IRCC Reshapes Express Entry Trades Category for 2026 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised the composition of the Express Entry trades occupations category, removing cooks and chefs while adding butchers. The update, announced on February 18, 2026, is expected to alter the profile of candidates invited for permanent residence under this priority stream. … Read more
Canada and India unveil $100M scholarship plan Canada and India have announced a new bilateral education initiative that includes $100 million in scholarships for Indian students and expanded academic partnerships between institutions in both countries. The initiative, revealed by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office on March 2, 2026, aims to strengthen research, student mobility, and … Read more
Saskatchewan Opens Second SINP Intake for Capped Sectors The Government of Saskatchewan has opened the second 2026 intake window for employer applications under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) capped sectors. The new round began on March 2, 2026, allowing employers in selected industries to nominate foreign workers for provincial endorsement. The intake applies to … Read more
Manitoba communities outline RCIP priority jobs for 2026 Three Manitoba communities participating in Canada’s Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) have confirmed their 2026 lists of priority sectors and occupations for candidates seeking permanent residence. The announcement updates local labour market priorities for Altona/Rhineland, Brandon, and Steinbach. The RCIP enables designated rural regions to attract workers … Read more
Canada Ends Temporary Work Permit Policy for Iranians Canada has concluded its temporary public policy that permitted Iranian nationals in the country to apply for special open work permits. The measure officially ended at midnight, Coordinated Universal Time, on March 1, 2026. The expiry affects Iranians with temporary resident status who had been eligible to … Read more
B.C. Regions Announce 2026 RCIP Priority Occupations Three regions in British Columbia participating in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) have confirmed the sectors and occupations they will target in 2026. The update outlines the workforce areas where foreign workers will be prioritized for permanent residence consideration. The RCIP is a federal initiative aimed at … Read more
Canada tightens rules for LMIA-exempt work permits Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its guidance for issuing work permits under the “significant benefit to Canada” exemption, introducing stricter evaluation standards for both employers and foreign workers. The revised instructions, published on February 24, 2026, set out new criteria for assessing applications exempt from … Read more
Thirteen PNP pathways that do not require job offers Several Canadian provinces have immigration pathways under their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that do not require a job offer. These programs enable qualified candidates to obtain a provincial nomination and later apply for permanent residence through the federal immigration system. The availability of non-job-offer streams highlights … Read more
IRCC Updates Processing Times for Temporary Visas Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released updated processing time estimates for several categories of temporary resident applications, including work permits, study permits, visitor visas, and super visas. The new figures reflect the most recent data available as of February 24, 2026. The latest update shows significant … Read more
Quebec updates list of occupations eligible for expedited LMIA processing Quebec has issued a revised list of occupations eligible for accelerated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The new list, released on February 24, 2026, now includes 60 occupations, down from 76 previously approved categories. The update removes … Read more