The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) recently conducted its largest immigration draw of the year, issuing invitations to apply for provincial nomination to nearly 200 candidates through the "Labour & Express Entry" category. This draw primarily targeted candidates already working in the province, while giving priority consideration to applicants with French language proficiency and international graduates from specific institutions. This move reflects the province's strategic intent to attract skilled talent capable of directly contributing to the local economy.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has suspended its Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream effective November 14, 2025, following a major program review that identified systemic misrepresentation and potential fraud. As part of the suspension, all in-progress applications will be returned with full refunds. The province states that the program’s current structure must be redesigned to ensure limited nomination spots benefit genuine candidates addressing Ontario’s skilled trades shortages. Affected applicants may submit a new Expression of Interest under another OINP stream if eligible.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on November 14, 2025, issuing 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services occupations category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 462—the lowest cutoff among the six Healthcare and Social Services draws held this year. This was also the third Express Entry draw of November, highlighting IRCC’s continued priority on recruiting healthcare professionals.

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).

On October 27, 2025, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) conducted an unannounced draw, issuing 159 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. The selection specifically targeted international graduates from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île who are currently living and working in the province. The move breaks from PEI’s regular draw schedule, signaling the province’s intention to accelerate its intake of skilled talent with local education and employment experience.

On October 17, 2025, Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted its second-largest immigration draw of the year under the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), issuing 160 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination. The draw primarily targeted skilled workers already employed in the province in priority occupations, as well as international graduates from designated educational institutions. As of October 26, 2025, PEI has issued a total of 1,081 ITAs through its PNP this year.

The Ontario government has announced plans to expand its “As of Right” labor mobility framework effective January 1, 2026, adding 16 regulated healthcare professions such as dentists, psychologists, dietitians, and midwives. This change will allow certified professionals from other Canadian provinces to obtain Ontario work authorization within as little as 10 days, compared to the current process, which can take up to six months. At the same time, physicians and nurses will be able to receive certification in as few as two business days. The move aims to address Ontario’s ongoing healthcare labor shortages while improving mobility for both Canadian and internationally trained professionals seeking to build long-term careers in the province.

On October 9, 2025, the Province of Ontario issued a total of 1,680 invitations through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), targeting skilled workers and international graduates. The latest draws spanned multiple Employer Job Offer streams, focusing on candidates in healthcare, early childhood education, and occupations that contribute to small community growth under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative. This series of draws reflects Ontario’s continued effort to strengthen its workforce in essential sectors and attract skilled talent to smaller regional communities across the province.

On October 15, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw targeting candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services category, issuing 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 472 and must have created their Express Entry profile before May 12, 2025, at 11:17 p.m. UTC. This draw marks the fifth healthcare and social services category-based draw of 2025 and is the second-largest of its kind, tying with the August 19 draw and surpassed only by the July 22 draw, which invited 4,000 healthcare professionals.

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.