IRCC Policy Update — July 23, 2026
Thursday, July 23, 2026
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.
As of April 1, 2026, Canadian passport applicants are guaranteed processing within 30 business days or receive a full fee refund under the new '30 days of free' initiative; adult 10-year passport fees also increased slightly from $160 to $163.50.
New rules for immigration consultants are set to take effect July 15, 2026, though full details require a subscription to access from the Indian Express source.
What You Should Do
- If you are applying for or renewing a Canadian passport, submit your application at a Service Canada location or online at canada.ca/passport and note the new 30-business-day processing guarantee — if processing exceeds 30 business days from receipt of a complete application, you are entitled to a full fee refund automatically.
- If you are a temporary resident in Canada, check whether your current status will be affected by the 2026-2028 Levels Plan targets by reviewing the full supplementary plan at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028.html.
- If you use a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), verify their registration and confirm they meet the new consultant rules taking effect July 15, 2026, by checking the CICC public register at college-ic.ca before that date.
- If you are a temporary foreign worker or international student planning to arrive in 2026, note that new arrival targets are significantly reduced — confirm your permit validity and entry plans well in advance by contacting your employer or institution and reviewing your permit documents.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Canada released its 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, setting temporary resident arrival targets at 385,000 for 2026 and 370,000 for 2027 and 2028, with the explicit goal of bringing the temporary resident population below 5% of Canada's total population by end of 2027.
Service Fee Adjustments: Canadian passport fees increased as of March 31, 2026 — the first increase since 2013 — with a 10-year adult passport now costing $163.50 inside Canada, up from $160. A new 30-business-day processing guarantee with automatic refunds also launched April 1, 2026.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — July 20, 2026
Jul 20, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — July 16, 2026
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IRCC Policy Update — July 13, 2026
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