Immigration News in June 2026
Hello! The World Cup has finally kicked off, and as Vancouver is one of the host cities, you can feel the excitement in the air everywhere you go. In this blog post, Iwe would like to introduce some recent updates regarding Canadian immigration policies.
１．Latest Immigration Data
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes monthly immigration statistics with a two-month delay. The overview is as follows:
①Decrease in International Students
As mentioned in our blog last year, it was announced that the immigration plan through 2028 aims to reduce the number of temporary residents to less than 5% of the total population.
In accordance with this commitment, the number of international students as of April 30 is down 84% compared to two years ago. To achieve this, the immigration department has
- Study Permit Caps: An annual cap was introduced in 2024 on the number of study permits issued. Furthermore, it has been announced that this cap will be further lowered in 2025 and 2026.
- Strengthening the International Student Program: To prevent the fraudulent acquisition of study permits, verification of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) has been made mandatory. Additionally, financial requirements (proof of funds) have been raised to ensure students are better prepared.
②Decrease in Temporary Foreign Workers
Similarly, the number of Work Permit holders has decreased by 67% compared to two years ago. To achieve this, the immigration department has implemented the following four points.
- TFWP Reforms: Hiring limits for low-wage workers were set at 10% (with 20% in certain in-demand sectors). Additionally, processing for low-wage applications has been suspended in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. Furthermore, the minimum wage requirement for high-wage positions has been raised, expanding the scope of these restrictions.
- PGWP Reform: Eligibility requirements for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) have been tightened to better align the program with immigration goals and labor market needs.
- Restrictions on Spousal Work Permits: Spousal work permit eligibility for international students and temporary foreign workers has been tightened to limit the total number of permits issued.
- Accelerated Permanent Residence for Select Skilled Workers: The process for permanent residence has been expedited for certain temporary skilled workers already employed in high-demand sectors in Canada.
Details of the data as of April 30, 2026, can be confirmed via this link:
２. AOR to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Applicants
To prevent the loss of work authorization due to delays in permanent residence (PR) application processing, the Canadian government has introduced the following relief measures for a limited time from June 9, 2026, to December 31, 2026. Consequently, effective June 9, 2026, certain PNP applicants within Canada can now use alternative proof of submission for their PR application when applying for specific work permit categories, even if they have not yet received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR).
＜Work Permits＞
- Bridge Open Work Permit（A75）：Available to PNP applicants who meet specific conditions.
- Employer-specific Work Permit（T13）：May be applied for even if the provincial nomination letter has expired.
- Eligible Spousal Open Work Permit：Spouses of PNP applicants now find it easier to apply for a work permit under similar conditions.
＜Remarks＞
- It is extremely important to apply for work permits, such as the BOWP, several months before your current work permit expires. Applying after the expiry date requires a “Restoration of Status,” which carries the risk of temporarily losing your legal right to work.
- Depending on the PNP nomination conditions, there may be “employer-specific” restrictions. In such cases, an employer-specific work permit may be required instead of an open work permit.
As the optimal approach depends on your current status and the stage of your processing, we recommend checking the latest requirements on the IRCC website and each province’s PNP website, and consulting with a professional.
3. Recent Express Entry Trends
In 2026, the French proficiency category remains a high priority, with draws held at least once every month.
Below is the round of invitation information from our last blog to the present. A point of note is that a draw for the Trades category was held on April 2 for the first time in a while. Since the cutoff score was as low as 477, this is evidence that these are still recognized as high-demand occupations.
Other bolded scores represent the minimum cutoff scores for each category, all of which are concentrated in March. As cutoff scores have been gradually rising since April, it is possible they will continue to increase this year in accordance with the immigration targets.
| Date | Round type | Lowest CRS score | ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2026 | French | 409 | 4500 |
| May 27, 2026 | CEC | 518 | 3000 |
| May 25 & 11, 2026 | PNP | 805/798 | 334/380 |
| April 29, 2026 | French | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28, 2026 | CEC | 514 | 2000 |
| April 27&13, 2026 | PNP | 795/786 | 473/324 |
| April 15, 2026 | French | 419 | 4000 |
| April 14, 2026 | CEC | 515 | 2000 |
| April 2, 2026 | Trades Occupations | 477 | 3000 |
| March 31&17, 2026 | CEC | 509/515 | 2250/4000 |
| March 30&16, 2026 | PNP | 802/742 | 356/362 |
| March 18, 2026 | French | 393 | 4000 |
| March 5, 2026 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
Below are the typical invitation scores by category based on trends to date:
| Draw Type | Typical CRS |
|---|---|
| Senior Managers | 429 |
| Canadian Experience Class（CEC） | 509-520 |
| Provincial Nominee Program（PNP） | 740-800 |
| French Language Proficiency | 380-420 |
| Trades Category | 477 |
| Healthcare Occupations | 430-470 |
| STEM Occupations | 480-510 |
For further details on Express Entry, please refer to the following
＊Express Entry: Category-based selection
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations/category-based-selection.html#category
＊Express Entry Priority Categories
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/02/canada-prioritizes-top-talent-in-2026-immigration-express-entry-categories.html
＊Latest Rounds of Invitations
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In this blog, I have randomly picked up some recent news. Although the trend in immigration policy remains strict, the occupations sought by the government are clear. Those aiming to move to Canada should keep this in mind and focus on accumulating education and work experience within Canada.
We also provide consultations for PR applications. Please start by providing your information and registering here. After providing a free assessment of your current situation, we will guide those who have a potential path to PR toward a paid consultation. Please feel free to contact us.
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