The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted four targeted draws on April 8, 2026, issuing a total of 1,828 invitations to apply (ITAs) across four categories: healthcare and early childhood education, Francophone candidates, the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot, and physicians. The healthcare and early childhood education draw dominated with 1,635 invitations — nearly 90% of the total — while the Foreign Worker stream minimum score dropped to just 20, down sharply from 36 in the February 2 healthcare draw, signaling Ontario's intensified push to fill critical staffing gaps in these sectors. This marked the province's sixth set of draws in 2026, with all targeted candidates required to hold a valid work or study permit and currently reside in Canada. Notably, these draws come as Ontario prepares for a sweeping overhaul of its immigration system, with legal amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act set to take effect on May 30, 2026, revoking all existing nomination categories — including the Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills streams used in these draws.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has proposed a sweeping restructuring of its flagship Express Entry system in its newly released Forward Regulatory Plan: 2026–2028, under which the three federal economic immigration programs currently managed through Express Entry — the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) — would be repealed and replaced by a single new class with streamlined eligibility requirements, which IRCC says would help support Canada's economy and businesses by building a more diverse pool of international talent while making the system easier for applicants, employers and partners to navigate; the department has indicated that the reform is still in the proposal phase and plans to consult partners, stakeholders and the public in spring 2026, and if implemented, the change would represent the most significant overhaul of Canada's federal high-skilled immigration framework since Express Entry was launched in 2015.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has confirmed that, starting April 7, 2026, foreign nationals submitting a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) will be required to pay a new $135 fee, a step that ends the previously free submission process and applies across every worker stream and pathway — including the Alberta Opportunity Stream, the Alberta Express Entry Stream (covering the Accelerated Tech Pathway, the Law Enforcement Pathway and priority sector draws), the Dedicated Health Care Pathways, the Rural Renewal Stream and the Tourism and Hospitality Stream — while remaining entirely separate from the existing $1,500 application fee; the change follows the February 25, 2026 addition of new wage and hours-of-work fields to the WEOI form and comes as more than 44,000 WEOIs sit in the selection pool, with Alberta holding a 2026 allocation of 6,403 nominations from IRCC, of which 1,475 had been issued as of April 1 and 4,928 remain available, with upcoming draws expected to prioritize health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture and occupations tied to designated Rural Renewal communities.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has set a concrete annual target for its Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program in its 2026-27 Departmental Plan: 58 funding agreements expected to benefit approximately 32,000 internationally trained professionals (ITPs) seeking to work in their fields in Canada. Alongside this target, the federal government has formally committed $97 million CAD over five years, beginning in 2026-27, to establish the FCR Action Fund — a dedicated funding stream designed to work with provinces and territories to improve the fairness, transparency, timeliness, and consistency of credential recognition processes, with a particular focus on the healthcare and construction sectors. These developments signal a shift in Ottawa's approach from project-level funding toward systemic reform of Canada's credential recognition framework.

Between March 31 and April 1, 2026, the Canadian federal and provincial governments rolled out eight immigration-related changes affecting a wide range of applicants and residents. Canadian passport fees have risen for the first time since 2013, with a 10-year adult passport now costing $163.50, up from $160. At the same time, a new "30 days or free" processing guarantee promises automatic full refunds when applications exceed the 30-business-day window. The right of citizenship fee increased by $3.25 to $123, and permanent residence application fees are set to rise on April 30. The Super Visa program now offers two additional ways for hosts to meet the minimum income threshold, giving more families the chance to bring parents and grandparents to Canada. Provinces and territories have gained greater authority over assessing nominees' intent to reside and economic establishment prospects. Economic-class permanent residents now face a six-year time limit on access to federally funded settlement services, tightening to five years in 2027. Rural employers can hire low-wage temporary foreign workers at up to 15% of their workforce under the TFWP, up from 10%. Saskatchewan has also extended its $500 application fee and $250 second review fee to all SINP worker categories.

On April 2, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the year's first category-based Express Entry draw targeting Trades Occupations, issuing 3,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 477. The draw marks a significant milestone as the first Trades selection since IRCC raised the minimum work experience requirement from six months to one year in February 2026, and represents the twentieth Express Entry draw of the year. Notably, the 3,000 ITAs issued in this single draw already exceed the 1,250 total issued under the Trades category throughout all of 2025, underscoring IRCC's growing emphasis on skilled tradespeople. With 58,830 ITAs issued across all categories in 2026 so far, the Canadian Experience Class and French-language proficiency categories continue to account for the largest share.

On March 31, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) closed out the month with an Express Entry draw targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, issuing 2,250 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence at a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 509. This marked the 19th Express Entry draw of 2026 and the sixth dedicated CEC round this year. With 55,830 ITAs issued across the first three months of the year — 30,250 of which went to CEC candidates alone — the federal government's strategy of prioritizing immigration applicants already living and working in Canada has come into sharp focus.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 356 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the 18th Express Entry draw of 2026. Candidates in this draw were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 802 and to have created their Express Entry profile before 3:54 a.m. UTC on February 12, 2026. So far in 2026, IRCC has focused its draws primarily on candidates residing in Canada, especially those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience. A total of 53,580 ITAs have been issued to date.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held a new selection round on March 26, 2026, issuing 14 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker Stream to candidates in Manitoba and overseas. Those invited had declared in their Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles that they had been directly invited by the province through a strategic recruitment initiative. Among the various initiatives, the Francophone Community initiative accounted for the highest number of invitations, with eight LAAs issued. In addition, three invitees declared valid Express Entry profile numbers and job seeker validation codes.

Canada’s federal government has officially enacted the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12) after it received royal assent on March 26, 2026. According to publicly available information from the Canadian government and Parliament, the legislation introduces major changes in four core areas: asylum eligibility, asylum procedures, the immigration department’s information-sharing powers, and public-interest authority over visas, study permits, work permits, and related immigration applications. The new law also imposes stricter asylum eligibility rules and requires that related executive orders be reported to Parliament, while some of its long-term effects will be subject to future parliamentary review.