Canada Immigration Summary

In Canada, policies have changed rapidly and surprisingly, with impacts on Express Entry requirements, closure of provincial programs, new fields of study for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and many more.

So, in this first half of 2025, it's important to pick up the thread of the highlights in Canada since 2024. Read this topic carefully and take note of the changes that have occurred in Canadian immigration and how they could affect your paperwork. Let's get started!

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Background of 2024

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The year 2024 set the stage for the next moves in Canadian immigration. Language requirements for international students were adjusted (CLB 7 university, CLB 5 college) and eligible PGWP programs were limited. However, the field of study restriction for PGWP for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees was removed.

The Immigration Plan 2025-2027 already announces a reduction of temporary visas and a prioritization of permanent residency for skilled workers. In addition, Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) protections were strengthened and the LMIA wage threshold was raised by 20% to ensure fairer working conditions.

These changes are a clear signal of Canada's future immigration policy.

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Last year, the Canadian government made one of the most relevant changes for international students with modifications to the PGWP requirements. 

• Since November, international students must meet new language standards (CLB 7 for university and CLB 5 for college) and only certain programs at public institutions qualify for this permit. In addition, the government eliminated the field of study restriction for bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates, facilitating their access to the PGWP. 
• The Immigration Plan 2025-2027 announced a reduction in the number of temporary visas and a prioritization of permanent residency for skilled workers. 
• In August, the Canadian government strengthened protection for Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs), with measures to curb fraud and penalize non-compliant foreign workers. 
• In October, the LMIA salary threshold was also raised by 20% to ensure fairer working conditions. 
• In November, Ontario closed its Ontario Entrepreneurship Program (OINP), leaving foreign investors without this option. New Brunswick suspended three high-demand immigration programs, including the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), the Private School Graduate Pilot Program and the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative. 
• In December, Canada increased application fees for visas and permits, and finally, additional points were eliminated in Express Entry, no longer awarding 50 to 200 points for LMIA-supported job offers, which increased competition among applicants.

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These changes have denoted a sense of urgency on the part of the government to establish order and balance in the population and are the base adjustments of what we are seeing this year 2025, and which we will increasingly see consolidated.

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Highlighted changes - First half 2025

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Mark Carney's new government and its immigration agenda

In March 2025, Canada embarked on a new political course with Mark Carney as the current Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, replacing Justin Trudeau. 

• Carney has focused on stabilizing permanent immigration, limiting the number of temporary residents and ensuring that Canada's infrastructure can support population growth.  
• His government has implemented more structural measures, such as the Strong Borders Act and the review of temporary resident targets, suggesting a long-term strategic reorientation of immigration policy. 
• The Strong Borders Act, announced on June 17, 2025, will allow the Government of Canada to cancel, suspend or modify immigration documents, and to suspend, cancel or cease accepting new applications when it is determined to be in the public interest. 
• The Canadian government's strategy for 2025 is clear: adjust migration flows to ensure that growth is manageable and sustainable, while investing in infrastructure to absorb existing and future populations more efficiently.

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Express Entry

• As of March 25, 2025, Express Entry candidates stopped receiving points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for having a valid job offer supported by an LMIA. 
• New selection categories based on occupations were introduced. These include: French language proficiency, health and social services occupations, trades and education, the latter was added this year and the Transportation category was removed from the category-based draws. 

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Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

• NPPs remain an important avenue for immigration, but provinces are having more limited leeway and their programs are expected to align more closely with federal priorities of volume reduction and focus on specific skills. 

• The Ontario government unveiled major changes to the Provincial Nominee Program (OINP), with a new online portal for foreign workers, the continuation of targeted draws and a labor focus on rural communities.
• On February 13, 2025, Canada's Agri-Food Pilot Program, which allowed workers in specific occupations in the agriculture sector to obtain permanent residency, was closed because it reached its allocation limit.

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Work permits

• As of May 27, 2025, a new temporary public policy allows foreign nationals already in Canada on a closed (employer-specific) work permit to begin working for a new employer immediately upon filing a new work permit application, without waiting for final approval. 
• LMIA regulations are now stricter, with more careful scrutiny of applications and possible complete rejections in areas of high unemployment to ensure that Canadian workers are not overlooked. Despite these restrictions, the Global Talent Stream continues to streamline processing for high-wage sectors such as IT, healthcare and engineering, where benefits must pay higher wages to meet the new requirements. 
• The duration of the PGWP has also been adjusted for education level. 
• Limits have been introduced to Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP), and they will only be issued to spouses of master's degree students whose programs have a minimum duration of 16 months, or of foreign workers employed in managerial or professional occupations, or in sectors facing labor shortages.

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Studies

• On June 25, 2025, the Canadian government updated the list of eligible fields of study, with the addition of 119 new fields in Canada's labor shortage sectors, such as health care and social services, education and trade, and eliminated 178 fields of study that were no longer linked to long-term labor shortage occupations. And a few days later, on July 4, it retracted, and returned the list of Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)-eligible CIP codes that it had eliminated.
• The Quebec government announced that the Quebec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ) for new study permit applications will no longer be granted to students enrolled in private language schools, directly affecting those who have received letters of admission (LOA) for language programs, as these LOAs are now only valid for applying for visitor (tourist) visas, but not study permits.
• As of March 2025, international students completing a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree program at either Canadian colleges or universities are not subject to field of study limitations for the PGWP, but must meet the relevant language criteria. 
• Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, all international students applying for a study permit for master's or doctoral programs will be required to submit a Provincial Letter of Attestation (PAL) with their application. 

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Sponsorship 

• Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship in Canada reopened on July 28 for those who submitted a completed form of interest in sponsoring in 2020. The Super Visa is positioned as an alternative for those who cannot apply to the Parent and Grandparent Program.

• The Canadian government introduced a major update to the health insurance requirements for the Super Visa and it is now more accessible to applicants.

Changes from the second half of 2025 will be addressed in an upcoming blog, when government updates are finalized in a timely manner.

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Recommendations for immigrating to Canada in 2025

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Foreign nationals wishing to travel to Canada this year or obtain permanent residency should keep themselves well informed about the government's constant updates and follow the following strategic steps:

• Continuously improve their migration profile with a focus on maximizing their higher education evaluations, qualified work experience and, especially, language proficiency (English and French).  
• Review the needs of the Canadian labor market and align its objectives with in-demand occupational categories, particularly in health, education, trades and STEM. 
• If you are an international student, carefully research study programs to ensure your eligibility for the PGWP, and seek professional advice to understand the process.  
• Start your application process well in advance and work hand in hand with regulated immigration consultants and/or attorneys. 

The key to successfully immigrate to Canada lies in optimizing your profile. If you need guidance to understand these changes or want to know which route best suits your profile, contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions. 

You can also schedule an immigration consultation with a CICC-regulated consultant from Immiland Canada.

I hope you found this topic useful, thank you very much for reading our blog, see you soon!

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With love, 

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Immiland Canada