IRCC Policy Update — August 10, 2026
Monday, August 10, 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 — down sharply from 673,650 in 2025 — with a goal of reducing Canada's temporary population to under 5% of the total population by end of 2027.
As of March 31–April 1, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased for the first time since 2013 (e.g., 10-year adult passport now costs $163.50), and a new '30 days or free' processing guarantee means applicants receive a full refund if their passport isn't processed within 30 business days.
Two Hong Kong-specific permanent residence pathways (Stream A and Stream B) are set to close on August 31, 2026, creating an urgent deadline for eligible applicants.
What You Should Do
- If you are a Hong Kong resident eligible for Canada's dedicated PR pathways (Stream A: Canadian graduates, or Stream B: other eligible Hong Kong nationals), submit your application before the August 31, 2026 deadline. Check eligibility and apply at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.
- If you are renewing or applying for a Canadian passport, budget for the new fees: $163.50 for a 10-year adult passport or $122.50 for a 5-year adult passport (from within Canada). Apply at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports and track your application — if processing exceeds 30 business days, you are entitled to a full fee refund under the '30 days or free' guarantee.
- If you are a temporary foreign worker or international student planning to come to Canada in 2026, review the new reduced admission targets under the 2026-2028 Levels Plan at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028.html to understand how competition for spots may increase.
- If you are an international graduate who has received a post-graduation work permit refusal, monitor IRCC announcements at canada.ca for any federal response to ongoing disputes, as no resolution has been announced yet.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Canada's 2026-2028 Levels Plan sharply cuts temporary resident arrivals to 385,000 in 2026 (down from 673,650 in 2025) and targets reducing the temporary resident share of Canada's population to under 5% by end of 2027.
International Student Cap Reduction: The 2026-2028 Levels Plan includes reduced targets for new international student arrivals as part of an overall cut to temporary resident admissions, with new arrivals dropping significantly from 2025 levels.
Service Fee Adjustments: Canadian passport fees rose on March 31, 2026 for the first time since 2013, with a 10-year adult passport now costing $163.50. A new 30-business-day processing guarantee was also introduced, with full refunds if the deadline is missed.
How these topics connect
Canada's comprehensive immigration strategy is using study permit caps as a key lever to achieve its temporary population reduction targets.
More IRCC Policy Updates
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IRCC Policy Update — August 3, 2026
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IRCC Policy Update — July 30, 2026
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