Ontario issues 1,404 invitations in skilled trades draw The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a targeted draw on February 18, 2026, inviting 1,404 candidates under the Employer Job Offer streams. The selection focused on skilled trades occupations, continuing the province’s early 2026 nomination activity. Invited candidates confirmed their residence in Canada and held valid … Read more
Provincial nominees eligible for LMIA-exempt work permits Provincial nominees in Canada are able to apply for closed work permits exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) while their permanent residence (PR) applications are being processed. The measure enables nominees to begin or continue employment before receiving a final PR decision. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship … Read more
IRCC backlog tops one million applications by end of 2025 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported that its total application backlog reached its highest level of 2025, surpassing one million pending files by December 31. The figure reflects a steady increase since mid-year, despite some reductions in specific categories such as Express Entry. IRCC … Read more
Canada Adds Three New Express Entry Categories for 2026 The federal government has confirmed three new occupational priorities for permanent residence under the Express Entry system. The 2026 update will emphasize candidates with Canadian work experience in research and senior management roles, transport professionals, and foreign military personnel recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces. Immigration … Read more
Top-Scoring Express Entry Profiles Decline by Half Recent federal immigration data indicate a sharp reduction in the number of high-ranking Express Entry profiles, with nearly 50% fewer candidates scoring above 500 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) compared with two weeks earlier. The decline follows multiple Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) draws that … Read more
IRCC updates February 2026 immigration processing times Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued its latest update on processing times across permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship applications. The February 2026 figures show mixed results, with longer waits for several temporary resident categories and modest improvements for certain family sponsorship applications. The data compares … Read more
Canada Gains Visa-Free Access to China for 2026 Starting February 17, 2026, Canadian passport holders are permitted to visit China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. The new arrangement, confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, remains valid until at least December 31, 2026. The change allows Canadians to travel to China … Read more
IRCC Invites 6,000 Canadian Experience Class Candidates Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in an unannounced Express Entry draw held on February 17, 2026. The selection targeted candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. According to government data, candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking … Read more
IRCC conducts new Express Entry draw for PNP candidates Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held another round of invitations through the Express Entry system, targeting Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. In the latest draw, the department issued 279 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required … Read more
How IRCC Determines Express Entry Cut-off Scores Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) establishes the number of invitations to apply (ITAs) in each Express Entry draw, with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score resulting from that decision. The score is not set in advance but emerges from the ranking of candidates in the pool … Read more