On March 25, 2025, the Canadian federal government implemented a significant change to its Express Entry system, removing the additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points previously granted for arranged employment. Despite this change, the importance of job offers in Canada’s immigration framework remains undiminished. A valid Canadian job offer continues to play a pivotal role—not only as a mandatory entry requirement for numerous federal and provincial programs (such as the PNP, Atlantic Immigration Program, and various pilot programs) but also as a key step in gaining Canadian work experience, which greatly boosts one’s CRS score and enables eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). For prospective immigrants, securing a job offer is still one of the most effective paths toward permanent residency in Canada.

On April 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw since adjustments were made to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scoring mechanism. This round exclusively targeted Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, issuing 825 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The high cut-off score of 764 underscores the critical role of a PNP nomination in boosting competitiveness, especially after points for 'Arranged Employment' were eliminated. To date, IRCC has issued 31,508 ITAs through Express Entry in 2025, aiming to welcome 124,680 new permanent residents via this pathway by year-end.

Recently, the eastern Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) made history by issuing its first round of immigration invitations through its newly launched Expression of Interest (EOI) system, introduced in February 2025. Meanwhile, neighboring New Brunswick (NB) actively conducted several targeted draws across different provincial nominee program streams, focusing on candidates with experience in specific high-demand industries or those with local study/work history. These actions highlight both provinces’ more targeted immigration selection strategies aimed at meeting local labor market demands and adapting to federal immigration quota constraints.

Canada's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) serves as a crucial economic immigration pathway for many foreign nationals seeking Canadian permanent residency (PR), particularly for those whose Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores are not high enough in the federal Express Entry system or who do not qualify for category-based draws. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the PNP's operational mechanics, application procedures, the core distinctions between Base and Enhanced streams, associated costs, and analyzes the profound impact of the recent significant reduction in federal allocations for 2025 and its implications for future applicants.

The Canadian federal government has confirmed an increase in the Right of Citizenship Fee for adult applicants, effective midnight on March 31, 2025. The fee will rise from $100 CAD to $119.75 CAD, bringing the total cost for adult applicants to $649.75 CAD, up from $630 CAD. This adjustment does not affect fees for minor applicants, which remain unchanged. Applicants who completed their online application and paid the previous fee before the deadline are not affected, though those who submitted paper applications may need to pay the difference.

Manitoba recently held a special draw through its Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) under a "Strategic Recruitment Initiative," inviting a small number of overseas skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination. This highly targeted action aims to directly address labour shortages faced by specific employers in the province. In the April 3rd draw, a total of 4 candidates received Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA), with a minimum required score of 721. None of the invited candidates declared a valid Express Entry profile.

As Canadian provinces increasingly raise standards for professional teacher competence, international teachers need to meet a series of rigorous certification requirements to secure a place within the local education system. This article provides a detailed analysis of the specific stages, from academic credential assessment, teacher education programs, and language proficiency certification to application document preparation. It also explores various types of teaching positions, inter-provincial certification mobility, and the opportunities presented by new federal immigration policies in the education sector.

Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Canada's Express Entry system marks a significant milestone for immigration candidates. However, applicants face a strict 60-day deadline to submit a complete application for permanent residence (PR). This report provides a detailed breakdown of the core and supplementary documents required to respond to an ITA, explains the rationale behind each document requirement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and identifies applicable candidates, while emphasizing the critical importance of advance preparation and information accuracy to avoid application refusal or potential long-term bans due to incomplete submissions or misrepresentation.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) recently announced that effective April 1, 2025, application fees for several provincial worker immigration streams will significantly increase, with fees for some streams rising from the previous CAD 840 to CAD 1,500. Additionally, fees related to the Farm Stream and nomination certificates will also see notable adjustments. Concurrently, the provincial government is implementing a new round of optimizations concerning language testing, work permit policies, and family connection pathways. This move aims to address challenges posed by drastic cuts in federal immigration quotas and promote more precise immigration management.

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.