Canada Immigration Briefing — December 24, 2025

Canada Immigration Briefing — December 24, 2025 Snapshots: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) fees; Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) plan; Details of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan; Pathways to permanent residence in 2026.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) raises several immigration‑related fees as of December 1, 2025 — covering inadmissibility applications, restoration of status, and the International Experience Canada (IEC) work‑permit fee. CIC News+2IRCC+2
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) plans a major overhaul of its provincial‑nominee streams — consolidating multiple “Employer: Job Offer” tracks into a single streamlined stream starting in 2026. CIC News
The new 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan confirms that Canada will keep welcoming about 380,000 permanent residents per year beginning in 2026, while placing renewed emphasis on converting temporary workers already in Canada to permanent residence. Tafapolsky & Smith LLP+2CIC News+2
IRCC signals expanded pathways to permanent residence in 2026, targeting up to 33,000 temporary work‑permit holders for a transition to PR — a push to retain labour-force contributors already in Canada. CIC News

Fee increases starting Dec 1, 2025 — If you’re applying for IEC work permits, status restoration, or inadmissibility waivers: expect higher fees. Applications submitted and paid before December 1 online are exempt. CIC News+1
OINP’s 2026 revamp — Ontario is consolidating its employer‑based streams into a single, simpler “Job Offer” track. For potential applicants: prepare for new eligibility rules and a possibly more competitive selection process. CIC News
Focus on “in‑Canada” talent — The 2026–2028 plan suggests the government is prioritizing workers already in Canada rather than only new arrivals. That means opportunities may be better for: temporary foreign workers, visa‑holders, and others already contributing to the labour market. Tafapolsky & Smith LLP+2CIC News+2
New PR pathways for temporary workers — Up to 33,000 temp‑permit holders could be eligible for PR in the next two years. This is likely aimed at sectors with labour shortages and workers with an established presence in Canada. CIC News

Dec 1, 2025 — Immigration fee increases take effect for IEC, inadmissibility, and
status‑restoration applications. CIC News+2IRCC+2
2026–2028 plan — ~380,000 permanent residents per year targeted. Tafapolsky & Smith LLP+2Canada.ca+2
Up to 33,000 temp‑permit holders — Targeted for conversion to permanent residence in 2026–2027. CIC News
2026 — Overhaul of OINP provincial streams begins. CIC News