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 New Brunswick province recently announced the suspension of new provincial endorsement applications for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for the remainder of 2025, as its annual quota of 1,250 spots was filled by April 4th. This closure occurred significantly earlier than last year, primarily attributed to federal immigration quota reductions and heightened application demand. Individuals aiming to immigrate via AIP can still explore options in the other three Atlantic provinces, though they should be aware of potential sector or occupation-specific restrictions.

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.

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.

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.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially opened the application portal for its highly anticipated Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP) on March 31, 2025. However, due to the large number of applicants, the online application quotas for the two sub-categories aimed at in-Canada applicants – the Child Care Pilot and the Home Support Pilot – rapidly reached their annual caps on the afternoon of the opening day. This reflects the program's immense popularity and the intense competition among applicants. Currently, the stream for overseas applicants has not yet opened.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted its latest draw on March 21, prioritizing invitations for candidates with post-secondary education completed in Manitoba, along with some Skilled Workers Overseas. Concurrently, the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has announced the closure of its 2025 application intake, proceeding with a random selection of applications for processing and providing details on its quota allocation.

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.