Canada Permanent‑Residence Immigration News — February 13 2026

Nina A
43 minutes ago
2 min read

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Canada Permanent‑Residence Immigration News — February 13 2026 Snapshots: IRCC • Express Entry draws • PNP focus • citizenship law & provincial trends.

📈 Express Entry Begins 2026 With PNP‑Focused Draw

Canada’s immigration year started with Express Entry Draw #389 on January 5, 2026, where Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 574 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 711 — reflecting the 600‑point boost for nominees under the PNP stream.

📊 2026 Immigration Levels Plan Guides PR Targets

Under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028, the federal government aims to welcome ≈380,000 new permanent residents annually. Of those, a large share is expected to come through economic streams, including Express Entry and PNPs, while family, refugee, and other categories make up

the remainder.

📜 Citizenship by Descent Law Fully in Effect

Following an Ontario Superior Court decision ruling the first‑generation citizenship limit unconstitutional, the Citizenship Act was amended. It came into force in December 2025, extending citizenship by descent beyond the first generation to many previously excluded individuals.

📉 Quebec Family Reunification Waits Remain Long

Quebec’s decision to cap and halve its family reunification processing capacity has extended waiting times — averaging around 34 months for sponsor applications, compared with roughly 10 months elsewhere in Canada.

🧠 Targeted Policy Shifts Continue

As 2026 unfolds, Canada’s PR system is increasingly category‑based and skills‑driven, with analysts forecasting more draws targeting occupations such as healthcare (including doctors), French speakers, and skilled trades.

🧠 Plain‑Language Takeaways

2026 opens with a PNP‑exclusive Express Entry draw — strong advantage for provincial nominees.
Canada plans ~380,000 new permanent residents annually through 2028, with economic immigration prioritized.
Citizenship by descent rules have been modernized, easing access for families born abroad.
Quebec family reunification sponsors likely face long waits compared with other provinces.
Policy targeting specific occupations remains a trend in Express Entry planning.

📅 Key Dates & Numbers

Date / Eventis	Latest Update / Figure
Jan 5, 2026	Express Entry Draw #389 — 574 ITAs, CRS 711 (PNP).
Dec 15, 2025	Citizenship by descent extended (Citizenship Act amendments active).
2026–28 Plan	≈380,000 new permanent residents targeted yearly.
Ongoing	Quebec family reunification wait ~34 months.
2026 Forecasts	Category‑based Express Entry emphasis (healthcare, French speakers).

Canada Permanent‑Residence Immigration News — February 13 2026

Canada Permanent‑Residence Immigration News — February 13 2026