On March 5, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new category-based Express Entry draw, issuing invitations to apply (ITAs) for the first time under the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category. A total of 250 ITAs were issued in this round, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 429. This category is one of three new occupational streams introduced when IRCC overhauled the Express Entry system in February 2026. Looking at the overall trend of Express Entry draws so far in 2026, IRCC has shown a clear preference for prioritizing immigration candidates already residing in Canada, particularly those with local work experience or provincial nominations.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released a statement on December 19, 2025, announcing an immediate pause on new applications for the Home Care Worker Pilots until further notice. The federal government explicitly stated that the programs will not reopen in March 2026 as originally planned, a decision that effectively cuts off a key immigration pathway that many prospective applicants had expected to utilize next year. This pause is part of the federal government's broader effort to recalibrate immigration quotas under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, aiming to prevent further growth in application backlogs, ensure existing cases are prioritized, and make the immigration system more responsive to actual labour market needs.

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.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced significant revisions to the "Maintained Status" provisions for temporary residents, effective May 28, 2025. The new rules specify that if a temporary resident's initial extension application, submitted while on maintained status, is refused, a subsequent application filed after the expiry of their original permit will no longer automatically allow them to maintain legal status in Canada. This change has profound implications for temporary residents submitting multiple extension applications and requires close attention.