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
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.
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.
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
IRCC Policy Update — October 1, 2026
Oct 1, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — September 24, 2026
Sep 24, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — September 17, 2026
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