News
Canada announces extension of post-graduation work permits for up to 18 months to retain high-skilled talent
March 17, 2023—Toronto—Employers are facing unprecedented challenges in finding and retaining the workers they need during this period of economic recovery and growth.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced that international graduates with a recently expired or expiring post-graduation work permit (PGWP) will qualify for an additional or extended work permit to stay longer and gain additional work experience for up to 18 months. The PGWP Program allows international graduates to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
Starting April 6, 2023, these measures will allow PGWP holders who wish to stay longer to opt in to a facilitative process to extend their work permit and will allow Canada to retain high-skilled talent. Click to read more
Federal, provincial and territorial immigration Ministers meet to plan for the future of Canada’s immigration system
March 10, 2023 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) met today at the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia to continue their discussions on the future of immigration in Canada. Ministers focused on advancing joint initiatives to respond to pan-Canadian immigration priorities and were pleased with progress made towards improving the effectiveness of Canada’s immigration system to meet economic and regional needs.
In follow-up to the meeting last July, Ministers discussed increasing provincial/territorial (PT) involvement in economic immigrant selection, increased allocations in the Provincial/Territorial Nominee Programs (PNPs), finding ways to improve application processing times, reducing duplication and providing greater agency over PNPs. Ministers welcomed IRCC’s first ever Multi-Year Allocation Plan, which includes an unprecedented 44% growth in PNP allocations for 2023. The plan also includes notional allocations for 2024 and 2025. Ministers also had productive conversations about settlement and integration efforts, Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) and Canada’s humanitarian response to the developing situation in Ukraine. Click to read more
Canada to reduce work experience requirements for caregivers and provide pathways to permanent residence
February 10, 2023—Scarborough, Ontario – For decades, caregivers from abroad have played an invaluable role in supporting families in Canada. In recognizing their immense sacrifices, Canada has offered pathways to permanent residence in return.
On behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, members of Parliament Salma Zahid and Rechie Valdez today announced that the amount of work experience in Canada required for a caregiver to qualify for permanent residence is being reduced from 24 months to 12 months. In addition, some spaces under the existing caregiver pathways have been reserved for caregivers who already have work experience in Canada from a previous work permit so that they are able to apply for permanent residence. The change will be effective as of April 30, 2023, and will be retrospective for caregivers who have already applied.
As a result, caregivers and their families will benefit from a faster path to permanent residence and successful settlement in Canada. By reducing the amount of work experience required in Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also intends to improve processing and applications. This update is expected to benefit around 90% of applications currently in processing, an advantage for both the caregivers who are just starting out and those who have been providing care in Canada already. Click to read more
Canada doubles immigration program for out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area
January 20, 2023—Mississauga, Ontario—The Government of Canada continues to deliver innovative immigration measures, such as creating pathways for out-of-status migrants, to help Canadian employers address critical labour shortages.
In 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), in partnership with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), launched a permanent residence pilot program for 500 out-of-status workers in the construction industry in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Building on the success of this initiative, Peter Fonseca, Member of Parliament for Mississauga East-Cooksville and Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced today that IRCC is extending and expanding the pilot program, doubling its scope to 1,000 out-of-status construction workers in the GTA. Click to read more
Employers and temporary workers to benefit from family work permits to address labour shortages
December 2, 2022—Edmonton—The pace of Canada’s economic recovery has made it hard for employers, including those in the tourism industry, to find the workers they need.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, announced that Canada is extending work permits to family members of temporary foreign workers. Expanding the eligibility for work permits to family members accompanying the principal applicant to Canada will help address labour shortages by assisting employers in finding the workers they need.
Prior to this announcement, spouses were only eligible for a work permit if the principal applicant was working in a high-skill occupation. This temporary measure aims to improve the emotional well-being, physical health and financial stability of workers by keeping families together. As a result, it is expected that the worker will better integrate into their overall work environment and community. Click to read more
Solving labour shortages in key sectors like health care, construction, and transportation: Workers from 16 new occupations now eligible for permanent residence
November 16, 2022—Ottawa – Immigration is not just good for our communities and our economy. It is essential. That is why the Government of Canada is working to welcome newcomers who bring the skills our economy needs to help address acute labour shortages across the country.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced the implementation of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 for immigration programs managed under the Express Entry system. Using the new NOC categories will allow Canada to bring in global talent in high-demand sectors like health care, construction, and transportation.
Nurse aides, long-term care aides, hospital attendants, elementary and secondary school teacher assistants, and transport truck drivers are examples of some of the 16 occupations now included in Express Entry. Click to read more
An Immigration Plan to Grow the Economy
November 1, 2022—Toronto—The Canadian economy has experienced one of the fastest recoveries from COVID-19 among advanced economies, but is now facing critical labour market shortages causing uncertainty for Canadian businesses and workers.
Today the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, released Canada’s 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan. The plan embraces immigration as a strategy to help businesses find workers and to attract the skills required in key sectors—including health care, skilled trades, manufacturing and technology—to manage the social and economic challenges Canada will face in the decades ahead. Click to read more
Enhancements to the super visa program for parents and grandparents will help reunite families more easily and for longer
June 7, 2022—Ottawa—As we work to recover from the pandemic, the Government of Canada continues to prioritize family reunification so that we can attract, retain and integrate immigrants who contribute to the success of our country.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced enhancements to Canada’s super visa program. These enhancements will make it easier for Canadians to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada and will allow super visa holders to stay for a longer period of time. Click to read more
New measures to address Canada’s labour shortage
April 22, 2022—Saint John, New Brunswick – As Canada continues to recover from the pandemic, employers are actively looking to fill hundreds of thousands of vacant positions in all sectors across the country. Immigration is more important than ever to fuel Canada’s economy, as our strong economic growth is now outpacing our ability to find and keep workers. Canada is a top destination for global talent. We need to use this fact to ensure that businesses and employers have access to the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that Express Entry draws will soon resume and that invitations for candidates to apply for permanent residence will begin in early July. Click to read more
Canada welcomes over 108,000 permanent residents in early 2022
March 31, 2022—Ottawa—Immigration benefits all Canadians by driving our economy, addressing labour shortages, and strengthening our communities. In response to the large volume of applications, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been improving its operations, adding resources where they are needed most, and streamlining processes that provide clients with the experience they expect and deserve.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that IRCC surpassed its goal to make 147,000 permanent residence final decisions in the first quarter of 2022—doubling the number of final decisions in the same time period in 2021. Through these efforts, Canada has welcomed over 108,000 new permanent residents so far this year. Click to read more
Launching the Atlantic Immigration Program to drive economic growth and attract skilled workers
March 4, 2022—Ottawa – Immigration is vital to the future of communities across the country, and nowhere more so than in Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot welcomed over 12,700 newcomers across the region, strengthening our communities and helping our businesses succeed. We announced the new permanent Atlantic Immigration Program, recognizing the need to build on this success as we continue to recover from the pandemic and address labour shortages across Atlantic Canada.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that applications for the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program will launch on March 6, 2022. Candidates with a valid endorsement from an Atlantic Canadian business will now be able to submit applications for permanent residence under the new permanent program. This dynamic program will help the Atlantic provinces attract more skilled newcomers to fuel our economic recovery and drive further growth in the region. Click to read more
New College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants officially opens
November 24, 2021—Ottawa, Ontario—Canada is one of the top destinations in the world, with millions of people from across the globe hoping to come here every year to settle, visit or work. To navigate the immigration system, many people turn to consultants or other services for help. While nearly all operate honestly, unscrupulous actors can exploit the system and take advantage of people. That’s why the Government of Canada is strengthening the regulation of immigration consultants to protect those who wish to come here.
Yesterday, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, marked the official opening of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. The College is now the official regulator of immigration and citizenship consultants across the country. All paid consultants must be licensed by the College to work with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.further growth in the region. Click to read more
Canada moving forward with a proof of vaccination for international travel
August 11, 2021 – Ottawa – While Canadians should continue to avoid non-essential travel worldwide, the Government of Canada recognizes that proof of vaccination credentials will support the re-opening of societies and economies.
Canadians are looking for a more reliable and secure way to demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination history to foreign and Canadian border officials. To that end, the Government of Canada is collaborating with the provinces and territories to develop a proof of vaccination that will facilitate cross-border travel, while reducing the risk of spread and importation of COVID-19. We are also continuing to engage with Indigenous partners across the country to ensure that a proof of vaccination credential responds to the needs and rights of Indigenous peoples. Click to read more
IRCC to accept a record number of applications for the 2021 Parents and Grandparents Program
July 20, 2021—Ottawa—Canada’s Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program is unique in the world. It gives families the chance to reunite here, providing them the opportunity to thrive in this country. Family reunification plays a significant role in attracting, retaining and integrating immigrants who contribute to our success as a country.
Building on the success of the PGP Program in recent years, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will invite a record number of people to apply under the 2021 intake of the Program. IRCC will accept up to 30,000 additional applications, giving more Canadians and permanent residents than ever before the opportunity to bring their loved ones to Canada. Click to read more
Minister Mendicino highlights immigration investments in Budget 2021 in support of Canada’s economic recovery
May 12, 2021—Ottawa—The pandemic has disproportionately affected low-wage workers, young people, women and racialized Canadians. Last month, our government released a plan to support them in Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience. This plan will ensure a robust economic recovery that is inclusive of all Canadians and that finishes the fight against COVID-19. Click to read more
New pathway to permanent residency for over 90,000 essential temporary workers and international graduates
April 14, 2021—Ottawa—Today, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced an innovative pathway to permanent residence for over 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are actively contributing to Canada’s economy.
These special public policies will grant permanent status to temporary workers and international graduates who are already in Canada and who possess the skills and experience we need to fight the pandemic and accelerate our economic recovery. Click to read more
Government of Canada announces plan to support economic recovery through immigration
October 30, 2020—Ottawa—The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, tabled the 2021‒2023 Immigration Levels Plan today, which sets out a path for responsible increases to immigration targets to help the Canadian economy recover from COVID-19, drive future growth and create jobs for middle class Canadians. Click to read more
IRCC speeding up processing for spousal applications
September 24, 2020—Ottawa—Today, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, is announcing action to speed up spousal application processing and help families build their lives together in Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increased the number of decision makers on spousal applications in Canada by 66%, to process spousal applications more quickly and reduce couples’ wait times. Click to read more
New temporary public policy will allow visitors to apply for a work permit without having to leave Canada
August 24, 2020—Ottawa—Visitors who are currently in Canada and have a valid job offer will be able to apply for an employer-specific work permit and, if approved, receive the permit without having to leave the country, thanks to a new public policy announced today by the Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. Click to read more
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