IRCC Notices
Date: February 12, 2025
Notice – New rules to strengthen temporary resident document cancellations, and border security and integrity
Ottawa, February 12, 2025—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to strengthen authorities to cancel temporary resident documents. These changes give immigration and border services officers explicit authority to cancel electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs) on a case-by-case basis, including when a change in a person’s status or circumstances makes them inadmissible or no longer eligible to hold the document (for example, the person provided false information, has a criminal history or is deceased) an officer is not satisfied that someone will leave Canada by the end of their authorized period of stay the document is lost, stolen, destroyed or abandoned. The changes also enable officers to cancel TRVs, eTAs, work permits and study permits: issued to people when they become a permanent resident they are deceased, or the document was issued based on an administrative error.
The amended regulations came into force on January 31, 2025, and are published in the Canada Gazette II. These changes enhance the integrity of Canada’s temporary residence programs and are expected to strengthen security at the border and within Canada. IRCC will continue to improve processes and invest in tools to secure our borders and protect Canada’s immigration system..
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English: The Government of Canada has updated immigration regulations to cancel temporary resident documents (eTAs, visas, work permits, and study permits) in specific cases. 🔹 Officers can cancel documents if: A person no longer qualifies (e.g., false information, criminal record, or deceased). The person is not expected to leave Canada before their stay ends. The document was lost, stolen, destroyed, or issued by mistake. The person became a permanent resident and no longer needs it. These changes took effect on January 31, 2025, to enhance border security and immigration integrity.
Persian: دولت کانادا قوانین مهاجرتی خود را به‌روزرسانی کرده است تا در شرایط خاص، اسناد اقامت موقت (مجوز سفر الکترونیکی، ویزا، مجوز کار و تحصیل) لغو شوند. 🔹 افسران مهاجرت می‌توانند این اسناد را لغو کنند اگر: فرد واجد شرایط نباشد (مثلاً اطلاعات نادرست داده باشد، سابقه کیفری داشته باشد یا فوت کرده باشد). افسران مطمئن نباشند که فرد در موعد مقرر کانادا را ترک می‌کند. سند گم شده، دزدیده شده، تخریب شده یا به اشتباه صادر شده باشد. فرد مقیم دائم کانادا شود و دیگر نیازی به آن نداشته باشد. این تغییرات از ۳۱ ژانویه ۲۰۲۵ اجرا شده‌اند تا امنیت مرزی و سیستم مهاجرت کانادا را تقویت کنند.
Hindi: कनाडा सरकार ने अपने आव्रजन नियमों को अपडेट किया है ताकि कुछ मामलों में अस्थायी निवासी दस्तावेज़ों (eTA, वीज़ा, कार्य और अध्ययन परमिट) को रद्द किया जा सके। 🔹 अधिकारी दस्तावेज़ रद्द कर सकते हैं यदि: व्यक्ति अब पात्र नहीं है (उदाहरण के लिए, गलत जानकारी दी, आपराधिक रिकॉर्ड है, या मृत्यु हो गई है)। अधिकारी विश्वास नहीं करते कि व्यक्ति समय पर कनाडा छोड़ देगा। दस्तावेज़ खो गया, चोरी हो गया, नष्ट हो गया या गलती से जारी किया गया। व्यक्ति स्थायी निवासी बन गया है और अब इसकी आवश्यकता नहीं है। ये बदलाव 31 जनवरी 2025 से लागू हैं ताकि सीमा सुरक्षा और आप्रवासन प्रणाली को मजबूत किया जा सके।
Chinese: 加拿大政府 更新了移民法规，允许在特定情况下取消临时居民文件（eTA、签证、工作许可和学习许可）。 🔹 官员可以取消文件，如果： 该人不再符合资格（例如，提供虚假信息、有犯罪记录或已去世）。 该人预计不会在授权期限结束前离开加拿大。 该文件丢失、被盗、毁坏或错误签发。 该人已成为永久居民，不再需要该文件。 这些变化从 2025年1月31日 起生效，以加强边境安全和移民制度。
Spanish: El Gobierno de Canadá ha actualizado las normas de inmigración para cancelar documentos de residencia temporal (eTAs, visas, permisos de trabajo y permisos de estudio) en casos específicos. 🔹 Los oficiales pueden cancelar documentos si: La persona ya no es elegible (por ejemplo, proporcionó información falsa, tiene antecedentes penales o falleció). La persona no tiene intención de salir de Canadá antes de que termine su estadía. El documento fue perdido, robado, destruido o emitido por error. La persona se convirtió en residente permanente y ya no lo necesita. Estos cambios entraron en vigor el 31 de enero de 2025 para reforzar la seguridad fronteriza y la integridad del sistema de inmigración.
Date: February 4, 2025
Notice – Better Support for Foreign Nationals Facing Human Trafficking and Family Violence in Canada
Ottawa, February 4, 2025—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is dedicated to protecting victims of human trafficking and family violence. This includes regularly reviewing measures for vulnerable foreign nationals in Canada to identify and remove barriers that may prevent them from accessing support. Effective today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is improving measures for foreign national victims of human trafficking and family violence.
Victims and their dependants in Canada may now receive an initial temporary resident permit (TRP) for at least 12 months, with some exceptions. Additionally, fees for subsequent TRPs, work permits, study permits and biometrics will now be waived. Since 2006, out-of-status foreign nationals in Canada who are victims of human trafficking have been able to apply for a special TRP (VTIP TRP) for free. This permit gives them temporary immigration status, allows them to apply to work or go to school, and gives them health care coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program. In 2019, the government introduced a TRP for victims of family violence. This has made it easier for victims to escape their abuser or trafficker without fear of jeopardizing their immigration situation in Canada. The impacts of human trafficking and family violence have far‑reaching repercussions for victims, their families and our communities. These expanded measures will remove more obstacles that may prevent victims from getting support, stabilizing their lives, and accessing the resources and services they need..
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Date: January 31, 2025
Notice – Regulatory amendments for Canada–United States information sharing agreement
Ottawa, January 31, 2025 — On January 17, regulatory changes came into force to implement amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America for the Sharing of Visa and Immigration Information. These changes enable the automated exchange of biographical and biometric information on permanent residents of both Canada and the United States. Once the required systems are in place, information will only be exchanged in response to a request as part of either country’s immigration screening process, such as when a client is applying for a visa.
The original agreement, which authorized the automated exchange of information on all foreign nationals, was signed in 2012. The recent changes allow Canada and the United States to expand information-sharing capabilities as close and trusted security partners. These enhancements aim to improve screening for security risks and decision making across immigration programs. The agreement supports immigration and border officials and helps them verify clients’ identities strengthen admissibility screening facilitate visa issuance for clients with a proven history of immigration compliance in the United States Privacy protections are embedded in all agreements with our international partners, including this one. These protections ensure that any information shared by Canada is treated appropriately. We take privacy obligations seriously and continue to safeguard personal information. Each country retains its sovereign decision making under the agreement. This exchange of information gives each country insight into an applicant’s history, helping both countries make informed immigration decisions and enforce their respective immigration laws. This sharing will strengthen visitor screening and help identify non-genuine travellers before they reach Canada’s ports of entry, an approach that supports a well-managed immigration system and the security of Canadians. The regulatory amendments can be consulted in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and all updates will be reflected on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website..
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Date: January 28, 2025
Notice – Change to health insurance requirement makes the super visa more accessible
Ottawa, January 28, 2025—Families are stronger when they are together, and Canada remains committed to reuniting families through our immigration programs. The super visa is a multiple-entry visa that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit their family in Canada for longer periods of time: five years per visit, with the option to extend their stay while in Canada. Super visa applicants must prove they have a minimum level of private health coverage to be granted a super visa, as they are not eligible for provincial or territorial health care plans.
Previously, proof of health insurance could only be from Canadian health insurance providers. As of today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is allowing super visa applicants to purchase a private health insurance policy from companies outside Canada. To be eligible as valid health insurance coverage, the policy from a company outside Canada must be issued by a foreign insurance company authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to provide accident and sickness insurance appear on OSFI’s list of federally regulated financial institutions be issued under the company’s insurance business in Canada You can find out if a foreign insurance company is authorized to provide accident and sickness insurance by visiting the OSFI website. More information on these changes to the super visa can also be found on IRCC's website. Super visa holders should have a valid health insurance policy for the duration of their stay in Canada. If coverage expires before they leave Canada, super visa holders may need to renew their health insurance during their stay. Private health insurance must be valid for each entry to Canada. These changes make it easier for families to reunite on a super visa, while also ensuring parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents have adequate health insurance when entering Canada..
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Date: January 24, 2025
Notice – 2025 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap
Ottawa, January 24, 2025—Over the last year, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made important changes to better prepare international students for life in Canada, strengthen our programs and address the changing needs of our country. In 2024, IRCC capped the number of study permit applications that could be accepted for processing to keep our program strong and help ease the strain on housing, health care and other services. This measure has reduced the number of international students coming to Canada by about 40% and also eased pressures in rental markets with high student populations.
Building on these changes, provincial and territorial allocations for 2025 have now been finalized. For 2025, IRCC plans to issue a total of 437,000 study permits, which represents a 10% decrease from the 2024 cap. Since the introduction of the cap last year, most study permit applicants have been required to submit a provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). This requirement now extends to master’s and doctoral students, as well as most applicants applying from within Canada. To support this change, we are reserving spaces specifically for graduate students. Additionally, a new exemption is now in place for exchange students, ensuring that Canadian students can continue to benefit from reciprocal agreements to study abroad. The following groups continue to be exempt from submitting a PAL/TAL: primary and secondary (kindergarten to grade 12) students certain Government of Canada priority groups and vulnerable cohorts existing study permit holders applying for an extension at the same designated learning institution (DLI) and at the same level of study. The breakdown of study permits for 2025 by student cohort is as follows: 2025 national target Study permits issued to graduate degree students 73,282 Study permits issued to kindergarten to grade 12 applicants (PAL/TAL-exempt) 72,200 Study permits issued to all other PAL/TAL-exempt applicants 48,524 Study permits issued to remaining PAL/TAL-required cohorts 242,994 Total 437,000 Of the 437,000 study permits expected to be issued in 2025, 120,724 are expected to come from PAL/TAL-exempt students, while 316,267 are expected to come from PAL/TAL-required groups. A breakdown of the 2025 target for study permits issued to PAL/TAL-required cohorts by province or territory is as follows: Province or territory Expected study permits – Graduate degree students Expected study permits – Remaining PAL/TAL-required cohorts Expected number of study permits to be issued to all PAL/TAL-required cohorts Alberta 3,887 28,773 32,660 British Columbia 20,053 33,536 53,589 Manitoba 1,224 8,797 10,021 New Brunswick 1,400 5,030 6,430 Newfoundland and Labrador 1,456 3,208 4,664 Northwest Territories 0 220 220 Nova Scotia 1,954 6,343 8,297 Nunavut 0 220 220 Ontario 21,841 94,899 116,740 Prince Edward Island 205 1,045 1,250 Quebec 19,683 53,294 72,977 Saskatchewan 1,578 7,291 8,869 Yukon 1 338 339 Total 73,282 242,994 316,276 Allocations are the maximum number of study permit applications that will be processed from each jurisdiction for students that are required to submit a PAL/TAL with their study permit application. Based on the average approval rate for each province and territory from 2023 and 2024, these allocations should result in the targeted number of study permits issued for capped cohorts: Province or Territory Allocations for Graduate Students Allocations for All Other PAL/TAL-Required Students Total Allocations Alberta 5,256 42,082 47,338 British Columbia 28,333 47,754 76,087 Manitoba 1,980 16,611 18,591 New Brunswick 3,112 11,673 14,785 Newfoundland and Labrador 2,648 6,534 9,182 Northwest Territories 0 705 705 Nova Scotia 4,191 14,411 18,602 Nunavut 0 0 0 Ontario 32,579 149,011 181,590 Prince Edward Island 391 2,044 2,435 Quebec 38,786 123,956 162,742 Saskatchewan 2,791 14,850 17,641 Yukon 1 463 464 Total 120,068 430,094 550,162 Considering growth in the graduate international student sector has been sustainable, the decision to include this cohort under the cap was a preventative measure to ensure the number of graduate international students remains well managed. As such, provinces and territories are expected to issue the same number of study permits to graduate students in 2025 as they did in 2023. In other words, each province’s and each territory’s 2025 graduate student sub-allocation is based on the number of study permits that they respectively issued to graduate students in 2023. DLIs, provinces and territories cannot carry over unused allocation spaces or PAL/TALs from the previous cap year. With the coming-into-force of new regulations in November 2024, DLIs are now required to participate in student compliance reporting, as well as the letter of acceptance verification process. Failing to do so could result in a DLI being suspended for a period of up to one year, during which it won’t be able to receive new international students. We will continue to work collaboratively with provinces and territories to strengthen the International Student Program..
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Date: January 17, 2025
Notice – Proposed new rules to improve the regulation of immigration and citizenship consultants
Ottawa, January 17, 2025—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is introducing draft regulations to further define the structure and operations of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. These new regulations aim to improve the regulation of immigration and citizenship consultants. The draft regulations have been published in the Canada Gazette, and stakeholders can review and provide feedback before the new rules are implemented in 2025.
The regulations would elaborate on the college’s authorities under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act (College Act) in such areas as the public register of immigration consultants the complaints and discipline processes investigations conducted by the college establish a compensation fund for victims of unethical immigration consultants clarify the minister’s power to appoint someone to take over board duties if the board fails to meet its responsibilities under the College Act IRCC established the college in 2021 to regulate immigration and citizenship consultants and protect the public. The college is a key part of the government’s efforts to fight fraud in Canada’s immigration system. IRCC maintains strong oversight to ensure the college fulfills its mandate to protect the public and strengthen the integrity of the immigration consulting industry..
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Date: January 17, 2025
Notice – Proposed new penalties for paid immigration representatives who break the law
Ottawa, January 17, 2025—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is introducing new rules to penalize paid representatives (authorized and unauthorized) who break the law when representing applicants and advising them on immigration or citizenship applications. This includes fines of up to a maximum of $1.5 million for advising clients to misrepresent themselves. The regulations would also require that the minister publish information concerning persons found liable for a violation on the department’s website, including the nature of the violation, the amount of the administrative monetary penalty and an indication of whether the person has paid the penalty.
The goals are to encourage paid representatives to act honestly and only with appropriate authorization, and to combat fraud. This will strengthen the integrity of our immigration system and support our commitment to border security. The draft regulations have been published in the Canada Gazette. Stakeholders can review and provide feedback before the new rules are implemented in 2025. Many people rely on immigration and citizenship representatives for help with their applications. These rules would address issues like fraud and unauthorized practice, holding representatives accountable with clear consequences for violations. In preparation for these new regulations, we’ve launched an open, transparent and merit-based selection process to fill a reviewer position. The reviewer’s responsibilities will involve evaluating requests for review submitted by those who have been found in violation. This is a virtual, part-time position open to qualified candidates across Canada. For more information on the position and on how to apply, please see the notice of appointment opportunity..
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Date: January 14, 2025
Notice – Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents
Ottawa, January 14, 2025—The Government of Canada is continuing to strengthen the integrity and quality of our temporary resident programs while supporting the country’s economic goals and labour market needs. As part of the broader measures announced in September 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is changing open work permit (OWP) eligibility for family members of international students and foreign workers. Effective January 21, 2025, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be able to apply for a family OWP.
Family OWPs will be limited to spouses of international students who are enrolled in master’s programs that are 16 months or longer doctoral programs, or select professional and eligible programs Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities These include occupations in the natural and applied sciences, construction, health care, natural resources, education, sports and military sectors. The full list will be available on January 21, 2025. In addition, the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for the OWP. Dependent children of foreign workers will no longer be eligible. OWPs that were approved under the previous measures and have not expired will remain valid. In situations where students may need more time to complete their program or where family members received a shorter work permit than the principal applicant, in-Canada family members (including spouses and dependent children) can apply to renew their work permit as long as they are applying under the same criteria as the current work permit, and the requested duration of the renewal matches that of the existing study or work permit of the principal applicant Spouses of workers covered by free-trade agreements and those transitioning to permanent residence will not be impacted by these changes. Family members who will no longer qualify for a family OWP can apply for any type of work permit they are eligible for under Canada’s work permit programs..
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Date: January 3, 2025
Notice – 2025 Agri-Food Pilot application cap
Ottawa, January 3, 2025—Farmers and agri-food labourers work hard to produce food for communities in Canada and around the world. Since 2020, the Agri-Food Pilot has helped fill labour gaps in this essential sector by giving experienced agri-food workers the opportunity to become permanent residents. Since the launch of the pilot, Canada has welcomed over 4,500 agri-food workers and family members.
That includes close to 1,775 workers and family members last year alone, as of the end of November 2024. Due to high demand, interest in this pilot exceeds the spaces available under the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. That means that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is now capping the intake for permanent residence applications under this pilot at 1,010 spaces. Applications can be submitted until the pilot expires on May 14, 2025, or until 1,010 applications have been received—whichever comes first. The Agri-Food Pilot is an economic pilot established under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. According to the pilot regulations, it can only run for a maximum of 5 years, and this time period will be reached on May 14, 2025. The pilot cannot be extended beyond this date. Other programs available to agri-food workers include federal high-skilled programs managed by Express Entry and regional economic immigration programs, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the recently announced Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots. In the coming years, IRCC will continue processing applications received on or before the pilot’s end date and under the cap, in line with the targets established in the Immigration Levels Plan..
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