Canada Immigration News — Permanent Residency & Policy Briefing (Jan 30 2026)

Nina A
Jan 30
2 min read

A family of three sits at a desk in a modern Canadian government office, attentively consulting with an immigration officer. The parents and their young child listen with calm, hopeful expressions while reviewing official documents, with a small Canadian flag visible in the background, symbolizing a family permanent residence immigration process in Canada.

Canada Immigration News Snapshots: IRCC Backlog & Processing Times Update; Express Entry Invitation Activity; 2025 Provincial Nominee Allocations Reached; Provincial Immigration Program Changes.

TORONTO — January 30, 2026 — Today’s Canada immigration update highlights continued IRCC processing pressures, federal Express Entry draw activity, provincial nominee allocations reached for 2025, and policy proposals that may reshape Ontario’s nominee streams heading into 2026.

IRCC Backlog & Processing Times Update

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to manage a very high application workload:

As of October 31, 2025, IRCC’s inventory showed that a large portion of permanent‑residence and related applications remained beyond standard service timelines. Roughly 46 % of applications were considered backlogged past service standards. Immigration News Canada
The department estimates that 6‑month processing times apply to many Express Entry streams, while 12 months or more may be typical for family and some citizenship applications. Immigration News Canada
Actual processing time tools indicate that permanent residence categories are updated monthly, with more accurate wait estimates that reflect real wait times. Immigration News Canada

Takeaway: Applicants should prepare for potentially longer wait times than official targets, though some PR streams, like Express Entry, may still move relatively quickly.

Express Entry Invitation Activity

Recent federal draws continue to yield invitations for skilled workers:

During December 2025, Express Entry issued thousands of ITAs, including multiple category‑specific and PNP‑linked rounds, reflecting ongoing selection activity across Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, French language, and PNP‑aligned candidates. Canada Immigration Services

Takeaway: Continued draw activity in late 2025 shows the federal system remains active in selecting skilled candidates for permanent residence.

2025 Provincial Nominee Allocations Reached

A significant milestone has been reported for provincial immigration streams:

Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta have reached their full 2025 federal PNP allocations, underscoring strong demand for provincial nominee pathways this year. Canada Immigration Services
Ontario’s total included 10,750 nominations issued across streams, with provinces now preparing for 2026 allocations under the forthcoming multi‑year immigration levels plan. Canada Immigration Services

Takeaway: With 2025 provincial nomination quotas exhausted, applicants should monitor 2026 nomination priorities and timing for new opportunities.

Provincial Immigration Program Changes

Ontario is moving toward changes that could reshape its nominee program:

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is proposing new streams and structural changes for 2026, aiming for a simplified system tied more closely to labour market needs. These changes are currently under public consultation until January 1, 2026. Immigration News Canada

Takeaway: Proposed Ontario nominee reforms could alter selection criteria and priorities; applicants should review consultation outcomes early in 2026.