What’s New in Canadian Immigration

Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028

Canada has released its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which maintains stable permanent-resident admissions at 380,000 per year.

In addition to these baseline annual targets, IRCC introduced two important temporary measures:

· A one-time initiative to grant permanent residence to approximately 115,000 Protected Persons already in Canada over two years.

· A transitional measure allowing up to 33,000 temporary foreign workers to obtain permanent residence through a dedicated pathway between 2026–2027. Read more

Express Entry- French-Language Draw

On November 28, IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply in a French-language category-based draw, with a CRS cutoff of 408. This highlights Canada’s continued commitment to increasing Francophone immigration outside Quebec.

International Students – 2026 Study-Permit Cap

IRCC confirmed the 2026 national cap of up to 408,000 study permits, including 155,000 to newly arriving international students, and 253,000 extensions for current and returning students. Read more

Expanded Travel Access for Qatar

Canada has lifted the visa requirement for citizens of Qatar. Eligible travellers can now enter using an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Digital Visa Pilot

IRCC has launched a digital-visa pilot as part of its modernization strategy under the Digital Platform Modernization initiative. This aims to streamline travel documentation and improve border processing by reducing the need for physical visa stickers.