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Canada Immigration Briefing — December 22, 2025

  • Nina A
  • Dec 22, 2025
  • 2 min read
A worried woman in a cozy home office reviews immigration papers at a wooden desk, laptop open beside stacked documents and a calculator, warm daylight from a window lighting her focused expression.

Canada Immigration Briefing — December 22, 2025 Snapshots: Express Entry: big French-language round;2026 student numbers clarified; Quebec ends PEQ; Ontario suspends Express Entry Skilled Trades stream; Service modernization notes; Citizenship by descent.


  • Express Entry: big French-language round. IRCC held a French-language proficiency draw on Nov 28 issuing 6,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 408—one of the lower thresholds this fall. If you have strong French and a profile near 400, keep documents current. Canada+1

  • 2026 student numbers clarified. IRCC set a national target of up to 408,000 study permits for 2026 (about 155,000 new arrivals + 253,000 extensions) and released PAL/TAL allocation tables (e.g., Ontario 104,780 application spaces, Quebec 93,069). 309,670 is the cap on applications IRCC will accept from PAL/TAL‑required cohorts. Master’s/PhD students at public DLIs are PAL/TAL‑exempt from Jan 1, 2026. Plan earlier—spaces will be tight. Canada

  • Quebec ends PEQ. The Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) officially ended Nov 19. Skilled workers should use the PSTQ via Arrima. Quebec

  • Ontario suspends Express Entry Skilled Trades stream. The OINP halted the stream on Nov 14 and is returning all pending applications after an integrity review. CIC News+1

  • Service modernization notes. IRCC is testing digital visas (pilot with select Moroccan visitor visa approvals); CBSA launched consultations on international‑to‑international (ITI) airport transit rules (feedback to Dec 29). Canada+1

  • Citizenship by descent: IRCC announced a key milestone in updating rules for Canadians passing citizenship to children born/ adopted abroad (Nov 21). Canada



What it means

  • Express Entry: Category‑based French rounds remain large and relatively forgiving on CRS; keep TEF/TCF results valid and job records tidy. Canadim

  • Students (2026): Treat the allocation tables and PAL/TAL rules as capacity signals. Secure admissions + proof of funds early; master’s/PhD public‑DLI applicants benefit from the PAL/TAL exemption. Canada

  • Quebec: Shift PEQ plans to PSTQ/Arrima and monitor invitation criteria by sub‑stream. Quebec

  • Ontario (OINP): If you were in Skilled Trades EE, watch for refunds and pivot to other OINP streams or federal pathways. CIC News

Dates & numbers at a glance

  • Nov 28, 2025 — Express Entry: 6,000 ITAs, CRS 408 (French-language round). Canada+1

  • 2026 study permits: 408,000 total expected (incl. 155k new + 253k extensions) ; 309,670 PAL/TAL application spaces nationally; Ontario 104,780, Quebec 93,069 application spaces. Master’s/PhD at public DLIs PAL/TAL‑exempt from Jan 1, 2026. Canada

  • Nov 19, 2025 — Quebec: PEQ ended; use PSTQ/Arrima. Quebec

  • Nov 14, 2025 — Ontario: OINP suspended Express Entry Skilled Trades stream; applications returned. CIC News

  • Nov 27, 2025 — IRCC: Digital visa pilot announced. Canada

  • Dec 29, 2025 — CBSA: Deadline for ITI transit consultation feedback. Canada




Canada Immigration Briefing — December 22, 2025


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