Canada issues 25,722 permanent-residence invitations in February 2026
Parliamentary Budget Officer: Immigration cuts will stall Canada’s population growth in 2026
Canada unveils temporary visa exemptions for FIFA 2026 World Cup delegates
Latest News
Canada updates Mexico travel advisory; experts urge tourists to stay on-resort
After a spate of violence in western Mexico, Global Affairs Canada updated its advisory on 26 February. Flights to Puerto Vallarta have resumed, but security experts urge Canadian tourists to remain on resort property and monitor official updates—guidance that affects insurers, tour operators and corporate travel programmes alike.
Prime Minister Carney launches Indo-Pacific business mission to India, Australia and Japan
Starting 26 February, Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting India, Australia and Japan to advance trade, energy and technology partnerships. The Indo-Pacific tour is expected to spawn agreements that may ease business-traveller mobility and talent exchange—key intelligence for global mobility teams planning assignments in those markets.
UK Begins Full ETA Enforcement, Requiring Canadians to Obtain Digital Travel Authorisation from 25 February 2026
The UK now bars boarding for visa-exempt travellers— including Canadians—who have not secured a £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Carriers must check compliance, and dual UK/Canadian citizens need a British passport or proof of right of abode. Businesses must integrate ETA checks into booking and duty-of-care processes to avoid costly travel disruptions.
Senate Committee Sends Controversial Bill C-12 to Third Reading With Immigration Powers Intact
A Senate committee voted on 25 February 2026 to advance Bill C-12 without changes, keeping provisions that let Cabinet cancel immigration documents in bulk and impose a strict one-year asylum deadline. The bill now heads to third reading and could become law within days, posing significant compliance and workforce-planning challenges for Canadian employers and foreign nationals alike.
IRCC Waives Biometrics for FIFA-Invited World Cup Visitors Ahead of 2026 Tournament
On 25 February 2026 IRCC issued a public policy waiving biometrics for FIFA-invited foreign nationals applying for Canadian TRVs between November 2025 and July 2026. The measure should shorten processing times for accredited World Cup personnel and relieve pressure on Visa Application Centres as tournament traffic ramps up.
Ontario Unveils 2026 Rural Community Immigration Pilot to Tackle Labour Gaps
Ontario opened applications for the 2026 Rural Community Immigration Pilot on 25 February 2026. The programme lets Thunder Bay, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Timmins nominate foreign workers in priority occupations for permanent residence, offering employers in northern Ontario a fast LMIA-free pathway to fill chronic skill shortages.