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.

The Canadian federal government has announced a temporary easing of rules for rural employers using the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Under the new policy, eligible rural employers in participating provinces and territories will not only be allowed to maintain their current number of low-wage temporary foreign workers, but will also be able to increase the cap on these workers from 10% to 15% of their total workforce. The move is being seen as a targeted policy adjustment aimed at addressing persistent labour shortages in rural and remote communities. However, the measure will apply only in provinces and territories that choose to participate, and the federal government has not yet released a list of those jurisdictions.

As of January 1, 2026, several immigration and labour-market measures took effect across Canada. Graduate (master’s and PhD) students at public designated learning institutions (DLIs) no longer need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) for study permits and are no longer counted under the study permit cap, with PhD applicants eligible for expedited processing (as little as two weeks). The federal Start-Up Visa (SUV) program stopped accepting new applications at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2025, with a limited exception allowing applicants holding a designated organization commitment made in 2025 to apply until June 30, 2026; new SUV work permits are also no longer accepted, though current permit holders may be able to extend. Ontario introduced an “As of Right” framework enabling out-of-province credentialed professionals in regulated occupations to begin working in Ontario within 10 business days (for up to six months) after credential validation, and it implemented new job-posting rules prohibiting employers from requiring “Canadian work experience,” alongside additional disclosure measures such as whether AI is used in hiring. Alberta, meanwhile, tightened eligibility requirements for its AAIP Rural Renewal Stream, including stricter work-permit rules, residency requirements for lower-skilled occupations, caps on community endorsements, and a 12-month validity period for endorsement letters.

Canada’s federal immigration department has announced major adjustments to its business immigration programs, including the suspension of new applications under the Start-up Visa Program and the continued pause of the Self-Employed Persons Program. The measures are intended to reduce application backlogs and prepare for a more targeted entrepreneur immigration pilot, details of which are expected to be released in 2026.

Canada offers multiple immigration pathways for individuals who wish to immigrate through entrepreneurship or business investment, including the federal Start-Up Visa (SUV), several federal work permit categories, provincial entrepreneur programs, and the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program. Each pathway carries distinct requirements related to investment amounts, business experience, language proficiency, and documentation. With frequent policy changes and complex due-diligence procedures, many applicants work with immigration lawyers or licensed consultants to select the right program, prepare documentation, and maintain compliance to improve approval outcomes and protect their investment.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced Bill C-12, aiming to modernize and strengthen the management of Canada’s immigration system while addressing long-standing backlogs. If passed, the bill would grant the Minister expanded authority to pause or terminate the processing of certain immigration categories. Analysts suggest that the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program — already facing significant application backlogs — could be among the most directly affected, particularly for applicants supported by designated business incubators that fail to comply with Ministerial Instructions (MI72).

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of the year for trade occupations on September 18, 2025. A total of 1,250 candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score soared to 505, significantly higher than the previous draw for this category. The primary reason for the score increase is the long interval between draws, which led to an accumulation of high-scoring candidates. Additionally, internal documents suggest IRCC plans to issue more invitations to trade candidates in the second half of the year.

In 2025, Canada's Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is entering a new strategic phase due to adjusted federal immigration allocations. To manage reduced quotas, the four Atlantic provinces are concentrating their resources on key sectors vital to their local economies. Healthcare, construction, and information technology have become focal points for attracting talent. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the latest priority sectors and occupations for each province, examines the alternative pathways available in New Brunswick following its AIP pause, and offers authoritative guidance for applicants planning to immigrate through this program in 2025.

On July 10, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador's Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) issued 359 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial immigration to foreign nationals. Spanning both the Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), this draw explicitly requires candidates to hold a job or job offer from a local employer and prioritizes professionals in key fields like healthcare, information technology (ICT), and aquaculture to meet the province's urgent labour market needs.

Newfoundland and Labrador issued 328 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) on May 8, 2025, in its second round of draws through the new Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This system, implemented on February 19, 2025, manages candidates for both the Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Despite facing an initial halving of its federal nomination allocation, the province successfully secured additional spaces, enhancing opportunities for prospective immigrants.