Canada freezes Start-Up Visa work permit and new SUV applications, plans targeted entrepreneur pilot
IRCC pauses Home Care Worker immigration pilots to clear backlog
CBSA reports record 19,000 deportations in 2025 amid stricter visa controls
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Nationwide airport kiosk outage resolved, residual customs delays expected
CBSA has fixed a national outage that disabled primary inspection kiosks at major airports on December 19, but residual customs delays may linger over the weekend. The incident—one of several kiosk failures this year—highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in Canada’s border IT infrastructure.
Air Canada offers free switches from connecting to non-stop flights during holiday rush
Air Canada is letting ticketed passengers travelling 19–24 December switch from connecting itineraries via Toronto or Montréal to non-stop flights at no extra cost, aiming to de-clog hubs and improve punctuality during the peak holiday period.
Canada Pauses Start-Up Visa Work Permit and Closes Program Ahead of New Entrepreneur Pilot
IRCC has stopped issuing Start-Up Visa (SUV) work permits as of December 19 and will cease accepting new SUV PR applications after December 31, 2025 (except for candidates holding 2025-dated commitment certificates). The freeze, along with an extended pause on the Self-Employed Persons Program, is meant to clear backlogs ahead of a new entrepreneur pilot in 2026. Companies counting on SUV work permits for founders will need contingency plans.
CBSA Replaces Remote-Area Border Permits with 24/7 Telephone Reporting
Effective September 14, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency will scrap Remote Area Border Crossing permits and require travellers in five remote Ontario regions to report their entry via telephone. The move is intended to strengthen border integrity and modernise processing, but businesses must ensure phone access for staff and clients or face penalties.
Canada Eases 12-Month Bar on Pre-Removal Risk Assessments for Iranian Nationals
IRCC has granted an exemption to the 12-month waiting period for Iranians facing deportation, allowing them to submit—or resubmit—pre-removal risk assessments immediately. The policy recognises worsening rights conditions in Iran and could delay or prevent removals of affected individuals employed in Canada.
CBSA Records Nearly 19,000 Removals in 2025 as Canada Tightens Visa Rules
CBSA carried out nearly 19,000 removals in 2025, the largest tally on record, amid stricter rules limiting overstay grace periods. Employers must pay closer attention to expiry dates or risk losing staff and facing penalties. The jump in deportations also contributed to Canada’s first net population decline in nearly 80 years.
Air Canada Offers Free Same-Route Switch to Non-Stop Flights for Holiday Travellers
To ease holiday congestion, Air Canada is allowing passengers travelling through Toronto or Montréal between December 19–24 to switch free of charge to a direct flight on the same route, provided the ticket was issued by December 19. The voluntary change can cut connection risk for business travellers and helps the carrier manage storm-related disruptions.