Author Archives: Muhammad Daniyal

Canada increases flexibility for refugees facing exit barriers

Applicants for refugee settlement to Canada are legally exempt from the requirement to produce an exit permit or proof of legal status in their host country in order to process their application. New program instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirm that these documents are not required under the Immigration and Refugee Protection […]

Processing times climb for Express Entry, PNP applicants

On May 12, Canada’s immigration department published updated processing times for various permanent residence and citizenship application types. Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications each saw one-month jumps in processing time. This update saw the Canadian Experience (CEC) queue increase by over 6,000 applicants, and the base PNP inventory by more than 2,000. […]

Canadian Experience Class candidates receive invitations to apply in last Express Entry draw week of April

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 2,000 ITAs in a draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 514. Summary of Express […]

Canada doubles length of work authorization support letters for workers on maintained status

Foreign workers in Canada who have applied for a new work permit before the expiry of their previous work authorization will now be issued WP-EXT letters that are valid for 365 days. The increased validity period for WP-EXT letters was conveyed in updated instructions to officers, published on the immigration department’s website on April 27, […]

Nova Scotia nominee program to prioritize workers in healthcare, trades, and select other sectors

Nova Scotia has announced new selection priorities for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) on April 27, setting out which priority occupations the province will fast-track under a three-level framework. Healthcare workers and skilled tradespeople receive the highest priority and the broadest access. Candidates in other occupation groups, and those abroad, face tighter restrictions. Workers […]

Newfoundland and Labrador holds third provincial immigration selection round of 2026

On April 13, Newfoundland and Labrador conducted another round of invitations across both of its provincial immigration pathways. A total of 210 invitations were extended through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This marks the province’s third invitation round in 2026. Draw details Of the 210 invitations […]

Permanent residence selection to favour higher earnings, job offers over Canadian experience, as part of proposed Express Entry reforms

Higher earnings will matter more than Canadian work experience in the competition for Canadian permanent residence, under Ottawa’s proposed changes to Express Entry Further details on the proposed overhaul of the Express Entry system, Canada’s flagship immigration system for skilled workers, include awarding points for higher earning workers (as part of a wider overhaul of […]

Canada moves to expand work authorization for international students and graduates

As of April 1, 2026, post-secondary international students in Canada no longer need a co-op work permit to participate in student work placements such as co-ops, internships, and practicums. The change is the first in a package of amendments to study and work authorizations that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on April 1, 2026. The […]

April processing update: FSWP speeds up for the first time in over a year

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated processing times for economic immigration and citizenship applications on April 7, 2026. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) dropped to six months from seven — its first improvement since early 2025. Citizenship grants also fell by one month to 12 months, with the queue shrinking for the […]

Canada sets new foreign credential recognition target for 2026-27

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says its Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program will establish 58 agreements to help roughly 32,000 internationally trained professionals (ITPs) this year. These measures are particularly important for newcomers to Canada. The federal government’s FCR program is one of the main ways Ottawa supports and helps integrate internationally trained workers […]

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