Weekly Digest | January 25, 2026

Key Highlights:

Recent Judicial Reviews
Canada–EU Architect Credential Recognition Agreement (CETA)
Student and Temporary Worker Volumes
Francophone Immigration Target Exceeded
Open Work Permit
Protected Persons Identity Documents
Express Entry
British Columbia PNP Fee Increase
Saskatchewan: Charges Laid Against Employers
Yukon Nominee Program
Latest Express Entry Draws
Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

Start-Up Visa – Bdaiwi v. Canada, 2026 FC 76: Start-Up Business Class application refused where the officer found the venture’s primary purpose was to obtain immigration status rather than operate a genuine business, citing missing financial statements, insufficient evidence of viability or profitability, and lack of active, ongoing management in Canada. The Court found the decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

LMIA Work Permit – Edem v. Canada, 2026 FC 66: Despite a positive LMIA for a hairstylist apprentice, the officer assessed the applicant against full hairstylist requirements and effectively required trade certification. The Court held the officer conflated apprentice and qualified standards and imposed an inflexible NOC benchmark, rendering the decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Study Permit – Iqbal v. Canada, 2026 FC 88: Study permit refused under IRPR 216(1)(b) as the applicant did not establish he would leave Canada. The officer gave limited weight to remote employment not requiring physical presence in Pakistan and found insufficient evidence of financial establishment and strong family ties, including missing addresses and corroboration. The reasons were responsive to the record and the weighing of evidence attracted deference. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Jamehbozorg v. Canada, 2026 FC 92: TRV refused due to concerns about the source and stability of funds and whether the applicant would leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay. The Court held the onus rests on applicants to put their best foot forward, clearly link financial documents to income, and provide explanations. The officer’s assessment was reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

C11 Work Permit – Kamyab v. Canada, 2026 FC 97: Entrepreneur work permit refused under R205(a) where the officer found the proposed consulting business vague, speculative, and unlikely to be competitive or provide a significant benefit. The officer was also not satisfied the applicant had sufficient funds or would leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay. The Court rejected claims of changed criteria and “mass refusals,” found no procedural unfairness, and upheld the decision as reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Canadian Experience Class – Express Entry – Kaur v. Canada, 2026 FC 79: CEC refused after the officer was not satisfied the applicant performed the lead statement and main duties of the claimed supervisory NOC. Credibility concerns included no industry or supervisory experience, insufficient evidence her education provided the required skills, employer verification issues, and wages inconsistent with comparable roles. The Court held the officer reasonably weighed these factors, could treat wages as one data point, and met fairness through a PFL. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Mandamus – Citizenship – Manes v. Canada, 2026 FC 80: The applicant sought mandamus to compel a decision on a long-pending citizenship application based on adoption. The Court held that outstanding document requests and unresolved eligibility concerns meant processing delays were not unreasonable and the strict test for mandamus was not met. Application dismissed. Read more

Study Permit – Mehrabadi v. Canada, 2026 FC 100: Study permit refused after a bank statement was verified as non-genuine, leading to a finding of misrepresentation under s. 40(1)(a) and a five-year inadmissibility bar. The Court held the procedural fairness letter clearly identified the authenticity concern, the officer reasonably rejected the applicant’s explanation and replacement documents, and the innocent misrepresentation exception did not apply. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Mohammadalizadehsamani v. Canada, 2026 FC 84: TRV refused under IRPR 179(b) for insufficient proof of funds and failure to establish temporary intent. The officer reasonably required transaction history and source-of-funds evidence, not merely balances or assets, and provided intelligible reasons supporting the conclusion that departure at the end of the stay was not established. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Noori v. Canada, 2026 FC 95: Family TRVs refused under IRPR 179(b) for insufficient funds, weak ties abroad, and status concerns. The officer provided conclusory findings and failed to engage with evidence of available funds, host support, property/assets, and family ties outside Canada, rendering the reasons unintelligible. Decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Super Visa – Sharifi v. Canada, 2026 FC 99: Parents’ Super Visa refused for limited personal funds, significant family ties in Canada, and country conditions. The officer failed to assess the record, gave no intelligible explanation of country-risk factors, and unreasonably relied on Canadian family ties in a reunification program. Decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Work Permit – Sing v. Canada, 2026 FC 105: Work permit refused on findings the applicant lacked sufficient experience to perform the job of a construction electrical helper and had not established he would depart Canada, citing limited experience and missing financial history. The Court held the reasons did not explain why his experience was inadequate, revealing no rational chain of analysis. Judicial review granted. Read more

Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit – Specialized Knowledge – Xing v. Canada, 2026 FC 75: ICT work permit refused for failure to establish specialized knowledge. The officer accepted advanced expertise and knowledge of proprietary tools but rejected proprietary knowledge without reconciling that evidence and imposed a higher standard requiring tool development/customization. Reasons were internally inconsistent and inadequately explained. Decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

Post-Graduation Work Permit – Yessim v. Canada, 2026 FC 93: In-Canada PGWP refused as the applicant, a visitor, did not fall within any IRPR s.199 category and was plainly ineligible. The officer was not required to address humanitarian context or assess alternative pathways not requested. Decision reasonable. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

IRCC News Updates

Canada–EU Architect Credential Recognition Agreement (CETA) – January 19, 2026: Canada launched a mutual recognition agreement enabling Canadian and EU architects to have professional qualifications recognized in both markets, facilitating cross-border practice and access to Europe’s $1.1 trillion construction sector; first professional services recognition deal under a Canadian free trade agreement. Read more

Student and Temporary Worker Volumes – January 20, 2026: New study and work permit arrivals continue to decline under measures to reduce the temporary resident population below 5%; January to November 2025 arrivals down 52% year over year (334,845 fewer), including 60% fewer students and 47% fewer workers; over 177,000 former temporary residents transitioned to permanent residence. Read more

Francophone Immigration Target Exceeded – January 19, 2026: Canada exceeded its 2025 Francophone admissions target outside Quebec (8.9%, over 29,500 PRs vs. 8.5% target); beginning in 2026, 5,000 additional federal selection spaces reserved for provinces and territories to designate French-speaking immigrants, alongside rising targets through 2028, toward a 12% goal by 2029. Read more

Open Work Permit – IMP – January 19, 2026: Updated guidance on open work permits, reorganizing categories by applicant type, including non-PR pathways, spouses/partners under free trade agreements, family members of temporary foreign workers, PR pathway applicants, and spouses of students; revised instructions now in effect. Read more

Protected Persons Identity Documents – January 20, 2026: Updated program delivery instructions on identity document requirements and processing procedures for protected persons applying for permanent residence. Read more

Express Entry – January 23, 2026: The Express Entry “Overview” page has been deleted. Read more

Provincial Government News

British Columbia PNP Fee Increase – January 22, 2026: Application fee for the BC PNP Skills Immigration stream increased from $1,475 to $1,750, effective immediately; applies to skilled workers and eligible entrepreneurs seeking permanent residence; program continues to support high-demand occupations and regional economic growth across B.C. Read more

Saskatchewan – Charges Laid Against Employers – January 21, 2026: Charges laid against two employers under The Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act and The Immigration Services Act for allegedly charging illegal recruitment fees, misrepresenting job terms, threatening deportation, and exploiting foreign workers; offences occurred between April and July 2024; workers may file confidential complaints with the Program Compliance Branch. Read more

Yukon Nominee Program – January 19, 2026: EOI intake opens January 19 to 30, 2026; employers must submit a new online EOI (no carry-over); ranked by points with priority for regulated health care, rural employers, and candidates with Yukon ties (one year work, Yukon University grads, Francophone/French-speaking, or Temporary Measure Letter holders); 282 nominations allocated for 2026; next intake July 6 to 17; Temporary Measure Letter holders exempt and contacted directly. Read more