Recent news of the U.S. planning a high-threshold "Gold Card" visa has sparked interest in whether Canada offers a similar pathway for directly purchasing permanent residency. Canada does not have such a "Gold Card"; its economic immigration programs primarily focus on attracting skilled talent rather than pure investment. However, Canada does provide several immigration streams for entrepreneurs and investors intending to establish or operate businesses within the country, leading to permanent residence. These include the federal Start-Up Visa Program, the unique Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, and various Provincial Nominee Programs for entrepreneurs.

The province of Saskatchewan in Canada has implemented major reforms to its Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), effective March 27, 2025. The adjustments include reopening the acceptance of Job Approval Forms (JAFs) for employers, but with the recruitment of overseas skilled workers now restricted to three key areas: healthcare, agriculture, and technical trades. Simultaneously, the province has closed the immigration streams for entrepreneurs and farm owners/operators, tightened the eligibility requirements for certain open work permit holders and international students, and set annual nomination quota limits for the accommodation and food services, retail, and truck transportation sectors.

Canada's Yukon Territory has announced a significant overhaul of its Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), transitioning to a new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool-based system effective March 31, 2025, replacing the previous direct application model. This change aims to manage a substantially reduced federal nomination allocation and better target candidates aligning with the territory's priorities. Under the new system, employers must first submit an EOI and receive an invitation before applying for nomination for a foreign worker. Yukon has also outlined priority candidate groups for 2025 and launched a temporary measure offering work permit support to certain foreign nationals already in the territory.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially implemented the latest Ministerial Instructions on March 25, 2025, eliminating the additional 50 to 200 CRS points previously awarded to Express Entry candidates for valid arranged employment. This measure aims to curb illegal activities such as purchasing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), enhance the integrity of the immigration system, and is explicitly stated as a temporary measure.

The Canadian federal government recently announced a significant increase in the processing cap for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025, raising it to 25,000 applications. This decision reverses the tightening policy announced earlier this year and signifies a new opportunity for sponsors who submitted an interest form in 2020 but have not yet received an invitation to apply. The move aims to better address the family reunification needs of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced a relaxation of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application requirements for College Bachelor's Degree graduates, removing the previous restrictions on fields of study. While this policy is positive news for some international students, new language requirements remain in place, and not all graduates will meet the eligibility criteria.

The Canadian government has announced the launch of a new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot Program (HCWP), which aims to provide permanent residence to 2,750 home care workers, with priority given to applicants already in Canada. The program is designed to address the shortage of care workers in Canada and provide a pathway for temporary residents to obtain legal status.

In March 2025, Canada welcomed its 24th Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who swiftly adjusted the nation’s immigration policies. Carney advocated that while Canada should continue to remain open to new immigrants, greater emphasis must be placed on the quality and structural optimization of immigration. His new policy prioritizes the recruitment of high-skilled talent and the refinement of the points-based selection system. At the same time, more stringent management measures will be applied to temporary workers and international students, promoting the conversion of temporary residents into permanent ones. In contrast to the previous administration’s more lenient policies, Carney’s government is determined to balance economic growth with the pressures on public services, ensuring that the number of immigrants aligns with the capacities of housing, healthcare, and other essential infrastructures for long-term sustainable population growth and social prosperity.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on March 7, 2025, that it will resume issuing invitations under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2025. This draw will be exclusively for applicants who submitted an interest to sponsor in 2020. Meanwhile, as an alternative, the Super Visa policy has recently relaxed its health insurance requirements, providing more flexible options for family reunification.

In order to alleviate the labor crisis in the construction industry caused by a housing shortage, the Canadian government recently announced a series of major reforms. The new measures include reserving permanent residency spots for up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers, and allowing eligible temporary foreign workers to participate in apprenticeship training without the need for a study permit. Additionally, the government will establish an advisory committee to provide professional guidance on the policies, while also expanding the construction occupation categories in the Express Entry system.