Latest news
Proving foreign work experience for Express Entry when you were paid in cash
For Express Entry, IRCC staff guidance says an employer reference letter is mandatory for each job you declare. IRCC does not mention cash pay or bank statements. This guide covers the proof rules and the reasons your counted years may be lower.
Excessive demand medical rule: the 2026 threshold, who is exempt and the 90-day letter
For 2026, the excessive demand cost threshold is $144,390 over 5 years. Some people, such as sponsored spouses and dependent children, are exempt. If IRCC has concerns, you get a letter and 90 days to respond.
Biometrics for your PR application: give them again, within 30 days
Biometrics from a visa or permit are valid for 10 years, but IRCC says you give them again each time you apply for permanent residence. You have up to 30 days after the date on your instruction letter.
Express Entry high-wage occupations list: which jobs are on it
IRCC groups high-wage occupations into three levels by median wage. The list takes effect November 3, 2026 and uses data from 2023 to 2025. It depends on your NOC, not your own pay.
Can you use DELF or DALF for Express Entry or a Francophone Mobility work permit?
For Express Entry, IRCC accepts only TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. For Francophone Mobility, IRCC lists TEF or TCF and French-education documents, but does not name DELF or DALF.
Quebec PEQ: 12,364 applications received, intake open until October 31
Quebec’s immigration ministry (MIFI) says the PEQ received 12,364 applications between July 2 and August 31, 2026. Intake stays open until October 31, with no cap.
CEC work experience: remote work, vacation, contractors and Quebec
Four Canadian Experience Class edge cases, answered from IRCC’s own pages: remote work, paid vacation, contractor or employee, and work in Quebec.
BC PNP Entrepreneur draw October 20, 2026: minimum score 118
BC held an Entrepreneur Immigration round on October 20, 2026. The minimum score was 118 for both the Base and Regional streams.
Ontario REDI 2027: 6 communities get OINP nomination spaces
Ontario’s new REDI round runs to the end of 2027 and covers 6 communities outside the GTA. There is no separate application process.
Spousal open work permit in 2026: the 3 routes IRCC offers and who qualifies for each
A spouse or common-law partner can get an open work permit through 3 main IRCC routes. Each route has its own rule: an AOR letter, a 16-month or 6-month permit, or a list of eligible study programs.
Newfoundland and Labrador PNP round October 16, 2026: 126 invitations
NL’s October 16, 2026 round issued 126 invitations: 125 for NLPNP and 1 for the Atlantic Immigration Program. It is NL’s second round in one week.
PEI PNP draw October 16, 2026: 164 Labour and Express Entry invitations
PEI invited 164 candidates in its October 16, 2026 Expression of Interest draw. It is PEI’s second draw this month. No Business Work Permit Entrepreneur invitations were issued.
How to update your Express Entry profile before an invitation
IRCC says you must update your Express Entry profile if your situation changes. Here are the steps, what updating means for your rank, and what can make a profile ineligible.
Two or more degrees and Express Entry: which ones need an ECA, and how IRCC counts them
IRCC says that in most cases you only need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your highest level of education. Here is when you need one for each credential, and what the points are.
Fixed-term contract or fellowship: does it earn the new Express Entry job-offer points?
IRCC says a qualifying job offer must generally be full-time, continuous work for at least one year after you become a permanent resident. Here is what that means for fixed-term offers.
Express Entry “high-wage” points: your occupation’s NOC counts, not your paycheque
IRCC says a high-wage occupation is decided by the median wage of everyone working under the same NOC, not by your own salary. Here is the exact wording.
Mistake in your Express Entry profile after your ITA? Recalculate first, decline if needed
IRCC says to recalculate your score if your situation changes after an invitation. If the new score is below the lowest score in your round, you should decline.
Express Entry changes on November 3: what to do now, who is affected and what not to mix up
IRCC has published the high-wage occupation list for Express Entry. See the steps IRCC gives you before November 3, including how to enter a job offer without an LMIA.
Express Entry changes on November 3: new CRS points for high-wage work and job offers, no LMIA needed
IRCC announced that from November 3, 2026, Express Entry will add points for eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation. A qualifying job offer will no longer need an LMIA.
Express Entry draw #450 invites 5,000 French-proficient candidates at CRS 435
IRCC invited 5,000 candidates in a French-language proficiency round. The lowest score was 435.
BC PNP round October 15, 2026: 16 invitations, minimum score 54
BC invited 16 candidates on October 15, 2026 under the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative. The minimum score was 54.
Invited in an Express Entry draw? Where your ITA shows up in your IRCC account
IRCC emails you, but the invitation itself is in your IRCC account. It appears as an unsubmitted Permanent residence application, and it is valid for 60 days.
Express Entry draw #449: 2,500 CEC invitations at CRS 519
IRCC invited 2,500 Canadian Experience Class candidates in draw #449. The lowest score was 519.
Mistake on your COPR? How IRCC’s request to amend works and what it cannot fix
IRCC amends only errors made by Canadian immigration officials when they recorded your information. If approved, you get a free Verification of Status, not a new COPR.
PR application status “not found”? Why IRCC does not show it and what “background verification” means
IRCC says your status shows only after your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR). The email you get right after you submit online is not an AOR.
Common-law partner: does time apart break the 12-month living-together rule? What IRCC says
IRCC says common-law partners must live together continuously for 12 months. Short, temporary absences do not break it. IRCC gives no number of days for “short”.
Can you hold a work permit and a study permit at the same time? What IRCC says
IRCC says yes, you can hold both permits if you are eligible for both. IRCC does not say whether the 24-hour weekly limit applies to work under a separate work permit.
Express Entry draw #448: 752 provincial nominees at CRS 772
IRCC invited 752 provincial nominees in a Provincial Nominee Program draw. The lowest score was 772.
PGWP running out while your Express Entry PR is in process? How the bridging open work permit (BOWP) works
A bridging open work permit (BOWP) lets some PR applicants keep working while IRCC decides. An Express Entry profile or an invitation alone is not enough. Here is what IRCC says.
Your IRCC client ID (UCI) explained: when you get one, where to find it, and how it differs from an application number
Your UCI (client ID) stays the same across all your IRCC applications. Each application gets its own application number. Both are in your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR).
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