Starting from March 5, 2025, New Brunswick has officially launched two enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams linked to Express Entry, aimed at attracting more eligible international talent to apply for Canadian permanent residency. The newly introduced “Employment in New Brunswick Pathway” and “New Brunswick Interests Pathway” feature multiple optimizations in application requirements, including lowering the minimum age requirement, strengthening residency and work experience criteria, and setting exclusions for certain occupations.

According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the immigration backlog fell below one million for the second consecutive month in January 2025, with a total backlog of 892,000 cases—a 5.33% decrease from December 2024. While the processing efficiency of permanent resident programs remains stable, the backlog rate for temporary resident visas has surged past 71%, and study permit backlogs continue to rise. Meanwhile, work permit processing efficiency has significantly improved, with the backlog rate dropping sharply from 57% to 42%. The federal government has implemented policies such as setting immigration quotas and cutting jobs to ease inventory pressure, but the long-term effects remain to be seen.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced significant changes to the Express Entry categories for 2025, introducing an "Education" category and removing the "Transportation" category. The changes also include substantial adjustments to the occupational lists in healthcare, STEM, and other categories, reflecting shifts in Canada's labor market demands.

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the details of a new pilot immigration program for nannies and caregivers (HCWP) set to launch on March 31, 2025. This new pathway offers more opportunities for foreign home care workers and reduces language, work experience, and education requirements. Although applicants are currently limited to workers already in Canada, future applicants from other countries will also have the opportunity to apply.

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) will reopen on February 27, accepting applications for immigration to Canada in 2025. The program will process 90 new applications in addition to 60 applications from 2024, aiming to meet the overall nomination quota for 2025. Applications will be processed based on the expiry dates of work permits, and there will be new application quotas for different immigration categories.

Starting from February 19, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador will adjust the application process for its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), implementing an online Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This change requires foreign nationals to apply for immigration nomination or certification by submitting an EOI, rather than applying directly. At the same time, some ongoing applications will no longer be processed.

Manitoba and Prince Edward Island (PEI) recently issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). Manitoba primarily invited candidates with higher education and specific qualifications, while PEI targeted candidates working in the province and international student graduates from specific institutions.

New Brunswick recently announced that certain occupations will no longer be eligible for nomination under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This change is part of a broader adjustment to Canada’s immigration policy, with the provincial government prioritizing immigration applications in the healthcare, education, and construction sectors.

New developments in Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for 2025: Alberta completed its first round of provincial nominee draws for the year from February 3 to 6, issuing a total of 308 invitations for the Rural Renewal Stream and Medical Care stream (including both Express Entry and non-Express Entry categories); meanwhile, New Brunswick announced delays in issuing invitations due to technical issues from system overload. It is expected that formal draws will begin in March, and applicants are reminded to pay attention to updated occupational restrictions.

According to the latest announcement from the Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), starting from December 18, 2024, foreign nationals holding an International Experience Canada (IEC) employer-specific work permit will no longer receive Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for a valid job offer. This policy change affects IEC “Young Professionals” work permit holders and is taking effect earlier than initially planned, which was set for Spring 2025. This means that many applicants holding this type of work permit will face the loss of CRS points more quickly.