Last week, British Columbia (BC) and Prince Edward Island (PEI) issued immigration invitations through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). BC's target is foreign entrepreneurs who have established new businesses or purchased existing businesses in the province, while PEI focuses on talents in key industries and occupations in high demand within the province.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced a relaxation of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application requirements for College Bachelor's Degree graduates, removing the previous restrictions on fields of study. While this policy is positive news for some international students, new language requirements remain in place, and not all graduates will meet the eligibility criteria.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again conducted a targeted draw through the Express Entry system, this time focusing on candidates with strong French language proficiency. A total of 7,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, with the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score set at 379—the lowest in nearly a month. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the draw results, a review of Express Entry draws in 2025 to date, and an analysis of current immigration policy trends.

In its third Express Entry draw of the month, IRCC issued 536 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). In addition to the focus on PNP, IRCC reaffirmed its commitment to applicants with French language proficiency and Canadian work experience, and has now included the education sector in its list of priority categories. These measures indicate Canada’s active adjustment of its immigration policies to better meet labor market demands.

Against the backdrop of substantial reductions in immigration quotas, New Brunswick conducted its first provincial nominee draw in March 2025, inviting candidates in specific high-demand occupations. This draw demonstrates the province's commitment to adjusting its immigration policies to more accurately meet labor market needs. In addition, a series of adjustments have been made to the provincial nominee program to address the new immigration situation.

Canada’s Manitoba and Alberta provinces have recently issued multiple rounds of invitations to immigration applicants through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). On March 6, Manitoba conducted two rounds of draws targeting both local and overseas skilled workers, issuing a total of 111 invitation letters; meanwhile, from February 7 to March 5, Alberta held several targeted screenings for key sectors including agriculture, technology, construction, healthcare, and law enforcement, with significant variations in the minimum score thresholds across industries.

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.

In the latest Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency to 725 eligible candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This draw required candidates to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 667 and to have created their Express Entry profile before 18:25 UTC on June 5, 2024. As the first draw of the month, this event follows previous draws for French language proficiency, two PNP rounds, and two rounds for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This year, Express Entry draws have primarily focused on PNP and CEC candidates.

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 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.