Weekly Digest | November 30, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Spousal Sponsorship – Wu v. Canada, 2025 FC 1880: Refusal upheld. The officer relied on major interview inconsistencies about family knowledge, the son’s wedding attendance, time in Venezuela, cohabitation, and the sponsor prompting answers. Supporting documents did not resolve these discrepancies. The officer reasonably found the marriage not genuine or cohabiting, and the reasons were adequate. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Home Childcare Provider Pilot – Kaur v. Canada, 2025 FC 1865: Refusal upheld. The officer found insufficient proof of qualifying childcare experience: missing employment records, inconsistencies between duties and NOC requirements, and credibility concerns regarding hours and continuity of work. Evidence did not establish the required experience for the HCCP. The analysis was reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Work Permit – Nguyen v. Canada, 2025 FC 1894: Refusal for misrepresentation set aside. The PFL alleged a “fraudulent” employment letter but did not disclose the officer’s actual concern that the dates and work period appeared photoshopped. Because these underlying facts were never put to the applicant, she could not meaningfully respond. The heightened fairness duty for potential misrepresentation was breached. Judicial review granted. Read more

International Student Cap – 2026 Allocations – November 25, 2025: Canada set a 2026 issuance target of up to 408,000 study permits (155,000 new students and 253,000 extensions); master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs become PAL/TAL-exempt on January 1, 2026; total PAL/TAL-required target is 180,000, with 2026 provincial and territorial allocations set at 309,670 application spaces based on approval rates. Read more

Digital Visas Pilot – November 27, 2025: Canada is testing digital visas with a small group of approved Moroccan visitor visa applicants to assess usability, security and compatibility, reduce passport submission, improve verification, lower costs and inform future digital document delivery; some Moroccan nationals may also qualify for an eTA. Read more

Francophone Communities – November 27, 2025: Canada announced $3.6M for four FISP projects to attract Francophone and bilingual talent, support labour needs and strengthen Francophone minority communities; measures align with Budget 2025 targets for increased French-speaking admissions outside Quebec. Read more

Port of Entry: Seasonal Agricultural and Seafood Work Permits – November 28, 2025: Updated instructions clarify which temporary residents may apply for these work permits at a port of entry, as some are no longer eligible. Read more

International Experience Canada – Reciprocity [R205(b) – C21] – November 28, 2025: AIESEC Canada removed from the list of recognized organizations under the IEC program. Read more

Family Class Appeals – November 26, 2025: New instructions guide IRCC and CBSA on returning appeal-allowed family class files to IRCC for redetermination. Read more

PGP Intake – November 26, 2025: Updated instructions released to guide officers in managing the 2025 intake for parents and grandparents sponsorship. Read more

Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Wage Review – November 26, 2025: Wage assessment instructions removed; officers are to process TFWP work permits using the wage in the LMIA. Read more

Study Permits – Financial Requirements – November 25, 2025: Updated cost-of-living amounts apply to new study permit applications received on or after September 1, 2025; annual adjustments will follow LICO updates, with officer discretion under R220. Read more

eTA Program – November 25, 2025: Canada lifted the visa requirement on Qatar, making it visa-exempt and eligible for eTA for air travel. Read more and Read more

Out-of-Status Home Care Workers – November 24, 2025: A 5-year public policy (in effect since March 31, 2025) allows out-of-status or unauthorized home care workers with PR applications under Stream A to restore or extend status and obtain a work permit while their PR is processed; accompanying in-Canada family members may also restore or extend status and work or study, as applicable. Read more

Study Permits – DLI – November 24, 2025: Students transitioning from secondary to post-secondary may begin studies if they applied for a post-secondary permit before their current permit expired; joint-program rules clarified: a single credential requires one attestation letter and one study permit from the credential-issuing DLI, which must issue the LOA without conditions, verify the LOA and report compliance. Read more

Nova Scotia – EOI Process – November 28, 2025: Nova Scotia formalized an expression of interest system for all NSNP streams and AIP designations and endorsements to manage demand, align selections with labour market priorities and conduct periodic draws for processing. Read more

Canada Gazette – Transit Rules – November 29, 2025: Proposed IRPR amendments for passengers transiting between international flights, adding “designated holding area” and updating transit, examination and carrier-reporting provisions; 30-day consultation open until December 29, 2025. Read more

November 30, 2025: Special IRCC wildfire relief measures expire, ending fee waivers and restoration flexibility for affected residents and foreign emergency workers. Read more and Read more

December 1, 2025: Temporary in-Canada work permit printing process for IEC participants ends. Read more

December 31, 2025: Ministerial Instructions setting the 2025 study permit intake cap and attestation letter requirements expire. Read more

December 31, 2025: Yukon’s temporary measure for foreign nationals to obtain support letters for Yukon-specific work permits expires. Read more

December 31, 2025: Public policy allowing open work permits for foreign workers with provincial or territorial support letters (including Manitoba PNP) expires. Read more and Read more

December 31, 2025: Temporary pause on private refugee sponsorship applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors under the PSR Program ends. Read more and Read more

December 31, 2025: Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) extension ends. Read more and Read more

December 31, 2025: Public policy allowing open work permits for foreign nationals in Provincial Nominee Program expression of interest pools expires. Read more