Canada Immigration News — Permanent Residency & Policy Briefing (Jan 26 2026)

Nina A
Jan 26
2 min read

A calm, photorealistic scene in a modern Canadian office: an immigration consultant reviews permanent-residency documents with a couple in their 30s seated across a clean desk. One person holds a Canadian passport while the other listens attentively; soft studio lighting, natural daylight from a window, neutral décor, and subtle Canadian elements in the background create a professional and reassuring atmosphere. No text, no logos, no signage.

Canada Immigration News Snapshots: Express Entry; IRCC Backlog; 2025 PNP Allocations; New Citizenship Rules.

TORONTO — January 26, 2026 — Canada’s immigration system remains active with heavy Express Entry invitation activity, renewed backlog pressure at IRCC, provinces reaching nominee quotas for 2025, and significant citizenship law changes now in effect.

Express Entry: High Invitation Totals in December

Canada has issued 19,552 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through six Express Entry draws in December 2025. These spanned several streams:

6,000 ITAs on Dec 17 (e.g., French language proficiency draw)
5,000 ITAs on Dec 16 (Canadian Experience Class)
Additional invitations in the PNP and healthcare categories draw with CRS cut‑offs ranging from the 399–731 band. VisaHQ+1

Takeaway: December’s invitation totals show sustained federal selection momentum across economic immigration streams as Canada heads toward 2026.

IRCC Backlog Tops One Million

New IRCC inventory data (published mid‑December) reveals:

2.18 million total applications in the system as of October 31, 2025.
About 1.01 million backlogged cases — exceeding the one‑million threshold. VisaHQ

Permanent‑residence and other application delays persist despite strong Express Entry draws.

2025 PNP Allocations Wrapped Up

Central provinces report they have used or reached their full 2025 federal PNP nomination allocations:

Ontario: ~10,750 nominations issued.
British Columbia: Full 2025 allocation of 6,214 used, but 2026 allocation expected to drop to 5,254.
Alberta also reports strong utilization of its slots for 2025. Canada Immigration Services

Takeaway: Provincial Nominee Programs are central to Canada’s economic immigration strategy, even as federal and provincial targets shift with the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan for 2026–2028.

New Citizenship Rules Now in Effect

Bill C‑3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (2025), came into force on Dec 15, 2025. The updated rules:

Extend citizenship eligibility to many previously excluded “Lost Canadians,” their descendants, and those born or adopted abroad before the law’s enactment.
Require a substantial connection (1,095 days of physical presence for some instances) for future citizenship claims. Canada

Takeaway: This major reform removes outdated barriers and expands citizenship access for many families with Canadian ties overseas.

Plain‑Language Takeaways for Applicants

Strong Express Entry activity: High invitation numbers in December indicate continuing federal focus on economic immigration.
Backlogs remain a challenge: More than 1 million cases are beyond service standards — particularly in non‑Express Entry streams.
PNP importance grows: Provinces like Ontario and B.C. have exhausted 2025 nominations, signalling strong regional demand and shifting priorities in 2026.
Citizenship eligibility broadened: The new Bill C‑3 citizenship rules now provide expanded access for many born abroad.

Canada Immigration News