New Brunswick recently announced that certain occupations will no longer be eligible for nomination under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This change is part of a broader adjustment to Canada’s immigration policy, with the provincial government prioritizing immigration applications in the healthcare, education, and construction sectors.

The Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Department (IRCC) recently issued 646 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invitations through the Express Entry system, requiring candidates to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 750. Starting in 2025, IRCC will prioritize PNP and CEC candidates in the draws and will not conduct category-based draws for French speakers, healthcare workers, or skilled trades. IRCC plans to allocate 41,700 permanent resident spots for these priority groups in the 2025-2027 immigration plan.

New developments in Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for 2025: Alberta completed its first round of provincial nominee draws for the year from February 3 to 6, issuing a total of 308 invitations for the Rural Renewal Stream and Medical Care stream (including both Express Entry and non-Express Entry categories); meanwhile, New Brunswick announced delays in issuing invitations due to technical issues from system overload. It is expected that formal draws will begin in March, and applicants are reminded to pay attention to updated occupational restrictions.

British Columbia and Manitoba in Canada issued more provincial nomination invitations, while Alberta also updated the candidate pool status for several of its immigration programs. These provinces attract entrepreneurs, international students, and overseas candidates with technical backgrounds through economic immigration channels, and Alberta has also released statistical data on the current candidates.