Weekly Digest | December 14, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Judicial Reviews
Targeted Immigration Measures – Doctors
FIFA World Cup 26 – Visitor Travel Documents
C11 Work Permit – Foreign Freelance Horse Jockeys
C10 Work Permit – Caribbean Agricultural Liaison Officers
C11 Work Permit – Foreign Camp Owners or Directors and Outfitters
Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot
Immigration Loans – Payment and Collection
Post-Graduation Work Permit
In-Canada Temporary Measures – Crisis in the State of Palestine
Federal-Provincial Agreements – R204(c) T13
Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative
Updated Forms and Checklists
Latest Express Entry and PNP Draws
Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

Start-Up Business Class Work Permit (A77) – Mohammed v. Canada, 2025 FC 1933: The officer refused the A77 work permit for insufficient evidence that the start-up met program objectives, citing unverified operations, dispersed team members abroad, non-functional website materials, and no demonstrated Canadian industry connections. The Court found the assessment reasonable and dismissed the application. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Post-Graduate Work Permit – Singh v. Canada, 2025 FC 1935: The officer refused the PGWP after finding the applicant studied part-time for more than the final semester, contrary to mandatory eligibility requirements. Pandemic-related delays and the need to retake a failed course were not extenuating circumstances. The Court held the criteria were correctly applied and dismissed the application. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Humanitarian and Compassionate – Nagra v. Canada, 2025 FC 1942: The officer refused the H&C application, assigning minimal weight to the best interests of the applicant’s Canadian grandchildren despite evidence of a close relationship. The Court found the analysis improperly reduced to whether basic care would continue, rather than what was in the children’s best interests. Judicial review granted. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Restoration – Egwuatu v. Canada, 2025 FC 1950: The officer refused restoration and extension of visitor status after finding the application was filed outside the 90-day restoration period. Passport renewal delays did not permit discretion. The Court upheld the application of the statutory deadline and dismissed the application. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Canadian Experience Class – Khangura v. Canada, 2025 FC 1953: The officer refused CEC permanent residence after finding the applicant failed to establish qualifying work experience at the claimed NOC, relying on a forward-dated employment letter and payslips that did not demonstrate performance of the lead statement and main duties. The Court found the reasons adequate and no procedural fairness breach. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Humanitarian and Compassionate – Mohammadi v. Canada, 2025 FC 1956: The officer refused the H&C application by applying an impermissible exceptionality threshold, mischaracterizing psychological evidence, and relying on speculative access to “normal” immigration pathways. The Court found these errors undermined the justification of the decision. Judicial review granted. Read more

Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship – Uba v. Canada, 2025 FC 1959: The officer granted permanent residence to the applicant but removed an adult son and his family as ineligible dependents. The Court found the procedural fairness letter clearly raised dependency concerns and no evidence was provided to meet the regulatory definition. The decision was reasonable and procedurally fair. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Far v. Canada, 2025 FC 1955: The officer refused the TRV applications for insufficient assets and an inconsistent travel purpose without engaging with substantial financial and professional evidence. The Court found the reasons lacked a rational chain of analysis and failed to explain why significant disclosed funds were inadequate. Judicial review granted. Read more

IRCC News Updates

Targeted Immigration Measures – Doctors – December 8, 2025: IRCC announced a new Express Entry category for international doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian work experience, 5,000 additional federal admission spaces for provincial and territorial nominations of licensed doctors with job offers, and expedited 14-day work permit processing, with invitations expected in early 2026. Read more

FIFA World Cup 26 – Visitor Travel Documents – December 8, 2025: IRCC encourages athletes, officials, volunteers and fans travelling to Canada for World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver to apply early for required visas or eTAs, noting that match tickets do not guarantee entry and that border officers retain final authority on admissibility. Read more

C11 Work Permit – Foreign Freelance Horse Jockeys – Unique Work Situations – December 8, 2025: IRCC updated program delivery instructions for foreign freelance horse jockeys under R205(a) C11. Read more

C10 Work Permit – Caribbean Agricultural Liaison Officers – Unique Work Situations – December 8, 2025: IRCC updated program delivery instructions for Caribbean Agricultural Liaison Officers under R205(a) C10. Read more

C11 Work Permit – Foreign Camp Owners or Directors and Outfitters – Unique Work Situations – December 9, 2025: IRCC updated program delivery instructions under R205(a) C11, including guidance on family members and genuine relationships. Read more

Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot – December 9, 2025: IRCC updated program delivery instructions to reflect amended ministerial instructions, including reduced work experience requirements, expanded eligibility rules, and clarified assessment and processing guidance for pending applications. Read more

Immigration Loans – Payment and Collection – December 11, 2025: IRCC updated program delivery instructions to allow online payments for immigration loans. Read more

Post-Graduation Work Permit – R205(c) C43 – December 11, 2025: IRCC updated PGWP instructions to align language and field-of-study requirements for non-university and university graduates, clarify eligibility during the 180-day post-completion period, confirm exemptions for applications submitted before November 1, 2024, and refine guidance on maintained status and full-time study requirements. Read more

In-Canada Temporary Measures – Crisis in the State of Palestine – December 11, 2025: IRCC issued new operational instructions for temporary special measures supporting foreign nationals in Canada affected by the crisis in the state of Palestine, in effect from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026. Read more

Federal-Provincial Agreements – R204(c) T13 – December 12, 2025: IRCC updated instructions for work permits issued under provincial agreements, including guidance on multiple work locations, family member eligibility, and clarification across T13 categories such as significant investment projects, exceptional or unforeseen events, and provincial nominations. Read more

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative – December 9, 2025: Canada announced a $1.7 billion initiative to attract world-leading international researchers, doctoral students, and post-doctoral fellows, complementing the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan and supporting future high-skilled talent attraction pathways. Read more

Updated Forms and Checklists

IMM 5476: Use of a Representative Form: Read more
IMM 0008 SCH12: Schedule 12: Additional Information – Refugee Claimants inside Canada: Read more
IMM 0175: Declaration – Authorization for representative to submit a refugee claim through the IRCC Portal: Read more
IMM 5546: Details Of Military Service: Read more
IMM 5745: Document Checklist: Applying for Refugee Protection within Canada: Read more

Latest Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

December 29, 2025: Consultations close on proposed IRPR amendments for international air transit, including new “designated holding area” rules. 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

January 1, 2026: Québec raises the minimum financial capacity for International Student Program applicants to $24,617. Read more

January 1, 2026: Alberta implements new AAIP Rural Renewal Stream criteria. Read more

January 1, 2026: Master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs become exempt from PAL/TAL. Read more

January 1, 2026: Deadline to submit public comments on proposed OINP redesign, including consolidation of Employer Job Offer streams and the introduction of proposed healthcare, entrepreneur, and exceptional talent streams, as well as the new Employer Portal. Read more