Immigration News Announced in Dec 2025

Happy New Year! Hope you had a great start to the year 2025. This year, we will keep delivering valuable information on Canadian immigration. We hope you find our blog helpful and continue to support us!

Today, we would like to share three recent immigration news that you may find interesting.

Ending Flagpoling at the Border

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced Work and Study permits are no longer available to flagpole at a port of entry effective December 23 at 11:59 pm ET. 

All Work and Study Permit applications and renewals must now be submitted online to IRCC.

Exceptions may be made for the following individuals:

• Citizens and Permanent Residents of the United States of America;
• Professionals and technicians under free trade agreements with the United States/Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru, Colombia and South Korea;
• Spouses or common-law partners of professionals and technicians under free trade agreements with Panama, Columbia and South Korea;
• International truck drivers who hold a Work Permit and held maintained status after applying for renewal before departure; and
• Individuals who have an appointment booked with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for application processing.

For more information, please check the link below.

https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2024/12/ending-flagpoling-for-work-and-study-permits-at-the-border.html

Express Entry – No More Additional Points by LMIA

The IRCC has announced that starting in spring 2025, Express Entry candidates will no longer receive additional points for having a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Once the change is introduced, it will apply to both existing candidates in the Express Entry pool and new candidates entering the pool.

This change does not affect the following individuals:

• who have already received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or
• who have already submitted a Permanent Residence (PR) application to IRCC

For more information, please check the link below.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/12/canada-takes-action-to-reduce-fraud-in-express-entry-system.html

2025 International Experience Canada (IEC)

The 2025 IEC program is now open and accepting applications since December 16, 2024. 

▶︎ Current Application Status for Japan – Working Holiday (as of December 27, 2024)

Quota: To be announced (6,500 in 2024)

First round of invitations: To be announced

Final round of invitations: To be announced

Candidates in the pool: 693

For more information, please check the link below.

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/work/iec/selections.asp?country=jp&cat=wh

＝＝＝

Over the past year, there have been several important updates regarding visas and immigration. Since Canada’s immigration policies and visa regulations change frequently, it is important to stay updated and begin preparations as early as possible.

If you need our assistance or advice, please feel free to send your inquiry.

“You are one step closer to Canada!”