Immigrtation News update October 18, 2026
Express Entry (IRCC)
October 16 — French Language: 5,000 ITAs, CRS 435
October 15 — Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 2,500 ITAs, CRS 519
October 13 — Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 752 ITAs, CRS 772
October 01 — Trade Occupations: 3,500 ITAs, CRS 476
September 29 — Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 2,000 ITAs, CRS 518
September 28 — Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 733 ITAs, CRS 725
Ontario Immigration Naminee Program (OINP)
No draws
YTD: 13,663 invited out of 14,119
October 7, Ontario added 10 points to Workforce Priority scoring for candidates with earnings of $80,000 or more in a single year within the past five years
Other Provinces and Territores
Alberta PNP (AAIP)
October 7 — Express Entry, Priority Sectors (Aviation): 22 invitations, minimum score 56
October 2 — Alberta Opportunity Stream: 123 invitations, minimum score 54
September 29 — Express Entry, Priority Sectors (General): 200 invitations, minimum score 64
September 24 — Rural Renewal Stream: 131 invitations, minimum score 51
YTD: 5,541 invited out of 6,603 nominations
BC PNP
October 15 – Rural Health: 16 invited, minimum 54
October 08 – Skills Immigration – Build: 115 invited, 94 min. score. Care: 86 invited, 99 min. score. Health: 82 invited, 76 min. score. Veterinary: 5 invited, 86 min. score.
September 24: Innovation, high Economic impact, 426 invited, min. wage $52/hr.
YTD: 6,427 invited out of 6,403
Manitoba PNP (MPNP)
October 8 – 474 LAAs in several streams. (#281)
September 27 – 340 LAAs in several streams (#280)
YTD: 6,409 invited out of 6,239 – 18 rounds
Saskatchewan PNP (SINP)
No update since June 30; the next planned intake on November 2 is cancelled.
YTD: 2,628 of 4,761
Nova Scotia (NSNP)
Doesn’t publish public draw details.
Priority sectors — Healthcare, skilled trades/construction (Critical Construction Worker Pilot), STEM, manufacturing, natural resources
YTD: 3,242 invited out of 5,300
New Brunswick PNP (NBPNP)
September 25: AIP 63 invited.
September 18: Skilled workers: 197 invited
September 17:Express Entry: 102 invited
YTD: 2,738 invited out of 3,603
Prince Edward Island (PEI PNP)
October 7 – 90 invitations
All under the Labour Impact and Express Entry category
YTD 1,319 invited out of 1,704
Newfoundland & Labrador (NLPNP)
October 9 – 131 invitations
YTD: 1,845 invited out of 2,537
Yukon territory
No update
YTD 282 invited
Northwest Territories (NTNP)
September 25: 105 invited
YTD 353 invited
The bigger Picture - Temporary / Permanent Resident
Temporary Resident
Reported in Canada as of July 31, 2026: 590,205 study permit holders | 1,560,565 work permit holders.
New student arrivals from January to July 2026: 28,000, 80% fewer than the same period in 2024.
New worker arrivals from January to July 2026: 113,360, 59% fewer than the same period in 2024.
Permanent Resident
IRCC’s data as of July 31, show Canada admitted 188,800 new permanent residents, 50% of the 380,000 target
Economic class is at 109,600 of 239,800 (about 46%), family class at 52,900 of 84,000 (about 63%), and refugees and protected persons at 21,800 of 49,300 (about 44%)
The In-Canada Workers Initiative (the TR-to-PR pathway) has admitted 13,000 of its 20,000 target for 2026 — 65%
Regulatory & Policy Notes
IRCC is looking harder at job offers (September 17). IRCC substantially rewrote its officer instructions for deciding whether a job offer is genuine on work permit applications. Officers now have a clear process for contacting the employer directly when they have doubts. If you are an employer, make sure the person named on your job offer can answer a call or email quickly, and that the details match what you submitted in the Employer Portal.
Study without a permit (September). Eligible work permit holders may study part-time for up to six months — or until their work permit expires, whichever comes first — without a separate study permit. The policy runs until December 31, 2027. Full-time study still requires a study permit, and this is not a new pathway to permanent residence.
Ebola border measures extended to November 27. IRCC extended its temporary measures for 60 days. Immigration documents are suspended for people whose last country of residence at the time of application was the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, and travel is barred even with an approved visa, permit or eTA.
Declare your representative. A recent Federal Court decision upheld a refusal and a misrepresentation finding in a case where the applicant did not declare a representative who helped prepare the file. IRCC is clearly paying attention to who prepared an application. If anyone helps you with your application, they must be declared on your forms.
Processing times (as of September 22): in-Canada work permits are at 16 weeks, and in-Canada study permits at 8 weeks.