Author: Admin

On March 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its largest-ever French category-based Express Entry draw, inviting 7,500 French-speaking candidates to apply for permanent residence. This draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 379, marking a significant decrease in the CRS threshold compared to previous draws.

This draw aligns with Canada’s goal to increase the proportion of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec from 6.3% to 8.5%. In 2025 alone, IRCC has issued 18,500 invitations to French-speaking candidates across three draws, surpassing invitations in other categories such as the Provincial Nominee Program (2,297 invitations) and the Canadian Experience Class (9,350 invitations).

The substantial drop in the CRS score to 379 is notable, as it is the fourth-lowest ever for a French category-based draw. Such a decrease indicates a broader eligibility for French-speaking candidates, encouraging more individuals with French language proficiency to consider immigration to Canada. ​

Express Entry draws in 2025

For those interested in improving their CRS scores, enhancing French language skills can be a strategic move.

This draw underscores Canada’s commitment to supporting Francophone minority communities and promoting linguistic diversity within its immigration framework.

Canada has recently revised its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility criteria by removing the field-of-study restrictions for international students graduating from college bachelor’s programs. This change aligns college graduates with their university counterparts, allowing them to apply for a PGWP regardless of their field of study, provided they meet specific language proficiency requirements.

Previously, these graduates had to complete programs aligned with labor market shortages to be eligible.

In Canada, a bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate program typically lasting 3-4 years, offered by post-secondary institutions that meet provincial standards.

Key Changes

• Eligibility Expansion: Graduates holding bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees from Canadian colleges or universities are now eligible for the PGWP without any field-of-study limitations.
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• Language Proficiency Requirements:

Certain graduates remain ineligible for a PGWP

• – Have previously received a PGWP.
• – Studied English or French as a second language.
• – Completed general interest or self-improvement courses.
• – Received funding from Global Affairs Canada requiring return to their home country after graduation.
• – Completed over 50% of their program through distance learning, unless covered by COVID-19 measures.
• – Graduated from non-Canadian institutions located in Canada.
• – Completed programs not eligible for PGWP, including those under curriculum-licensing agreements.

Implications for International Students

This policy change provides greater flexibility for international students choosing their degree programs at public colleges or polytechnics. Now, students can confidently enroll in a wide range of disciplines without concerns about whether their field of study will impact their ability to obtain a work permit after graduation.

In summary, the removal of field-of-study restrictions for PGWP eligibility marks a significant shift in Canada’s approach to international education, offering broader opportunities for graduates from diverse academic backgrounds.

On March 17, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its third Express Entry draw of the month, issuing 536 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

To be eligible for this draw, candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 736 and must have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 2:02 pm (UTC) on March 12, 2025

This draw follows a French-language proficiency draw on March 6, which issued 4,500 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 410, and a PNP draw on March 3 that invited 725 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 667.

2025 Express Entry draws

The Express Entry system manages applications for three economic immigration programs:

• – Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• – Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• – Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Candidates in these programs are ranked based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. Those with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

In February 2025, IRCC announced its priority categories for the year, adding education as a new category. The 2025 priority categories are:

• – French-language proficiency
• – Healthcare and social services occupations
• – Trade occupations
• – Education occupations

This strategic focus aims to address specific labor market needs and support Canada’s economic growth.

IRCC’s continued focus on PNP candidates underscores the importance of provincial nominations in Canada’s immigration strategy, aiming to meet regional labor market demands and promote economic development across the country.

Rachel Bendayan has been appointed as Canada’s new Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, succeeding Marc Miller.

Prior to this role, Bendayan served as the Member of Parliament for Outremont, Quebec, and held positions such as Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety.

Born into a Moroccan-Jewish family and raised in Quebec, she holds degrees in International Development Studies and Law from McGill University. Before entering politics, she practiced law at Norton Rose Fulbright, specializing in litigation and international trade, and taught at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Law.

Bendayan’s appointment is part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent cabinet reshuffle as the country prepares for the 2025 federal election.

Her diverse background and extensive experience are expected to influence Canada’s immigration policies in the coming years.

Marc Miller’s Effect on Canada’s Immigration Landscape

During his tenure, Marc Miller implemented significant changes to Canada’s immigration system, primarily aimed at reducing both permanent and temporary immigration to address housing shortages and the high cost of living. Key measures included:

• Reducing Immigration Targets: The government lowered its permanent immigration targets from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025, with further reductions planned for subsequent years. This move aimed to alleviate pressures on housing and social services.
• Capping International Students: To address housing affordability and integration challenges, a cap was imposed on international student admissions, resulting in a 43% decrease in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the previous year.
• Reforming Temporary Foreign Worker Program: The government introduced restrictions and controls to limit access for companies employing low-wage workers, aiming to protect domestic labor markets and ensure fair treatment of workers.
• Enhancing System Integrity: Reforms to the Express Entry system were implemented to reduce fraud and ensure fairness, including the removal of additional points for job offers, thereby curbing misuse of the Labour Market Impact Assessment process.

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to accept up to 10,000 applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2025. This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency.

Eligibility and Application Process

For the 2025 intake, only individuals who submitted an “Interest to Sponsor” form in 2020 are eligible to receive invitations to apply. This approach continues IRCC’s reliance on the 2020 pool to manage application volumes, leaving many families who missed that window awaiting future opportunities.

Processing Times

As of February 5, 2025, processing times for PGP applications vary:

• – Outside Quebec: Approximately 24 months.
• – Within Quebec: Approximately 48 months, due to additional provincial requirements such as obtaining a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).

Alternative Option: The Super Visa

For those who are not part of the 2020 pool or are seeking alternative pathways, the Super Visa offers a viable option. This visa allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods, with multiple entries over a 10-year validity period. Key features include:

• – Duration: Stays of up to five years per visit, with the possibility of extending for an additional two years.
• – Requirements: Applicants must meet income requirements, and visitors are required to have private health insurance for their stay.

Recent changes have made the Super Visa more accessible by adjusting health insurance requirements.

On March 7, 2025, Canada introduced a temporary public policy allowing apprentices in eligible construction trades to study without a study permit. Effective from February 26, 2025, this policy will be in place for two years, expiring on February 26, 2027.

Eligible Occupations

How to Submit Your Application

To benefit from this exemption, eligible apprentices must follow these steps:

1. Gather Required Documents:

   • – Proof of a valid work permit.
   • – Proof of employment in an eligible construction occupation.
   • – A registered apprenticeship agreement with the relevant provincial or territorial apprenticeship and certification authority.

2. Submit a Web Form Request:

   • – Access the IRCC web form.
   • – Select “Update or ask about your application” and then “Add a document to your application.”
   • – Provide personal information, including your work permit number and Unique Client Identifier (UCI).
   • – In the explanation box, include “Apprenticeship 25-27” to identify your request as part of this study permit exemption.
   • – Upload the required documents as attachments.

Detailed instructions on the application process are available on the official Government of Canada website.

Reasons for the Updates

Canada’s construction industry is experiencing significant labor shortages, exacerbated by an aging workforce and increasing housing demands. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates that an additional 3.5 million homes are needed by 2030 to address affordability and supply issues. By allowing apprentices to study without a study permit, Canada aims to expedite the training and integration of skilled workers into the construction sector, thereby addressing the labor gap and supporting infrastructure development.

By removing administrative barriers for foreign apprentices, Canada aims to expedite the integration of skilled workers into the construction industry, thereby enhancing the sector’s capacity to meet infrastructure and housing demands.

Canada has recently introduced several significant measures to address labor shortages in the construction sector and adjust its immigration policies. On March 7, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced initiatives including a new pathway to permanent residence for construction workers, changes to the trades category in Express Entry, provisions for out-of-status construction workers, and updates aligned with the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan.

New Pathway to Permanent Residence for Construction Workers

The Canadian government has introduced a pathway to permanent residence specifically for construction workers, aiming to address labor shortages in the sector. This initiative reserves immigration spaces for up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers already residing in Canada. Additionally, qualified temporary foreign workers can now participate in apprenticeship programs without requiring a study permit, effective March 7, 2025. These measures are designed to attract and retain skilled workers in the construction industry.

The government’s decision to implement these changes stems from a combination of factors, including a pressing housing shortage, labor shortages in critical infrastructure projects, and external economic pressures such as tariff threats. By providing pathways for undocumented workers and supporting foreign apprentices, Canada aims to bolster its construction workforce to meet these challenges effectively.

Recent Changes to the Trades Category in Express Entry

In February 2025, IRCC announced major changes to Express Entry categories, including updates to the trades category. The trades category now focuses on specific occupations to better align with labor market needs. These adjustments aim to prioritize candidates with relevant experience and skills to address labor shortages in key sectors.

The immigration department also added 19 new occupations to the category, expanding it significantly.

Among the added occupations were several construction occupations including:

• – Construction managers;
• – Construction estimators;
• – Bricklayers;
• – Roofers and shinglers;
• – Floor covering installers; and
• – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators).

Previous Guidelines for Construction Workers Who Are Out of Status

Building on the success of previous initiatives, such as the Greater Toronto Area pilot program, IRCC has introduced a regularization pathway for out-of-status construction workers. This program offers opportunities for undocumented migrants in the construction sector to obtain legal status, allowing them to continue contributing to infrastructure projects while ensuring they receive proper protections.

2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan

The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan outlines Canada’s targets for permanent and temporary resident admissions. The plan includes a reduction in permanent resident admissions from 500,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025, with further decreases in subsequent years. This adjustment aims to address public concerns about housing affordability and strain on social services, while also ensuring that immigration levels align with Canada’s economic and infrastructure capacities.

These measures collectively reflect Canada’s efforts to adapt its immigration policies to current labor market needs, particularly in the construction sector, while also responding to public concerns about housing and social services.

Starting March 5, 2025, New Brunswick has officially opened the intake for two enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pathways:

1. Employment in New Brunswick Pathway: This pathway requires candidates to have at least 12 consecutive months of work experience in the province, along with increased residency requirements.
2. New Brunswick Interests Pathway:
3. • – Must have received a letter of interest from Immigration New Brunswick in their federal Express Entry profile.
   • – Must have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent part-time work experience within the past 10 years.

Both pathways are aligned with the federal Express Entry system, offering eligible newcomers a streamlined route to permanent residence in Canada.

Common Requirements for Both Pathways

• – Valid Express Entry profile.
• – English or French proficiency equivalent to at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in all four language abilities.
• – Meet the federal minimum proof of funds requirement (if not exempt).
• – Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent.
• – Intent to live and work permanently in New Brunswick.
• – Age between 19 and 55.
• – Minimum of 67 points on New Brunswick’s Express Entry selection grid.

Excluded Occupations

Candidates in the following occupations are ineligible for nomination under these streams:

• – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
• – Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
• – Bakers (NOC 63202)
• – Cooks (NOC 63200)
• – Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
• – Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
• – Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 60020)
• – Retail sales supervisors (NOC 62010)

Reduced Nominations and Strategic Allocation

For 2025, New Brunswick’s provincial nomination allocation has been reduced to 2,750 nominations, down from 5,000 in the previous year. Of these, 1,500 are allocated to the NBPNP and 1,250 to the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This reduction has prompted the province to prioritize specific sectors and occupations to maximize the economic impact of its limited nominations.

Processing and Selection Process

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will not be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, candidates will be selected through scheduled draws starting in March 2025, based on their alignment with updated eligibility criteria. This approach ensures that only qualified candidates receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs).

These updates reflect New Brunswick’s strategic efforts to attract skilled workers in alignment with the province’s economic needs, focusing on sectors such as health, education, and construction.

On March 3, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted an Express Entry draw, issuing 725 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 667. To be eligible, candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profiles before June 5, 2024, at 6:25 pm UTC.

This draw is part of a series of Express Entry draws in 2025, reflecting IRCC’s efforts to address Canada’s economic and demographic needs. Below is a summary of the draws conducted so far this year:

Notably, the February 19 draw focused on candidates with French language proficiency, issuing 6,500 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 428. This was the first category-based selection draw of 2025, highlighting IRCC’s commitment to linguistic diversity and addressing specific labor market needs.

The CRS scores have varied across different draw types, reflecting the targeted approach of IRCC in selecting candidates who meet specific criteria, such as provincial nominations, Canadian work experience, or language proficiency. Candidates aiming to improve their CRS scores can consider strategies like obtaining a provincial nomination, enhancing language test results, gaining additional work experience, or pursuing further education.

These developments underscore Canada’s dynamic immigration landscape, with IRCC adapting its selection processes to align with the country’s evolving economic priorities and demographic goals.

As of January 24, 2025, Prince Edward Island (PEI) has restricted its Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) to foreign workers in the healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors. This change aims to address increased demand for immigration and a reduction in federal allocations for permanent residency spots. In 2025, the federal government reduced AIP allocations across Atlantic provinces to 5,000 spots, down from 6,500 in 2024, as outlined in Canada’s 2025-27 Immigration Levels Plan.

Eligibility for the AIP

To qualify for the AIP, applicants must:

• – Possess a job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province.
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• – Have their job offer endorsed by the province.
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• – Hold at least a one-year post-secondary credential for NOC TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or a high school diploma for NOC TEER 2, 3, or 4 occupations.
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• – Demonstrate language proficiency of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations, or CLB 4 for TEER 4 occupations.
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• – Have a minimum of one year of work experience, or have completed a two-year post-secondary credential while studying in an Atlantic province.
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• – Possess sufficient settlement funds, determined by family size.

Application Process for PR through the AIP

Eligible candidates should:

1. Obtain a settlement plan.

2. Secure endorsement of their job offer by the province.

3. Apply to the federal government for permanent residency.

The employer typically manages the job offer endorsement process. Given the recent sector restrictions, individuals outside the healthcare, construction, and manufacturing industries must explore alternative PR pathways.

Alternative Permanent Residency Pathways

For those not eligible under the current AIP criteria, alternative pathways include:

• Express Entry: A federal system managing applications for permanent residency through programs like the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates are ranked based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. A higher Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score increases the likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

• PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): This program offers various streams, including:

  • – Critical Worker Stream: For workers in NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupations.

  • – Intermediate Experience Stream: For workers in NOC TEER 4 occupations.

•     – International Graduate Stream: For graduates from PEI post-secondary institutions.
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•     – Skilled Worker Stream: For workers in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations.
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•     – Occupations in Demand Stream: For specific occupations such as nurse aides, transport truck drivers, construction laborers, and others.

Each stream has specific requirements related to job offers, work experience, education, language proficiency, and settlement funds.

The PEI Office of Immigration implemented these sector-specific limitations due to increased demand for the AIP and a reduction in immigration allocations by the federal government. The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan indicates a decrease in AIP spots from 6,500 in 2024 to 5,000 in 2025. Consequently, PEI aims to allocate its AIP spots to sectors experiencing the most significant labor shortages. Other Atlantic provinces have enacted similar measures; for instance, New Brunswick now endorses AIP job offers exclusively in the healthcare, education, and construction sectors.

These adjustments underscore PEI’s commitment to addressing critical labor market needs while adapting to evolving immigration policies.