule details have not yet been published.
Service Fee Adjustments: As of March 31–April 1, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased for the first time since 2013 (10-year adult passport from within Canada is now $163.50), and a new 30-business-day processing guarantee entitles applicants to a full refund if their application is not completed in time.
Parents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities: No new PGP intake has been announced for 2026; the 2025 round sent 17,860 invitations from the 2020 interest-form pool against a target of 10,000 sponsorships, with processing times at approximately 24 months. The Super Visa is the currently available alternative.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — July 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — July 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — July 9, 2026
Jul 9, 2026
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