IRCC freezes Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)-eligible course list for 2026
Manitoba launches first 2026 PNP draw, invites 55 skilled workers
IRCC freezes Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligible programs list for 2026
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Number of foreign workers and students in Canada falls for first time in a decade
CIC News reports a year-over-year decline of nearly 15 000 study- and work-permit holders in 2025—the first drop in more than ten years. The decrease follows tighter federal rules on students and temporary workers and could ease processing backlogs and housing pressures in major cities, but employers should brace for ongoing policy adjustments.
Court ruling lets immigration applicants challenge IRCC ‘incomplete file’ returns
The Federal Court has ruled that IRCC’s practice of returning “incomplete” applications is subject to judicial review, giving immigration applicants a legal avenue to contest such decisions. The judgment may improve transparency and prompt IRCC to handle minor deficiencies more flexibly.
Canada formally closes federal Start-Up Visa programme
The federal Start-Up Visa has stopped accepting new applications as of 1 January 2026, with only grace-period filings allowed for founders who already hold commitment certificates. Foreign entrepreneurs must now pivot to provincial programmes, Quebec routes or C-11 work permits.
British Columbia invites seven entrepreneurs in first PNP draw of 2026
British Columbia issued seven invitations under its Entrepreneur Immigration Base stream, setting a 115-point cut-off for the first draw of 2026. With the federal Start-Up Visa now closed, BC’s programme gains prominence for foreign business owners seeking Canadian permanent residence.