IRCC clarifies IEC police certificate rules Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published updated instructions on June 17, 2026, outlining how police certificates are assessed for International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit applications. The changes define timelines and issuance requirements that were previously not explicitly detailed. The update specifies how recent a police certificate must … Read more
Canada Proposes Permanent Early Work Permits Draft regulatory amendments published on June 19, 2026, would allow asylum seekers in Canada to access work permits earlier in the claims process, before referral to the Refugee Protection Division (RPD). The proposal, released in the Canada Gazette, aims to formalize a measure that has been temporarily in place … Read more
Canada eases work permit access for PNP applicants Canada introduced temporary immigration measures on June 9, 2026, allowing certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants to apply for work permits without waiting for an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR). The policy change comes as processing delays for permanent residence applications have significantly extended wait times for AOR … Read more
In-Canada Work Permit Processing Times Drop to 186 Days Processing times for in-Canada work permit applications declined to 186 days as of June 10, 2026, according to updated figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The latest estimate reflects a decrease of 26 days compared to 212 days reported on May 6, 2026. … Read more
LMIA Processing Times Shift Across TFWP Streams Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has released updated processing times for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), with April 2026 figures published on May 15, 2026. The data shows notable changes across several Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) streams, including a sharp reduction in processing duration for applications … Read more
Who can work in Canada without a permit As of 2026, Canadian immigration rules outline specific cases where foreign nationals can work without obtaining a formal work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These provisions apply to defined categories such as business visitors, remote workers employed abroad, and eligible international students. The regulations … Read more
Canada eases SOWP rules for Quebec healthcare families On May 25, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented a targeted exemption affecting spouses of certain foreign-trained healthcare workers in Quebec. The change removes a previously introduced requirement that the principal worker’s permit must remain valid for at least 16 months when a spouse applies … Read more
Canada Updates Entry Rules for Digital Nomads Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued updated guidance on May 26, 2026, introducing stricter documentation expectations for digital nomads entering the country as visitors. The revised instructions require foreign remote workers to provide clearer proof that all income is earned outside Canada, marking a shift from earlier … Read more
IRCC to update PGWP portal with language test field Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed it is working on a system update to add a dedicated section for language test submissions within the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application portal. The change follows the introduction of mandatory language testing for PGWP applicants on November … Read more
Canada updates LMIA-exempt GATS work permit rules Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued revised instructions for officers processing LMIA-exempt work permits under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), affecting foreign professionals entering Canada for short-term service contracts. The update introduces clearer documentation requirements, revised eligibility details, and expanded access for certain … Read more