Canada Immigration News — Permanent Residency Highlights (Jan 19 2026)

Canada Immigration News Snapshots: Canadian Experience Class Draws Drive Year‑End Momentum; Express Entry PNP Invitations Continue; IRCC Backlog Update: Inventory & Backlogs; New Measures Support Doctors & Healthcare Workers; Healthcare & Social Services Draw Highlights Occupational Priorities;

TORONTO — January 19, 2026 — Canada’s permanent‑residency system saw notable activity in mid‑December, with major Express Entry draws, continued provincial nominee invitations, updated backlog figures from IRCC, and new federal measures aimed at healthcare professionals.

Canadian Experience Class Draws Drive Year‑End Momentum

On December 16, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry draw, with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff of 515 — the lowest CEC cutoff of 2025 so far. RED Immigration Consulting

Takeaway: This large draw and falling CRS threshold show IRCC’s push to clear Express Entry inventories before year‑end.

Express Entry PNP Invitations Continue

Alongside CEC activity, IRCC has recently issued 399 PR invitations in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Express Entry round, maintaining momentum for province‑backed candidates. ImmigCanada

Takeaway: Provincial nominations remain a reliable pathway for permanent residency in late 2025.

IRCC Backlog Update: Inventory & Backlogs

According to IRCC’s December 16, 2025, backlog report, the total application inventory stood at about 2.18 million as of October 31, 2025, slightly down from prior months. However, the backlog portion (cases awaiting decisions) edged up to roughly 1,006,800 applications — about 46 % of inventory. Immigration News Canada

Takeaway: While IRCC is making progress on processing, sizeable waitlists remain across application types.

New Measures Support Doctors & Healthcare Workers

On December 8, 2025, the federal government announced three new Express Entry measures to help international doctors seek permanent residency in Canada, part of broader efforts to address workforce gaps. CIC News

Takeaway: Skilled healthcare professionals, especially physicians, will have enhanced pathways connecting temporary work and PR applications.

Healthcare & Social Services Draw Highlights Occupational Priorities

Earlier this month, IRCC conducted a category‑focused draw for healthcare and social services professionals, issuing 1,000 ITAs with a CRS cutoff near 476, showing targeted selection for priority occupations. The Economic Times

Takeaway: Occupation‑based draws signal Canada’s focus on labour market needs in high‑demand sectors.

What This Means for Applicants

• Express Entry hopefuls: Watch for more CEC and PNP draws through the end of December, as IRCC accelerates processing toward annual targets.

• Healthcare workers and doctors: New federal measures could create faster bridges from temporary work into PR status.

• Applicants tracking backlogs: Be mindful that processing inventories remain large, especially for some non‑Express Entry pathways.

End of Canada permanent‑residency immigration news briefing for Dec 17 2025.

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