Immigration News in summer 2026
Hello! The summer is quickly passing by and we are entering September already. In this blog post, we would like to introduce some recent updates regarding Canadian immigration policies.
１．Study Permit, financial requirement
The Study Permit’s proof of funds requirement increased to $23,448 for a single applicant as of September 1, 2026.
The required fund was previously $22,895. However, if you are to apply for a Study Permit after September 1, 2026, you will need to include the proof of funds above $23,448 for a single applicant.
If you have family members to support, the requirement is different.
Please check this link for more details:
２. LMIA rule changes in August 2026
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) changed the low-wage workforce cap calculation for employers on August 18, 2026.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) extended the co-current processing grace period on August 21, 2026.
＜New Low-wage cap calculation＞
Employers, including private household employers, with a total workforce size of fewer than 10 employees at a given work location must complete the “Cap for low-wage positions” section of the LMIA application form.
For the purpose of calculating the cap, the total workforce size at a given work location includes:
- all full-time and part-time employees working at the work location, including Canadians, permanent residents, temporary foreign workers employed through the LMIA process, workers holding other types of work permits, and employees who are on leave but expected to return
- A full-time employee is a worker who works, on average, 30 or more hours per week.
- A part-time employee is a worker who works, on average, less than 30 hours per week. Each part-time employee is counted 0.5 of an employee for the purpose of the cap.
- vacant positions for new temporary foreign workers requested on the LMIA application
- temporary foreign workers on previously approved LMIAs who have yet to start their employment
After the change, employers may employ a maximum of:
- 1 temporary foreign worker in a low-wage position if subject to a 10% cap, or
- 2 temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions if subject to a 20% cap
For more details, please click the link below.
＜New grace period＞
IRCC updated its officer instructions on the Labour Market Impact Assessment Review page on August 21, 2026, extending the concurrent processing window from sixty days to ninety days.
This is good news for applicants because workers who applied to extend their work permit, but whose employer’s LMIA has not been finalized yet, get more breathing room. IRCC will now hold these files for 90 days before making a final call, instead of rushing a refusal.
When you hire a temporary foreign workers, you should check if the workers fall under the high-wage or low-wage. Here is the hourly wage threshold by region.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/median-wage.html
3. Recent Express Entry Trends
The French proficiency category remains a high priority, with draws held at least once every month.
Below is the notable round of invitation information from our last blog to the present.
A point of note is that a draw for the Transport occupations, Senior managers, Healthcare occupations and Physicians category were held in June and July for the first time in a while. Besides that, Skilled Military Recruits was held on July 23 for the first time.
The lowest cutoff score was 223 for Physicians with Canadian work experience. This is evidence that physicians are recognized as high-demand occupations in Canada.
The cutoff scores have been stable and a bit lower in summer time. In accordance with the immigration targets., they will adjust it as the year-end approaches.
| Date | Round type | Lowest CRS score | ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2026 | French | 382 | 5000 |
| August 18, 2026 | CEC | 523 | 1000 |
| August 17, 2026 | PNP | 760 | 442 |
| August 7, 2026 | Transport occupations | 470 | 300 |
| July 23, 2026 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 10, 2026 | Senior Managers with Canadian work experience | 392 | 500 |
| June 25, 2026 | Healthcare and Social Services occupations | 475 | 475 |
| June 24, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 223 | 271 |
| May 28, 2026 | French | 409 | 4500 |
| May 25, 11, 2026 | PNP | 805, 798 | 334, 380 |
| May 27, 2026 | CEC | 518 | 3000 |
Below are the typical invitation scores by category based on trends to date:
| Draw Type | Typical CRS |
|---|---|
| Senior Managers | 400 |
| Canadian Experience Class（CEC） | 520 |
| Provincial Nominee Program（PNP） | 780 |
| French Language Proficiency | 400 |
| Senior Managers Category | 390 |
| Healthcare Occupations | 470 |
| Transportation Occupations | 470 |
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
＝＝＝
In this blog, we have randomly picked up some recent news. Although the trend in immigration policy remains strict, the occupations sought by the government are clear.
It is important to keep this in mind and focus on accumulating education and work experience within Canada if you seek an immigration path in Canada.
We also provide consultations for PR applications. Please start by providing your information 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.
“You are one step closer to Canada!”
＼ Get the latest news ／
