Canada Immigration News — February 9 2026

Nina A
6 days ago
2 min read

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Canada Immigration News — February 9 2026 Snapshots: IRCC policy, Express Entry & PNP updates, family sponsorship delays, and backlog trends

📅 Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan Takes Shape

Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan outlines a continuation of strong permanent‑resident targets, aiming to welcome about 380,000 new PRs per year across economic, family, refugee, and humanitarian categories, while also formalizing temporary‑resident targets for students and workers. These targets reflect Ottawa’s effort to balance labour‑market demand with sustainable growth.

📈 Express Entry Evolves With Targeted Selection

Express Entry — Canada’s primary economic PR system — will operate through smaller, more frequent draws focused on specific occupations and categories, rather than large general rounds. IRCC is placing greater emphasis on category‑based selection, including targeted streams for healthcare, trades, STEM, and a new pathway for physicians with Canadian experience.

📍 BC PNP Allocation Announced for 2026

British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has received an allocation of 5,254 nomination spots for 2026 from IRCC, down from its larger request, with priorities likely to remain healthcare professionals and high‑impact economic candidates.

🧍 IRCC Backlog Still Significant

The latest inventory update shows IRCC continues to process a large volume of applications — over 2.1 million files — as backlog pressures persist, leading to multi‑category delays. Trends indicate incremental improvement but continued strain on immigration processing capacity.

⚖️ Citizenship & Court‑Related Changes

Amendments to the Citizenship Act took effect in late 2025, extending citizenship‑by‑descent protections beyond the first generation for people born before December 15, 2025 — a response to constitutional challenges.

💔 Quebec Family Reunification Delays Continue

Quebec’s unique immigration system still produces lengthy waits (often 34+ months) for family sponsorships, significantly longer than most of Canada, due to provincial quotas and administrative constraints.

🧠 Key Takeaways (Plain‑Language)

Big PR targets continue through 2028, with predictable admissions across major immigration classes.
Express Entry is more precise, focusing on smaller, targeted draws aligned with labour shortages rather than on general, large draws.
Provincial programs matter more, with BC’s 2026 PNP allocation set and other provinces planning their own draws.
IRCC backlog remains a reality, affecting timelines for many applicants.
Citizenship law updates are now in place following court rulings.
Quebec family sponsorship wait times are long, reflecting provincial policy choices.

📅 Key Dates & Numbers

Date / Eventthe Event	Latest Update
2026–2028	~380,000 PRs per year in Levels Plan.
2026 PNP (BC)	5,254 allocation from IRCC.
Late 2025	2.1M+ IRCC applications in inventory.
Dec 15, 2025	Citizenship Act amendments in force.
Ongoing	Family sponsorship waits in Quebec average 34+ months.

Canada Immigration News — February 9 2026

Canada Immigration News — February 9 2026