Immigration News Review October 1 – 15
VisaVerse presents an immigration news review on updates in Canadian immigration during the first two weeks of October. Follow us on social media to receive the latest information and professional insights..
IRCC issued 5,500 Express Entry invitations across the CEC and Francophone categories
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted two Express Entry draws in early October 2025, distributing a total of 5,500 Invitations to Apply. On October 1, IRCC invited 1,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates with a minimum score of 534 points. Five days later, on October 6, IRCC issued 4,500 invitations to French-proficient candidates at a reduced threshold of 432 points. These draws contribute to Canada's 2025 total of 71,338 invitations across 41 selection rounds, with Francophone candidates receiving 30,000 of these opportunities as part of ongoing immigration priorities.
Express Entry is Canada's main immigration system for skilled workers seeking permanent residence. Candidates create profiles and enter a pool where top-ranked individuals receive invitations to apply through regular draws by IRCC. The system prioritizes strong human capital and Canadian connections, with processing typically under six months, making it one of the fastest pathways to Canadian permanent residence. VisaVerse provides expert guidance and personalized support to help you achieve your Express Entry goals. Contact us today to maximize your CRS score, understand your eligibility, and turn your Canadian dreams into reality.
Ottawa extended the open work permit policy for TR2PR pathway applicants until December 2026
IRCC has extended its temporary public policy for open work permits under the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR2PR) pathway. The policy, first introduced in July 2021 and updated in April 2022, now allows eligible applicants to obtain open work permits valid until December 31, 2026, removing the need for frequent renewals. This applies to foreign nationals who have applied for permanent residence under various streams, including essential workers in healthcare and non-healthcare sectors, and international graduates from Canadian institutions. The policy provides greater stability for temporary residents transitioning to permanent residency in Canada.
The updated policy expands eligibility to family members abroad, enabling faster reunification. Spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children 18+ can apply for open work permits from any location if included in the principal applicant's permanent residence application. Applicants must hold valid temporary resident status, demonstrate authorized work history, and provide language proficiency proof through IELTS, CELPIP, PTE, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada. The policy applies retroactively and waives the $100 open work permit fee for qualifying applicants, though standard processing fees apply.
Canada reduced the Temporary Foreign Worker Program usage by 50% while doubling compliance penalties
The Canadian Government has announced a significant decline in applications to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), with overall submissions dropping by 50% and low-wage stream applications decreasing by 70% following policy reforms introduced in September 2024. Employment and Social Development Canada emphasized that the TFWP remains a last-resort measure for employers who cannot recruit qualified Canadian workers or permanent residents. During fiscal year 2024-2025, the department conducted 1,435 employer compliance inspections, identifying non-compliance in 10% of cases.
Administrative monetary penalties more than doubled from $2.07 million to $4.88 million, reflecting the government's strengthened enforcement approach to protect worker rights and program integrity. The most substantial penalty to date was issued in September 2025, when a fish and seafood sector employer received a $1 million fine and a 10-year ban for multiple violations, including inadequate wages, unsafe working conditions, and workplace abuse. Other notable enforcement actions included penalties against employers in agriculture ($212,000 fine, 2-year ban), residential construction ($161,000 fine, 5-year ban), and long-haul trucking ($150,000 fine).
IRCC updated the Intra-Company Transferee guidelines under the International Mobility Program
IRCC has announced significant revisions to its International Mobility Program (IMP), specifically affecting intra-company transferees under paragraph R205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. The updated framework introduces three administrative codes — C61, C62, and C63 — designed to facilitate temporary business needs while maintaining program integrity through enhanced documentation requirements in the Global Case Management System. The revised guidelines emphasize that the IMP categories are not intended for general workforce transfers but specifically support the establishment of qualifying enterprises and the movement of key personnel with advanced expertise.
nder the new structure, executives and managers may remain in Canada for up to seven years, while specialized knowledge workers are permitted a maximum five-year stay. All applicants must demonstrate continuous full-time employment with a multinational corporation for at least one year within the preceding three years and provide evidence that their work will generate significant economic, social, or cultural benefits for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The updated instructions clarify requirements for establishing new enterprises in Canada, mandate prevailing wage standards to prevent wage suppression, and strengthen protocols for verifying employer-employee relationships.
Canada extended the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot program with a new application cap for refugee labour migration
IRCC has extended the Federal Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), pushing its expiry date from June 12, 2025, to December 31, 2025. The program, designed to facilitate labour mobility for refugees and displaced persons while addressing Canada's workforce shortages, will now implement an intake cap of 950 complete applications for the Job Offer Stream. This update reflects the government's continued commitment to providing durable immigration solutions for skilled individuals who can meet Canadian employers' needs while maintaining controlled program capacity.
Under the EMPP framework, successful applicants gain permanent residence status as economic immigrants and receive comprehensive settlement support, including pre-arrival orientation, integration services, covered medical examination costs through the Interim Federal Health Program, and access to the Immigration Loans Program for travel expenses. However, participants must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency to support themselves and their dependents during their first year in Canada, as they do not qualify for traditional refugee resettlement assistance. This distinction positions EMPP as a unique pathway that combines humanitarian objectives with economic immigration principles.
British Columbia issued 474 invitations through BCPNP and received additional federal nominations for 2025
On October 2, 2025, British Columbia conducted the second Skills Immigration draw under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), extending invitations to 474 skilled workers. The draw targeted high-impact candidates through two streams: 114 individuals in NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 with minimum earnings of $90 per hour or $175,000 annually, and 360 candidates scoring at least 140 points. The province also invited 11 entrepreneurs through the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream, aimed at experienced business professionals seeking to establish or purchase businesses in British Columbia. So far, BC has issued 654 invitations, including 86 to prospective entrepreneurs.
Moreover, the BCPNP obtained 1,254 additional nomination allocations from federal authorities for 2025. This increase will prioritize the sectors identified in April's announcement, with emphasis on healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and high-impact candidates. Significantly, the allocation enables the processing of approximately 2,240 International Post-Graduate applications that remained waitlisted from 2024. Despite this enhancement, provincial administrators indicate the allocation remains inadequate to address all priority immigration initiatives planned for the year fully, and they continue pursuing further federal increases to meet program demands.
Canadian universities face financial pressures as international student policies shift
A new Statistics Canada study reveals how Canadian universities' financial health has evolved, with growing dependency on international student tuition fees emerging as a critical factor. The analysis of financial ratios shows that larger institutions, U15 members, and graduate-focused universities demonstrated higher research revenues and tuition discount rates while maintaining lower reliance on ancillary income. The COVID-19 pandemic period brought significant changes, including increased federal research funding, campus closures, fluctuating international enrollment, and notable interest income gains.
The study's implications are particularly significant given recent policy changes that have restricted international student admissions. Universities in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario appear most vulnerable to these restrictions, as the tuition dependency ratio indicates their revenues could be substantially affected starting in the 2024/2025 fiscal year. The analysis highlights how international students have become increasingly important revenue sources for Canadian universities over the past several years, making policy shifts in this area critical to institutional financial sustainability and planning going forward.