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Frequent readers to our site have taken note of the many developments that took place in the Canada immigration field, this year. We are pleased to provide our year-in-review for 2017. Read our analysis by opening each of 6 the collapsed menu topics below.
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Source: IRCC
There were 86,043 Invitations to Apply issues across the year, compared to 33,782 in 2016 and a 2015 total of 31,018. The early part of the year saw ITA numbers regularly exceeding 3,000, with the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score falling to a record low 413 in the draw on May 31, 2017. Invitation numbers dropped off slightly in the second half of the year, with minimum scores also slightly higher, although the numbers still exceeded those seen in the first two years of the Express Entry System.
NOTE: Program specific draws on May 26 and November 1 not included in figures so as to show trend
The year also saw Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada conduct four program-specific draws. In two batches, on May 26 and November 1, separate draws were made aimed at provincial nominees and Federal Skilled Trades candidates only. The CRS was again tweaked midway through the year, with points introduced for having a sibling in Canada, and extra points for a high level of French language ability. These tweaks were aimed at promoting candidates more likely to quickly integrate into Canadian society. The June 6 changes also saw an end to mandatory job bank registration and a new method for ranking candidates, meaning those with the same score were separated based on the date they submitted their applications.
NOTE: Program specific draws on May 26 and November 1 not included in figures so as to show trend
The reason behind the ranking method change was revealed when IRCC changed the way it conducted draws, selecting the exact number of candidates it wanted to invite and introducing a tie-breaking rule. This started on November 8, when 2,000 ITAs were issued, with a minimum CRS score of 458. Under the new tie-breaking rule, it was possible for candidates scoring 458 not being invited. The tie breaking rule provides a distinction based on the exact time a candidate submitted their profiles to the Express Entry pool. With more individual draws, more ITAs and lower minimum scores than ever before, 2017 was a record-breaking year for the Express Entry System. With an even greater emphasis on skilled workers in the recent immigration levels plan for 2018, 2019 and 2020, those records are set to tumble further as the system matures.
Source: IRCC
Key Articles and Pages
Ontario The province of Ontario and its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) have seen a busy year in terms of immigration policies and program development. Perhaps the biggest development came late in 2017 with the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement. The agreement provides an important framework for how federal and provincial officials will work to manage immigration objectives. From the setting of levels, to the different classes of immigrants accepted, the agreement will give structure to the federal government’s relationship with Canada’s most populous province. The key change under the OINP saw the Employer Pre-Screened category scrapped in favour of the Employer Job Offer. The key difference between the two is that the new stream is candidate-led instead of employer-led. The new stream initially had streams for foreign workers and international students, while an Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream was launched later in the year, targeting occupations from heavy equipment operators to industrial butchers. Elsewhere, Ontario also launched a new Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, which initially targeted workers in the construction and agriculture industries but could be expanded. Otherwise, the province has opened and closed its categories throughout the year, eventually reaching its nomination allocation limit in November 2017, before receiving an unexpected increase from the federal government in December 2017. Another development earlier in the year saw Ontario announce a 15 per cent foreign buyer tax in the GTA, design to cool the housing market. A similar tax was introduced by B.C. for Vancouver in 2016. Key Articles and Pages
Manitoba Manitoba introduced a significant overhaul of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) in 2017, although many of the changes will not take effect until 2018. The MPNP structure includes a totally new International Education Stream, a renamed and repurposed Business Investor Stream, plus tweaks to the existing Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream and Skilled Worker Overseas Stream. It also included an extensive list of in-demand occupations for the province. The overhaul came following an agreement reached between the provincial and federal governments, as Manitoba looks to build on a 10-point plan for improving its economy. Otherwise, the province continued regular PNP draws in 2017, for its skilled worker and entrepreneur categories. Key Articles and Pages
Saskatchewan It was a quiet year for Saskatchewan immigration and the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program. The province opened and closed its Occupations in Demand and Express Entry categories several times, with candidates needing to be on their toes and ready to apply when the streams were opened. The province also increased the thresholds for the two popular categories in August 2017, with the Express Entry category accepting a further 900 applications for a total of 2,600, and the Occupations in Demand category accepting an additional 300 for a total of 3,000., with the threshold rising to 3,300 from 3,000. There were three Entrepreneur draws in 2017, with officials taking the rare step of posting the draw dates in advance on its website. A further draw will take place in January 2018. Meanwhile, in July 2017, the province revised its list of occupations in demand. Key Articles and Pages
Alberta Alberta is another province to announce a new structure in 2017 for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. The changes were initially due to take effect on January 2, 2018, but the province has delayed the launch to give more time for stakeholder consultations. The new structure will see the launch of a new Alberta Opportunity Stream and a new Express Entry stream. The Alberta Opportunity Stream will replace the current Employer-Driven Stream and Strategic Recruitment Stream. This means the AINP will accept applications under two streams only: the new Alberta Opportunity Stream and the existing Self-Employed Farmer Stream. The new Alberta Express Entry Stream will allow the province to nominate candidates who will then apply through the federal Canada Express Entry System. Alberta reached it’s 2017 threshold of 5,500 nomination certificates in December 2017. Key Articles and Pages
Quebec Quebec’s immigration year was dominated by non-economic factors making headlines as Haitian asylum seekers flooding over the border from the U.S., fearing deportation under President Donald Trump. A special federal-provincial taskforce was set up to cope with the influx, as July and August saw up to 300 people per day illegally crossing into Quebec. A makeshift border camp was set up, while venues including Montreal’s Olympic Stadium were used to house the newcomers. The stream was eventually reduced to a trickle come September, although there are fears another flood is coming after the U.S. announced the end of special status for Haitians in late 2017. A fraction of those who crossed have so far been allowed refugee status after Immigration and Refugee Board hearings. Elsewhere, perhaps the low-point of Quebec’s year came with the passing of the controversial niqab ban, which said face coverings were not allowed when accessing public services. Exactly how the law will be implemented when it comes into force in 2018, is unclear, although the Quebec government has recently tried to soften its stand somewhat since the law was passed. Meanwhile, Quebec announced its plan to welcome 53,000 immigrants in 2018, effectively maintaining the status quo of recent years. The province also revised its high demand occupations list and launched its version of the federal Global Talent Stream. The popular Quebec Immigrant Investor Program is currently accepting applications, which closes in February 2018. Key Articles and Pages
Atlantic Immigration Pilot A key 2017 development for the four Atlantic provinces was the launch of the federally-run Atlantic Immigration Pilot. The AIP was launched in March 2017 as an employer-driven pilot with programs for high-skilled, intermediate-skilled and international graduate immigrants. The three-year pilot aimed to welcome 2,000 immigrants across the four provinces in each of 2017, 2018 and 2019. It is a pilot focused on retention – a key challenge for Atlantic provinces who find themselves welcoming immigrants, but losing them to other parts of Canada once they achieve permanent residence. Candidates need a job offer (exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment), must produce a Settlement Plan, and receive an endorsement certificate before their application is processed. However, the program has made a slow start, Under the three-year plan announced at the start of November, Ottawa says it only expects to welcome 1,000 immigrations under the AIP in 2018. This is expected to increase to 2,000 in 2019 and 4,000 in 2020. Key Articles and Pages
Nova Scotia Aside from the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Nova Scotia saw a slow year on the immigration front. The province launched a swing of recruitment efforts in France and Belgium towards the end of the year, while also looking to boost its health sector by targeting internationally-trained doctors. The province was another to revise its list of occupations in demand, showing how the governments are fluidly reacting to labour market needs and developments. Key Articles and Pages
New Brunswick New Brunswick was another province to focus its energies on the Atlantic Immigration Pilot in 2017. The federal government and New Brunswick signed a Canada immigration agreement in April aimed at boosting the provincial population and filling jobs as part of the AIP. The agreement will guide the federal-provincial relationship for the next five years, and is the first of its kind to be signed between Canada and New Brunswick immigration. It includes a specific focus on French-speaking immigrants, and how to bring more of them to the province, extending to how New Brunswick immigration can do more to connect with and integrate Francophones. Key Articles and Pages
Prince Edward Island It was a quiet year for Prince Edward Island, until officials revealed the provincial immigration department had withheld $18 million from 100% Ownership Stream business candidates. This resulted in accusations the stream was being used as a back door to immigration by candidates who had no intention of starting a business. Candidates for the 100% Ownership Stream must sign an escrow agreement committing to give a deposit of $200,000 to the P.E.I. government until all program requirements are met. After all requirements are met, the money is returned. But applicants have apparently been willing to write-off the deposit in return for permanent residence, before moving to other parts of Canada. The business stream generated more negative headlines when international students revealed they had been made to pay back part of their wages in cash to business owners. The province has announced plans to move to an expression of interest system for its business streams in 2018, although it appears to have no plans to change the program requirements. On a more positive note, figures showed population growth from immigration has been making a significant contribution to P.E.I. economic growth recently. The province is aiming to increase immigration as a way of offsetting a shrinking labour market and aging population. Key Articles and Pages
Newfoundland & Labrador Newfoundland & Labrador made a few changes to the NLPNP late in 2017 to improve the chances of international graduates being able to stay and work in the province. Under the change, candidates who graduate from specific higher education institutions can qualify for the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program category despite their job or job offer not being in a field related to their studies. The change is specifically for graduates from Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic. The province has also spent nearly $400,000 on two new pilot programs: The Student Internship Pilot Program and the My First Job in Newfoundland and Labrador Pilot Program. Both are designed to help international students and graduates find work in the province. Key Articles and Pages
Source: IRCC
Key Articles and Pages
Source: IRCC
Key Articles and Pages
Key Articles and Pages
The federal government is also currently in the process of overhauling the Canadian Citizenship Test and associated guide. It has asked for bids from the private sector to complete the test overhaul. Key Articles and Pages
Figures: Universities Canada
These figures are only related to institutions with university status. Overall federal government figures show there are more than 400,000 study permit holders currently in Canada across all levels of education. Recent changes to Canadian citizenship requirements are also beneficial to international students, allowing them to count their time spent in Canada while studying towards a citizenship application. Study permit holders can count a half day for each full day spent in Canada towards a citizenship application, up to a maximum of a year. Key Articles and Pages
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information. Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days. Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
Federal Express Entry
The Canada Express Entry System moved into full swing in 2017 with the backlog of applications from before the system launched, fully cleared. This meant that the vast majority of skilled worker immigration candidates coming to Canada would be selected through the Express Entry System. With Canada’s 2017 skilled worker program target at 73,700 immigrants, it meant invitation numbers would have to sharply increase to ensure that target was met. Total invitation numbers for 2017 comprehensively eclipsed those of the two previous years by approximately triple.
Source: IRCC
There were 86,043 Invitations to Apply issues across the year, compared to 33,782 in 2016 and a 2015 total of 31,018. The early part of the year saw ITA numbers regularly exceeding 3,000, with the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score falling to a record low 413 in the draw on May 31, 2017. Invitation numbers dropped off slightly in the second half of the year, with minimum scores also slightly higher, although the numbers still exceeded those seen in the first two years of the Express Entry System.
NOTE: Program specific draws on May 26 and November 1 not included in figures so as to show trend
The year also saw Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada conduct four program-specific draws. In two batches, on May 26 and November 1, separate draws were made aimed at provincial nominees and Federal Skilled Trades candidates only. The CRS was again tweaked midway through the year, with points introduced for having a sibling in Canada, and extra points for a high level of French language ability. These tweaks were aimed at promoting candidates more likely to quickly integrate into Canadian society. The June 6 changes also saw an end to mandatory job bank registration and a new method for ranking candidates, meaning those with the same score were separated based on the date they submitted their applications.
NOTE: Program specific draws on May 26 and November 1 not included in figures so as to show trend
The reason behind the ranking method change was revealed when IRCC changed the way it conducted draws, selecting the exact number of candidates it wanted to invite and introducing a tie-breaking rule. This started on November 8, when 2,000 ITAs were issued, with a minimum CRS score of 458. Under the new tie-breaking rule, it was possible for candidates scoring 458 not being invited. The tie breaking rule provides a distinction based on the exact time a candidate submitted their profiles to the Express Entry pool. With more individual draws, more ITAs and lower minimum scores than ever before, 2017 was a record-breaking year for the Express Entry System. With an even greater emphasis on skilled workers in the recent immigration levels plan for 2018, 2019 and 2020, those records are set to tumble further as the system matures.
Federal High Skilled Immigration Targets
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| 58,400 | 73,700 | 74,900 | 81,400 | 85,800 |
- Canada To Welcome Nearly 1 Million Immigrants Over Next 3 Years (Video)
- Canada’s 2018 Provincial Program Immigration Levels (Video)
- Canada Express Entry
- 2017 Express Entry 9-Month Review
- 2017 Express Entry 6-Month Review
- 2016 Express Entry Year-End report
Provincial Programs
British Columbia It was a relatively quiet year in terms of program changes in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). Regular draws continued under the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, Semi-Skilled Worker and Entrepreneur streams. One key development saw the launch of the BC PNP Tech Pilot. Not a program in itself, the Tech Pilot provides expedited processing for candidates under any of B.C.’s streams with skills and experience in key occupations. Tech-only draws are now conducted weekly, with the numbers added to the regular draw updates. The Tech Pilot launch came following the introduction of the federal Global Talent Stream, which is covered later in the immigration.ca 2017 review of the year. Key Articles and Pages- BC PNP Tech Pilot Launched By British Columbia Immigration
- British Columbia Immigration
- Full List of 2017 BCPNP Draws
- BC PNP Tech Pilot
Ontario The province of Ontario and its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) have seen a busy year in terms of immigration policies and program development. Perhaps the biggest development came late in 2017 with the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement. The agreement provides an important framework for how federal and provincial officials will work to manage immigration objectives. From the setting of levels, to the different classes of immigrants accepted, the agreement will give structure to the federal government’s relationship with Canada’s most populous province. The key change under the OINP saw the Employer Pre-Screened category scrapped in favour of the Employer Job Offer. The key difference between the two is that the new stream is candidate-led instead of employer-led. The new stream initially had streams for foreign workers and international students, while an Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream was launched later in the year, targeting occupations from heavy equipment operators to industrial butchers. Elsewhere, Ontario also launched a new Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, which initially targeted workers in the construction and agriculture industries but could be expanded. Otherwise, the province has opened and closed its categories throughout the year, eventually reaching its nomination allocation limit in November 2017, before receiving an unexpected increase from the federal government in December 2017. Another development earlier in the year saw Ontario announce a 15 per cent foreign buyer tax in the GTA, design to cool the housing market. A similar tax was introduced by B.C. for Vancouver in 2016. Key Articles and Pages
- Ontario Immigration
- New Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement to Harmonize Immigration Policies to Canada’s Largest Province
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Reaches 2017 Nomination Allocation
- Ontario Launches New Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream
- Ontario Immigration: New Canada Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
- Ontario Announces 15% Foreign Buyer Tax Plan
Manitoba Manitoba introduced a significant overhaul of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) in 2017, although many of the changes will not take effect until 2018. The MPNP structure includes a totally new International Education Stream, a renamed and repurposed Business Investor Stream, plus tweaks to the existing Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream and Skilled Worker Overseas Stream. It also included an extensive list of in-demand occupations for the province. The overhaul came following an agreement reached between the provincial and federal governments, as Manitoba looks to build on a 10-point plan for improving its economy. Otherwise, the province continued regular PNP draws in 2017, for its skilled worker and entrepreneur categories. Key Articles and Pages
- Manitoba Immigration
- Full List of 2017 MPNP Draws
- Manitoba Immigration Targeting More than 100 In-Demand Skilled Worker Occupations
- Manitoba Immigration Launches New Business Investor Stream
- Manitoba Introduces New Immigration Streams in Overhaul of Provincial Nominee Program (Audio)
Saskatchewan It was a quiet year for Saskatchewan immigration and the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program. The province opened and closed its Occupations in Demand and Express Entry categories several times, with candidates needing to be on their toes and ready to apply when the streams were opened. The province also increased the thresholds for the two popular categories in August 2017, with the Express Entry category accepting a further 900 applications for a total of 2,600, and the Occupations in Demand category accepting an additional 300 for a total of 3,000., with the threshold rising to 3,300 from 3,000. There were three Entrepreneur draws in 2017, with officials taking the rare step of posting the draw dates in advance on its website. A further draw will take place in January 2018. Meanwhile, in July 2017, the province revised its list of occupations in demand. Key Articles and Pages
- Saskatchewan Immigration
- Saskatchewan Immigration Increases Thresholds For Popular Categories
- Saskatchewan Immigration Has New List Of Occupations In Demand
Alberta Alberta is another province to announce a new structure in 2017 for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. The changes were initially due to take effect on January 2, 2018, but the province has delayed the launch to give more time for stakeholder consultations. The new structure will see the launch of a new Alberta Opportunity Stream and a new Express Entry stream. The Alberta Opportunity Stream will replace the current Employer-Driven Stream and Strategic Recruitment Stream. This means the AINP will accept applications under two streams only: the new Alberta Opportunity Stream and the existing Self-Employed Farmer Stream. The new Alberta Express Entry Stream will allow the province to nominate candidates who will then apply through the federal Canada Express Entry System. Alberta reached it’s 2017 threshold of 5,500 nomination certificates in December 2017. Key Articles and Pages
- Alberta immigration
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program Reaches 2017 Nomination Threshold
- Restructured Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program To Feature 2 New Streams
Quebec Quebec’s immigration year was dominated by non-economic factors making headlines as Haitian asylum seekers flooding over the border from the U.S., fearing deportation under President Donald Trump. A special federal-provincial taskforce was set up to cope with the influx, as July and August saw up to 300 people per day illegally crossing into Quebec. A makeshift border camp was set up, while venues including Montreal’s Olympic Stadium were used to house the newcomers. The stream was eventually reduced to a trickle come September, although there are fears another flood is coming after the U.S. announced the end of special status for Haitians in late 2017. A fraction of those who crossed have so far been allowed refugee status after Immigration and Refugee Board hearings. Elsewhere, perhaps the low-point of Quebec’s year came with the passing of the controversial niqab ban, which said face coverings were not allowed when accessing public services. Exactly how the law will be implemented when it comes into force in 2018, is unclear, although the Quebec government has recently tried to soften its stand somewhat since the law was passed. Meanwhile, Quebec announced its plan to welcome 53,000 immigrants in 2018, effectively maintaining the status quo of recent years. The province also revised its high demand occupations list and launched its version of the federal Global Talent Stream. The popular Quebec Immigrant Investor Program is currently accepting applications, which closes in February 2018. Key Articles and Pages
- Quebec Immigration
- Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
- If Left Unchecked, Quebec’s Niqab Ban Risks Redefining Canada As We Know It
- Quebec to Welcome Near 53,000 Immigrants in 2018
- Quebec Launches New Global Talent Stream
- 7,000 Asylum Seekers Crossed Quebec Border Since July 1
- Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) Accepting New Applications
- Quebec Immigration Revises High Demand Occupations List
Atlantic Immigration Pilot A key 2017 development for the four Atlantic provinces was the launch of the federally-run Atlantic Immigration Pilot. The AIP was launched in March 2017 as an employer-driven pilot with programs for high-skilled, intermediate-skilled and international graduate immigrants. The three-year pilot aimed to welcome 2,000 immigrants across the four provinces in each of 2017, 2018 and 2019. It is a pilot focused on retention – a key challenge for Atlantic provinces who find themselves welcoming immigrants, but losing them to other parts of Canada once they achieve permanent residence. Candidates need a job offer (exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment), must produce a Settlement Plan, and receive an endorsement certificate before their application is processed. However, the program has made a slow start, Under the three-year plan announced at the start of November, Ottawa says it only expects to welcome 1,000 immigrations under the AIP in 2018. This is expected to increase to 2,000 in 2019 and 4,000 in 2020. Key Articles and Pages
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot: Slow Start Revealed in Federal Government Immigration Plan
Nova Scotia Aside from the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Nova Scotia saw a slow year on the immigration front. The province launched a swing of recruitment efforts in France and Belgium towards the end of the year, while also looking to boost its health sector by targeting internationally-trained doctors. The province was another to revise its list of occupations in demand, showing how the governments are fluidly reacting to labour market needs and developments. Key Articles and Pages
- Nova Scotia Immigration
- Nova Scotia Immigration Recruits Skilled Workers In France and Belgium
- Nova Scotia Immigration Launches International Recruitment Campaign Targeting Physicians
- Nova Scotia Immigration: New List of Canada Jobs in Demand
New Brunswick New Brunswick was another province to focus its energies on the Atlantic Immigration Pilot in 2017. The federal government and New Brunswick signed a Canada immigration agreement in April aimed at boosting the provincial population and filling jobs as part of the AIP. The agreement will guide the federal-provincial relationship for the next five years, and is the first of its kind to be signed between Canada and New Brunswick immigration. It includes a specific focus on French-speaking immigrants, and how to bring more of them to the province, extending to how New Brunswick immigration can do more to connect with and integrate Francophones. Key Articles and Pages
Prince Edward Island It was a quiet year for Prince Edward Island, until officials revealed the provincial immigration department had withheld $18 million from 100% Ownership Stream business candidates. This resulted in accusations the stream was being used as a back door to immigration by candidates who had no intention of starting a business. Candidates for the 100% Ownership Stream must sign an escrow agreement committing to give a deposit of $200,000 to the P.E.I. government until all program requirements are met. After all requirements are met, the money is returned. But applicants have apparently been willing to write-off the deposit in return for permanent residence, before moving to other parts of Canada. The business stream generated more negative headlines when international students revealed they had been made to pay back part of their wages in cash to business owners. The province has announced plans to move to an expression of interest system for its business streams in 2018, although it appears to have no plans to change the program requirements. On a more positive note, figures showed population growth from immigration has been making a significant contribution to P.E.I. economic growth recently. The province is aiming to increase immigration as a way of offsetting a shrinking labour market and aging population. Key Articles and Pages
- Prince Edward Island Immigration
- P.E.I.’s Business Impact Program To Move To Expression of Interest
- P.E.I.’s 100% Ownership Stream Could Face Federal Government Scrutiny
- P.E.I. Immigration Office Withholds $18m From Investors Who Failed To Start Businesses
- Population Increase Driving Economic Growth on Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland & Labrador Newfoundland & Labrador made a few changes to the NLPNP late in 2017 to improve the chances of international graduates being able to stay and work in the province. Under the change, candidates who graduate from specific higher education institutions can qualify for the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program category despite their job or job offer not being in a field related to their studies. The change is specifically for graduates from Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic. The province has also spent nearly $400,000 on two new pilot programs: The Student Internship Pilot Program and the My First Job in Newfoundland and Labrador Pilot Program. Both are designed to help international students and graduates find work in the province. Key Articles and Pages
- Newfoundland & Labrador Immigration
- Newfoundland Immigration Tweaks International Graduate Category
- Newfoundland Immigration To Step Up Recruitment Efforts Abroad
Caregivers
Canada’s immigration department has committed to processing the majority of existing permanent resident applications from the defunct Live-In Caregiver Program by the end of 2018. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen has made three key commitments aimed at eliminating a backlog allowed to grow by the previous Conservative government. Those commitments are:- Process 80 per cent of permanent residence applications on the system as of October 1, 2017 by the end of 2018.
- 12-month processing time for 80 per cent of new and complete permanent residence applications received on or after October 1, 2017
- Admit high numbers of candidates here under the Live-In Caregiver Program as permanent residents until all cases are processed.
Processing Targets: Caregivers
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| 22,000 | 18,000 | 17,000 | 14,000 | 5,000 |
- Permanent Residence Applications from Live-in Caregivers – Making a Final Decision
- Canada Targets Live-In Caregiver Program Application Backlog
- Foreign Caregivers Stuck In Canada Permanent Residence Limbo
Family Class
Canada made key changes to the process of sponsoring a spouse or common law partner for permanent residence at the end of 2016, with the impact of those changes felt in 2017. The changes were part of a federal government commitment to process the majority of spousal sponsorship applications in 12 months. The changes included a new application kit, better guides, new forms and document checklists, plus revamped communication and a restructuring of when information is required. Elsewhere, the age limit for a dependent child in Canada immigration applications rose from 18 to 21 on October 24, 2017 Primary candidates are now able to include all children under the age of 22 in their applications. The rule change will apply to all immigration applications, including refugees. IRCC has also moved to further extend the Spousal Work Permit Pilot Program which allows a spouse or partner subject to an application to live and work in Canada while it is being processed.Family Class Immigration Levels Plan
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| 60,000 | 64,000 | 66,000 | 68,000 | 70,000 |
Key Articles and Pages
- Family Class Sponsorship Immigration
- Important Changes to Canada’s Family Reunification Application Process
- How New Children Dependency Policies Affect Your Canada Immigration Application?
- Dependent Child Age Rises In Canada Immigration Applications
Parents and Grandparents
The federal government employed a new lottery system for selecting candidates for the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program in 2017, and it did not prove popular. Ottawa drew criticism after nearly 100,000 candidates express and interest for only 10,000 places. Then, when the 10,000 were drawn, IRCC did not received enough applications before the 90-day window ended, forcing officials to conduct a second draw. Key criticisms were that the rules were changed too late in 2016, with applicants expecting the old first-come, first-serve process to continue. Then, it was felt candidates were not asked enough information before entering the lottery. As a result, candidates ended up being selected who either were not prepared or did not meet the basic requirements of the program. IRCC officials have suggested the process will be tweaked for 2018, although it is unclear exactly how. The second draw took place in early September, with the 90-day application window ending on December 8. It is unclear how many applications were received in total in 2017. Meanwhile, the alternative Parent and Grandparent Super-Visa continues to be popular, and could become even more so with the difficulties experienced in the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program.Parent and Grandparent Immigration Levels Plan
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| 20,000 | 20,000 | 17,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 |
Key Articles and Pages
- Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program
- Parent and Grandparent Super-Visa
- New Rules for Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program (Audio)
- 2,000 Sign Petition Against Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Lottery
- Canada Plans Second Parent And Grandparent Sponsorship Draw
- Canada Immigration Minister Defends Parent and Grandparent Lottery
- Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Super-Visa Proving Popular
- Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program: Second Round of Applications Starts September 6
- December 8 Deadline for Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program Applications
Summary of Changes That Took Place in June 2017
| Previous Citizenship Act | Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments |
| Citizenship could be revoked from dual citizens convicted of treason, spying and terrorism offences, depending on the sentence received, or who were a part of an armed force of a country or organized group engaged in conflict with Canada. | This provision is repealed. Dual citizens living in Canada who are convicted of these crimes will face the Canadian justice system, like other Canadian citizens who break the law. |
| Applicants were required to intend to continue to live in Canada if granted citizenship. | This provision is repealed. Applicants are no longer required to intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship. This provides more flexibility to Canadians who may need to live outside of Canada for work or personal reasons. |
| The Minister had the discretion to waive certain requirements under subsection 5(1) of the Citizenship Act so a minor could obtain citizenship without a Canadian parent. | Minors can now apply for citizenship without a Canadian parent, as the age requirement for citizenship has been removed under subsection 5(1). A person having custody of the minor or empowered to act on their behalf by court order, written agreement or operation of law, can now apply for citizenship on behalf of the minor, unless that requirement is waived by the Minister. |
| No provision existed to prevent individuals serving a sentence in the community (a conditional sentence order) from being granted citizenship, taking the Oath of Citizenship or counting this time towards meeting the physical presence requirements for citizenship. | Individuals serving a conditional sentence will not be granted citizenship, take the Oath of Citizenship, or be able to count this time towards meeting the physical presence requirements for citizenship. |
| The Minister has the discretion to grant citizenship to a person to alleviate cases of special and unusual hardship, or to reward services of an exceptional value to Canada. | Statelessness has been added as a stand-alone ground that can be considered for a discretionary grant of citizenship. |
| The Department has reasonable measures to accommodate the needs of citizenship applicants. However, there was no explicit reference to accommodate persons with disabilities in the Citizenship Act. | The requirement to take into consideration reasonable measures to accommodate the needs of a citizenship applicant who is a disabled person is now included in the Citizenship Act. |
| The requirement for applicants to maintain the requirements for citizenship from the time they apply for citizenship until taking the Oath of Citizenship only applied to applications received on or after June 11, 2015. | This requirement now also applies to all applications, including those received before June 11, 2015. |
Summary of Changes Taking Place on October 11
| Previous Citizenship Act | Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments |
| Applicants had to be physically present in Canada for four out of six years before applying for citizenship. | Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years before applying for citizenship. |
| Applicants had to file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for four out of six years, matching the physical presence requirement. | Applicants must file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for three out of five years, matching the new physical presence requirement. |
| Applicants had to be physically present in Canada for 183 days in four out of the six years preceding their application. | This provision is repealed. Applicants no longer have to meet this requirement. |
| Time spent in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident did not count towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship. | Applicants may count each day they were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident as a half-day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days. |
| Applicants between 14 and 64 years had to meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship. | Applicants between 18 and 54 years must meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship. |
Changes to Take Effect Early 2018
| Previous Citizenship Act | Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments |
| The Minister was the decision-maker for most cases of citizenship revocation on the grounds of false representation, fraud, or knowingly concealing material circumstances. The Federal Court was the decision-maker for citizenship revocation cases involving false representation, fraud, or knowingly concealing material circumstances related to security, human or international right violations, and organized criminality. | The Federal Court is the decision-maker in all revocation cases, unless the individual requests that the Minister make the decision. |
| There was no clear authority for Citizenship Officers to seize fraudulent or suspected fraudulent documents provided under the Citizenship Act. | Clear authority for Citizenship Officers to seize fraudulent or suspected fraudulent documents is provided under the Citizenship Act. |
The federal government is also currently in the process of overhauling the Canadian Citizenship Test and associated guide. It has asked for bids from the private sector to complete the test overhaul. Key Articles and Pages
- Canada Citizenship
- Private Sector Bidding to Overhaul Canadian Citizenship Test
- Second Wave of Canadian Citizenship Changes Take Effect October 11, 2017
- New Canadian Citizenship Act Bill C-6 Becomes Law
- Federal Court Rules Ottawa Cannot Revoke Canadian Citizenship Without Independent Hearing
- Canada Celebrates 70 Years Of Citizenship As Bill C-6 Looms
- Employers required to do more to hire Canadians. Special emphasis will be on youth, new permanent residents, women, indigenous people and the disabled.
- Users of TFWP to help government transition Canadians into the workforce through more use of outreach and training programs.
- Plan to eliminate Labour Market Impact Assessment fee for:
- Families seeking caregivers for persons with high medical needs.
- Families earning less than $150,000 seeking childcare.
- Increased compliance inspections of firms employing temporary workers.
- Making sure workers know their rights and protections on arrival.
- Improved communication with provinces and territories.
- Global Talent Stream: 2-Week Canada Visa Application Processing (Video)
- Global Talent Stream
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- Wealthy Immigrants to Canada Turning to Temporary Work Visas
- Report Highlights Abuses of Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program: New Changes Announced
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program to Undergo Major Reform (Audio)
- Thousands Come To Canada Under Global Talent Stream (Audio)
- Canada’s Global Talent Stream a Fluid Alternative to Flagging U.S. H-1B Visa
- UPDATED Canada’s Global Talent Stream: All You Need To Know
- Quebec Launches New Global Talent Stream
Canadian University International Student Cohort, 2017 Increase
| Province | 2017 Increase (%) |
| Alberta | 8.8 |
| British Columbia | 15.6 |
| Manitoba | 5.6 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | 10.5 |
| New Brunswick | -5.7 |
| Nova Scotia | 4.2 |
| Ontario | 12.7 |
| Prince Edward Island | 12.8 |
| Quebec | 9.1 |
| Saskatchewan | 2 |
| CANADA | 10.7 |
These figures are only related to institutions with university status. Overall federal government figures show there are more than 400,000 study permit holders currently in Canada across all levels of education. Recent changes to Canadian citizenship requirements are also beneficial to international students, allowing them to count their time spent in Canada while studying towards a citizenship application. Study permit holders can count a half day for each full day spent in Canada towards a citizenship application, up to a maximum of a year. Key Articles and Pages
- Canada Offers International Graduates a Route to Permanent Immigration (Video)
- Canada Student Visa
- Canada Watches as U.S. International Student Enrollment Declines (Audio)
- Annual Study for International Students Highlights Canada’s Best Universities
- Canada Still Struggling To Hold On To International Graduates
- Livestream Video: How International Students Can Immigrate to Canada
- Canada Offers International Graduates Attractive Pathway to Permanent Immigration
- Thousands More International Students Coming to Study and Work In Canada
- New Immigration Policies Attract International Students to Study in Canada
- International Students in Canada: Cheaper Tuition, Better Job Prospects, Become Canadian
- Tackling Illegal Border Crossings (Published by CBC | November 23, 2017) (Video) Speaking to host Andrew Nichols, Canada Immigration Lawyer and Managing Partner of immigration.ca discusses how Ottawa is preparing for a possible increase in refugee claims from irregular border crossings following planned changes in US immigration policy.
- Refugee Immigration
- Progress of Syrian Refugees Not Tracked, Auditor-General Says
- Syrian Refugees in Canada Face Integration Challenge
- Is a New Influx of Canada Asylum Seekers About to Begin?
- Canada Asylum Claims From Mexicans Quadruple in 2017
- Ministers Grilled on Reaction to Canada’s Asylum Seeker Surge
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information. Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days. Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
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