Canada lets work-permit holders study short courses without a study permit
14-day work-permit processing and new Express Entry category fast-track foreign-trained doctors
14-day work permits and dedicated Express Entry category fast-track foreign-trained doctors
Latest News
Canada’s removal of the first-generation limit extends citizenship to descendants abroad
Bill C-3 ended the ‘first-generation limit’ on Canadian citizenship for people born before 15 December 2025, meaning descendants beyond the first generation can automatically be citizens if they prove lineage. A CIC News feature on Eric Clapton’s Canadian father illustrates how the new law can confer citizenship on entire family branches abroad, creating new talent-mobility options and potentially obviating work-permit needs.
IRCC sets 2 November deadline as online asylum application platform is overhauled
Canada will launch a redesigned online asylum-claim platform on 3 November 2026. Refugee claimants must submit any draft applications in the current IRCC portal by 23:59 ET on 2 November or redo their files under the new system. The change forms part of Bill C-12’s asylum reforms and could affect claimants linked through CBSA as well as humanitarian mobility programmes.
Canada waives 12-month PRRA bar for Israeli and Palestinian nationals
IRCC has lifted the standard 12-month waiting period before rejected asylum seekers from Israel or Palestine can file a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment. The waiver, effective for negative decisions issued between 28 September 2025 and 29 September 2026, offers a quick protection review for those facing imminent removal amid escalating regional violence.
Deadline looms as IRCC overhauls online asylum-claim portal
IRCC will replace its existing online refugee-claim interface at 00:00 ET on 3 November 2026. Claims fully submitted before 2 November are grandfathered; partial files must be reviewed and completed under the new, more detailed form. The deadline is part of Bill C-12’s drive to modernise—and tighten—Canada’s asylum system.
CBSA to end Remote Area Border Crossing permits, shift to telephone reporting on 1 December 2026
CBSA has set 1 December 2026 as the start date for mandatory telephone reporting at remote Canada–U.S. crossings, replacing the long-running RABC permit system. Current permits remain valid until 30 November only, after which travellers must call the Telephone Reporting Centre upon entry, bringing reporting rules in line with other small-craft programmes.
Canada waives 12-month PRRA bar for Israeli and Palestinian nationals with recent refusals
IRCC has exempted Israeli and Palestinian nationals whose negative immigration decisions occurred between 28 Sept 2025 and 29 Sept 2026 from the standard 12-month wait to file a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment. The policy recognises rapidly changing country conditions and allows eligible individuals to seek protection immediately, potentially stalling imminent removals.
British Columbia’s PNP widens high-wage door as sector rounds tighten
B.C.’s September immigration draws issued 1,176 invitations, with the Innovate: High Economic Impact wage-based stream growing to 426 invitations at a reduced salary floor of CAN $52/hour. Sector-specific rounds for health, childcare and construction became more selective, signalling that employers willing to pay premium wages have the clearest path to attracting global talent.
Five provinces raise minimum wage—what it means for temporary foreign workers
Ontario and four other provinces increased their general minimum wages on 1 Oct 2026, lifting the floor to as high as C$17.95. Because newcomers and temporary foreign workers dominate minimum-wage sectors, the hikes directly affect payroll costs, compliance obligations and cost-of-living considerations for employers managing mobile talent.
September Express Entry Sets 2026 Record with 11,288 ITAs
New IRCC data show that September 2026 was the busiest Express Entry month of the year, with 11,288 invitations issued across eight draws and CEC CRS cut-offs dropping to 518. The pattern underscores Ottawa’s reliance on category-based selection and signals continued opportunities for employers to retain Canadian-experienced foreign talent.