Canada Immigration News - October 24, 2025

Canada Immigration News - October 24, 2025 Snapshots: Ottawa ran back‑to‑back Express Entry rounds—one targeting education occupations, another for the skilled trades—while Ontario and Alberta issued large batches of provincial invitations. Meanwhile, student policy continues to reshape campuses, and IRCC has clarified which college programs still lead to a Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Express Entry: Education and Trades in the Spotlight

IRCC held its first education‑category draw in more than four months on September 17, issuing 2,500 invitations with a CRS cut‑off of 462, the lowest for this category in 2025. The round more than doubled the size of the spring education draw and further confirms the minister’s category‑based selection focus on teachers and early‑childhood educators. CIC News

A day later, Ottawa invited 1,250 candidates in trade occupations with a minimum CRS of 505, the year’s first trades‑focused Express Entry round. Together, these two developments signal a continued focus on addressing critical shortages in classrooms and on job sites. CIC News

Earlier in the month, IRCC also ran a PNP‑only draw on September 15, inviting 228 nominees with a CRS of 746, reflecting the 600‑point boost provincial nominees carry in the federal pool. CIC News

Provinces: Ontario and Alberta turn up the dial.

Ontario issued 1,893 invitations on September 3 across Employer Job Offer streams, covering 77 occupations—one of the program’s largest multi‑stream rounds this year. Candidates invited through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) can add those crucial 600 points to their Express Entry score once nominated. Ontario

Alberta followed with a busy September of its own, conducting seven AAIP draws in the first half of the month and inviting over 1,300 candidates across priority sectors, including healthcare, construction, aviation and tech. The province also announced additional nomination allocations this month, underscoring Alberta’s demand for workers. CIC News+1

British Columbia continues weekly Skills Immigration rounds and has flagged two operational notes: a return to a three‑month service standard for new files and a tighter focus on Early Childhood Educator roles in future targeted invitations. Applicants outside those sub-occupations should plan accordingly when scheduling their registrations. WelcomeBC

International Students: 2025 cap confirmed, PGWP fields clarified

On the study side, IRCC confirmed that provinces and territories have now received their allocations under the 2025 national cap of 437,000 study permits—a 10% reduction from 2024, which keeps the pressure on schools and applicants to plan early. Provincial Attestation Letters remain central to the application strategy. Government of Canada

IRCC also updated the list of eligible fields of study for PGWPs this summer. Following feedback, Ottawa reinstated programs that were temporarily removed on June 25; these programs will remain eligible until the following review in early 2026. The department added 119 fields tied to long-term labour shortages and removed 178 that no longer align with those needs, leaving 920 eligible fields in total. Students who applied for a study permit before June 25 keep their PGWP eligibility under the list in effect at the time. Government of Canada

Family Sponsorship: PGP invitations rolled out in July

For family reunification, IRCC began sending invitations on July 28 to potential sponsors from the long‑standing 2020 pool for the Parents and Grandparents Program, with up to 10,000 complete applications to be accepted this year. Those who were not invited can consider the super visa—now allowing stays of up to five years at a time—as an interim option. Government of Canada

What this means for applicants now

• Educators & tradespeople: The latest category draws suggest continued momentum for teachers, ECEs and Red Seal trades. Ensure your NOC and proof of experience align tightly with the category criteria before entering the pool. CIC News+1

• Express Entry candidates with provincial options, such as those in Ontario and Alberta, are moving briskly. A provincial nomination remains the fastest way to lift a mid‑range CRS into invitation territory. Track OINP and AAIP streams that fit your profile. Ontario+1

• Prospective students: With the 2025 cap in place and PALs required, apply early and verify your program’s CIP code is on IRCC’s PGWP‑eligible list—especially for non‑degree programs. Government of Canada+1

• Sponsors: If you expressed interest in the PGP in 2020, keep checking your email on file (including spam). Others can explore the super visa route while waiting for a future intake. Government of Canada

Canada Immigration News - October 24, 2025