Weekly Digest | March 16, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent judicial reviews
Right of citizenship fee increase
Canada invests $1.125M to address workforce needs in Northeastern Ontario
Extension sought to maintain first-generation limit on citizenship by descent
New immigration measures to support housing and construction
Temporary measures extended for Sudanese nationals and affected families
British Columbia fast-tracks credential recognition for U.S. doctors and nurses
New Brunswick launches licensing pathway for internationally trained family physicians
Newfoundland and Labrador sets immigration record in 2024
Yukon extends work permit support for foreign nationals under YNP
Important upcoming dates

Recent Case Law

Work & Study Permits – Dela Cruz v. Canada, 2025 FC 457: Philippine citizens applied for work and study permits. The principal applicant was denied a work permit as the officer was not satisfied he would leave Canada at the end of his stay, citing weak ties to the Philippines. His spouse’s open work permit and child’s study permit were also refused. The Court found that the officer was not required to notify the applicant of missing evidence or seek additional information from other government bodies. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Study Permit – Hosseinzadeh v. Canada, 2025 FC 444: Iranian citizen’s study permit was refused due to insufficient financial proof, weak family ties outside Canada, and concerns about her intent to stay temporarily. The officer found that the applicant failed to provide a sufficient banking transaction history to demonstrate the accumulation and availability of funds. The Court held that visa officers are not required to give applicants an opportunity to address evidentiary deficiencies and found the decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Study Permit – Kianizadeh v. Canada, 2025 FC 464: Iranian citizen applied for a study permit to pursue an Architectural Technician diploma, despite holding advanced degrees in architecture. The officer refused the application, citing weak ties outside Canada, financial concerns, and academic redundancy. The Court found errors in the officer’s assessment of family ties and financial resources but upheld the refusal, concluding that the officer’s reasoning on academic redundancy was reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

IRCC News Updates

Right of citizenship fee increase: Effective March 31, 2025, the fee for adult citizenship grant applicants will rise from $100 to $119.75, reflecting the cumulative percentage change in the April All-items Consumer Price Index. Citizenship fees are adjusted annually based on inflation, as mandated by the Service Fees Act. Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 11: Read more

Canada invests $1.125M to address workforce needs in Northeastern Ontario: FedNor is funding the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce to launch the North Bay and Area Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). This five-year initiative will help attract and retain skilled newcomers to fill employment gaps in North Bay and surrounding communities. RCIP builds on the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), creating a pathway to permanent residence for foreign workers. The funding supports outreach, business designation, and newcomer settlement efforts. Read more

Extension sought to maintain first-generation limit on citizenship by descent: The government is requesting a 12-month extension to the Ontario Superior Court ruling that struck down the first-generation limit for citizenship by descent. While Parliament considers legislative changes, an interim measure allows affected individuals to apply for discretionary grants of citizenship, including those born abroad beyond the first generation, certain pre-1949 births, and those who lost citizenship under former section 8. Bill C-71 was introduced to amend the Citizenship Act but has been delayed. Read more

New immigration measures to support housing and construction: A tripartite Advisory Council with unions, industry, and government will assess labour needs and advise on new pathways for construction workers. Temporary foreign worker apprentices can now study without a permit. A new construction pathway will offer up to 6,000 out-of-status workers a chance at permanent residency, based on lessons from the Toronto pilot program. Read more

Program Delivery Updates

Temporary measures extended for Sudanese nationals and affected families: Sudanese nationals in Canada can continue applying for work permits, study permits, temporary resident permits, and status extensions free of charge until October 27, 2025. Family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who fled Sudan on or after April 15, 2023, and arrived before July 15, 2023, remain eligible for work permits, study permits, permanent residence under the family class, and extensions of temporary resident status and temporary resident permits. Fee waivers for overseas TRV applications and TRP requests have expired. Read more

Provincial Government News

British Columbia fast-tracks credential recognition for U.S. doctors and nurses: The Province is working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC to allow U.S.-trained doctors with American Board of Medical Specialties certification to become fully licensed in B.C. without additional assessment, examination, or training. The BC College of Nurses and Midwives is also streamlining the process for U.S.-registered nurses to apply directly for licensure. A targeted recruitment campaign will launch in Washington, Oregon, and California in spring 2025 to attract health-care professionals to areas of high need, including cancer care and emergency departments. Read more

New Brunswick launches licensing pathway for internationally trained family physicians: The first 10 physicians have completed the Practice Ready Assessment New Brunswick program and will provide primary care in Moncton, Campbellton, Bathurst, Miramichi, and Woodstock, serving 10,000 to 15,000 residents. The program includes a 12-week clinical field assessment and a three-year return-of-service agreement. A second cohort begins this fall. Supported by $313M in federal-provincial funding, it is Canada’s only bilingual program for internationally trained doctors. Read more

Newfoundland and Labrador sets immigration record in 2024: The province welcomed nearly 6,000 new permanent residents, growing its population to the highest level since 1998. Newcomers filled key roles in healthcare, education, trades, and entrepreneurship. In January, the province successfully negotiated the return of 1,000 economic immigration spaces for 2025, reversing federal cuts. Over 80% of Ukrainians who arrived since 2022 remain in the province. Newfoundland and Labrador also funded 57 settlement and integration projects to support long-term retention. Read more

Yukon extends work permit support for foreign nationals under YNP: Foreign nationals living and working in Yukon as of May 16, 2024, with work permits expiring in 2025, can apply for a Yukon-specific work permit valid for up to two years. Their employer must intend to nominate them for permanent residency under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) in 2025 or 2026. The intake period for letters of support runs from March 19, 2025, to April 2, 2025. Read more

Important Upcoming Dates

March 24, 2025: Public consultation closes on proposed regulatory amendments to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which aim to streamline processing by removing federal duplication in assessing a nominee’s economic establishment and intent to reside. Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 8: Read more

March 31, 2025: Ukrainians and their family members in Canada under CUAET can access free settlement services until this date. Read more

March 31, 2025: Launch of the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. Read more

April 1, 2025: Foreign worker recruiters in PEI must be licensed, with eligibility limited to lawyers, notaries, or registered immigration consultants, requiring a $100 fee and a $10,000 security deposit to enhance worker protections and ensure fair treatment. Read more

April 1, 2025: Expired Refugee Protection Claimant Documents (RPCDs) will no longer be valid, and asylum claimants must submit renewal applications or request replacements for lost, destroyed, or stolen RPCDs using IRCC’s web form. Read more