Canada's Study Permit Fee Stays at CA$150 as Other Immigration Costs Rise
Permanent residence fees went up on April 30, but federal charges for study permits, visitor visas, and work permits stayed put. Here's the full cost breakdown international students need this year.
Alberta spent millions asking people to move there. Now a referendum frames them as a burden
Four years after launching "Alberta is Calling" to recruit workers from across Canada, the province is putting five immigration-related referendum questions to voters, including whether to charge non-permanent residents for health care and education.
IRCC breaks biweekly CEC Express Entry draw pattern as high-scoring pool swells
No Canadian Experience Class draw happened on May 12, halting a regular every-second-Tuesday rhythm. With nearly 1,800 new candidates crowding the 501–600 CRS band in two weeks, the next few rounds will tell us whether cutoffs hold or climb.
IRCC opens public consultation for 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan
Canada's immigration department is asking for open-ended feedback on how recent cuts to immigration targets have affected communities. The survey runs until June 14.
Quebec says it will reopen PEQ for two years, but key rules are still missing
Premier Christine Fréchette reversed course on Quebec's fast-track immigration program during her inaugural address. The details applicants need most, including eligibility rules and a start date, remain unpublished.
New Brunswick narrows skilled worker immigration pathway to three sectors
The province will issue invitations only to candidates in healthcare, education, and construction trades under its NB Experience pathway, citing limited nomination space for 2026.
Canada tightens oversight of immigration consultants, opens compensation fund for fraud victims
New regulations taking effect July 15 give Ottawa power to intervene in the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants and create a fund covering losses from dishonest acts by licensed consultants dating back to November 2021.
Canada's Express Entry pool barely grew in the latest two-week period, yet the highest CRS bands added candidates again and a 2,000-ITA CEC draw held its cutoff at 514 with a tie-breaking date seven months old.
Canada fast-tracks permanent residence for 33,000 temporary workers in smaller communities
IRCC's one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative is already producing results, with 3,600 approvals by late February. The program targets workers already in PR queues, excludes all major cities, and requires no new applications.
Canada to launch pilot contacting international students with expiring permits
Deputy Immigration Minister Ted Gallivan told a Commons committee that IRCC will begin reaching out to students with expiring status in June, following an Auditor General report that revealed the department could not confirm whether tens of thousands had left the country.
Canada proposes $6 billion skilled trades push, with CPP cut set for 2027
The spring economic update would fund paid placements, apprenticeship grants, and faster certification as Ottawa tries to add up to 100,000 Red Seal workers by 2030-31.
Nova Scotia limits most PNP nominations to workers already in the province
The province's updated priorities open only healthcare and skilled trades to international applicants. Most other occupational groups now require candidates to already live and work in Nova Scotia.
Canada cuts temporary immigration targets by 43% as IRCC absorbs budget reductions
IRCC's 2026-27 plan slashes temporary resident arrivals, proposes collapsing three Express Entry streams into one, and trims nearly $155 million from its budget, all while processing times in major streams stretch to years.
Alberta launches campaign website to push 'yes' votes on October immigration and constitutional referendum
Premier Danielle Smith says her government will actively campaign for nine referendum questions that would impose residency requirements, service fees, and eligibility limits on non-permanent residents in Alberta.
Lawyers warn temporary residents against prepaid waitlists for TR-to-PR pathway
With no public eligibility criteria or application portal weeks after the immigration minister said the 33,000-spot program had launched, unauthorized agents are charging fees for unofficial rosters that carry no weight with IRCC.
CIWA CEO urges Alberta to improve data sharing and employer ties at newcomer summit
At the Premier's Summit on Fairness for Newcomers, Paula Calderon pressed the province to back its economic messaging with better labour-market data and stronger employer partnerships for skilled immigrants.
Nearly half of women in Calgary's 'hidden' homelessness crisis are newcomers, new report finds
The Women's Centre of Calgary's Unaddressed report surveyed 147 people and found that 49% were born outside Canada, with intimate partner violence, immigration barriers, and landlord discrimination driving housing instability that stays invisible to shelter counts.
Northwest Territories issues first 65 invitations under new nominee system
With only 197 nomination spots available for 2026, the territory's new points-based Expression of Interest system replaces the old intake model with scheduled draws that reward local ties.
British Columbia invites 14 entrepreneur candidates in its largest draw of 2026 so far
The BC PNP issued 14 Entrepreneur Immigration Base stream invitations on April 14 at a minimum score of 115 points, as the province continues small, regular selections under a constrained nomination environment.
Ottawa rejects Manitoba's request for work-permit extensions and more nominee slots
Manitoba's immigration minister says federal officials refused both of her asks during this week's Ottawa trip, leaving about 6,000 workers facing permit expiry by year's end.
IRCC updates Atlantic Immigration Program guidance for Nova Scotia-endorsed pharmacists
Internationally trained pharmacists with a Nova Scotia endorsement can bypass the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada and use any IRCC-designated ECA organization.
Belonging Tour 2026 opens registration for Calgary and Charlottetown stops
A Canada-wide event series on economic inclusion and newcomer belonging is now accepting registrations, with confirmed stops in Calgary and Charlottetown this summer.
