Canada Immigration Updates: Major Policy Shifts and New Priorities for 2025

Significant Canada immigration updates are reshaping the landscape for prospective newcomers in 2025.

The federal government has released its new Immigration Levels Plan, targeting 395,000 new permanent residents for the year.

This marks a strategic pivot towards managed migration levels, including new targets for temporary residents for the first time.

A major focus for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is prioritizing applicants already living and working in the country.

The goal is for over 40% of new permanent residents to be selected from the existing pool of temporary workers and international students.

Changes are also evident in the popular Express Entry system.

Recent draws have been highly targeted, focusing on category-based selections for critical sectors like healthcare and social services.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) have also been impacted, with some provinces adjusting their streams after federal allocation cuts.

These developments signal a more focused approach, aligning immigration with specific labour market needs across Canada.

Aspiring Canadians must now navigate these evolving policies and category-specific draws to secure their path to permanent residency.