Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, effective January 1, 2026, international master’s and doctoral students will no longer need to provide a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) when applying for a study permit. The policy aims to simplify the application process, maintain the two-week fast-track for doctoral students, and remove all limits on the number of eligible applicants. Qualified students may also include their family members in their applications. The change is expected to further strengthen Canada’s position as a global leader in higher education and research.

The Northwest Territories (NWT) has announced a third application intake window for its Nominee Program (NTNP), running from November 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. to November 24, 2025. To complete the 2025 target of 300 nominations, the territory plans to process up to 103 additional eligible applications by year-end and has introduced temporary eligibility adjustments: removal of the work-permit expiry-date restriction, reinstatement of certain 2024 work-experience requirements, and elimination of employer submission caps tied to company size. Applications will be prioritized for candidates whose work permits expire within the next three months, followed by filing date order; if processing exceeds capacity or cannot be finalized by December 23, applications will be withdrawn, with the option to reapply in 2026.

On November 6, 2025, the Quebec government announced that it will permanently close one of its most popular pathways to permanent residence—the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, PEQ)—which includes the Quebec Graduates Stream and the Temporary Foreign Workers Stream. Both streams will officially end on November 19, 2025. At the same time, three permanent immigration pilot programs will also conclude as scheduled on January 1, 2026. This means that, going forward, foreign workers and graduates seeking to obtain permanent residence in Quebec will only be able to apply through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).

The Government of the Northwest Territories (NWT) has announced that its 2025 Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) allocation has been restored to 2024 levels following federal approval. The total quota will rise to 300, up significantly from 197 earlier this year. Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment Caitlin Cleveland stated that preparations are underway for the next NTNP intake period, which will open additional pathways for skilled workers to obtain provincial nomination. This adjustment makes the NWT the first jurisdiction in 2025 to regain its pre-reduction quota, marking a key milestone in the territory’s ongoing efforts to address critical labor shortages through immigration.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently updated its official website to indicate that the "applicants not working in Canada" stream under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP) has been officially closed. This stream was marked as "closed" on September 29, 2025, without ever having opened to accept applications since the program's launch. Despite this closure, overseas caregivers still have alternative pathways to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and other routes. Industry analysts suggest this decision may be linked to severe application backlogs and the federal government's policy shift toward prioritizing the transition of temporary residents already in Canada to permanent residence status.

In 2025, Canada's Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is entering a new strategic phase due to adjusted federal immigration allocations. To manage reduced quotas, the four Atlantic provinces are concentrating their resources on key sectors vital to their local economies. Healthcare, construction, and information technology have become focal points for attracting talent. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the latest priority sectors and occupations for each province, examines the alternative pathways available in New Brunswick following its AIP pause, and offers authoritative guidance for applicants planning to immigrate through this program in 2025.

On July 31, 2025, Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) issued 273 invitations to apply for permanent selection through its Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). This draw is particularly significant as it is the first time the province has specifically targeted candidates under the "Intermediate and Manual Skills" stream, marking a steady expansion of the program's scope. The initiative aims to provide an immigration pathway for workers already in Quebec who possess specific work experience and French-language skills, in order to address labor shortages in various regions of the province.

Nova Scotia's immigration authority issued an official notice on July 16, announcing an adjustment to its Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP) application processing strategy. As the number of applications for 2025 has reached the annual allocation limit set by the federal government, the province has decided to shift its processing focus for the remainder of the year to applicants already working in the province whose work permits are set to expire in 2025, with a particular emphasis on professionals in the healthcare and construction sectors. This adjustment is a direct response to the federal government's reduced 2025 PNP allocation and will significantly impact various categories of applicants.

Global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has recently released its 2026 Best Student Cities ranking. Four Canadian cities—Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa—have secured spots in the top 100. While these cities are lauded for their excellent student feedback, diversity, and university quality, their overall scores are weighed down by consistently low marks in affordability. Notably, all four cities have seen a significant drop in their rankings compared to the previous year. This trend not only reflects a broader challenge faced by North American cities but also introduces new factors for international students to consider when planning their education in Canada.

In a surprise announcement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revealed it will postpone the implementation of a highly-watched measure to tighten eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Certain study programs slated for removal from PGWP eligibility on June 25, 2025, will now remain eligible until early 2026. This adjustment not only safeguards students who applied for study permits during the policy transition period but has also temporarily increased the total number of PGWP-eligible programs, marking a significant boon for students in non-degree college programs, who are the primary group affected.