Canadian Immigration Law

Weekly Digest | April 12, 2026

Key Highlights:

1. Recent Judicial Reviews
2. Co-op Work Permit Requirement Removed
3. Express Entry Updates
4. Fishing Guides: C11/C20 Work Permit
5. Provincial Nominee Program: IRPR Amendments
6. Proposed Amendments: Study and Work Authorization Streamlining
7. Proposed Amendments: IMP Employer Compliance Inspections: Transfer to ESDC
8. Proposed Amendments: Passport Fees
9. Proposed Amendments: Digital Capture: TRV and eTA Applications
10. Proposed Amendments: Federal High-Skilled Classes Modernization
11. Proposed Amendments: Asylum System Reform
12. Alberta Advantage Immigration Program: EOI Fee Introduced
13. Latest Draws
14. Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

• Temporary Resident Visa – Barikder v. Canada, 2026 FC 475: TRV refused based on concerns regarding financial sufficiency, unexplained recent deposits, purpose of visit, and family ties. The Court found the officer failed to meaningfully engage with key financial evidence, particularly the applicant’s father’s ability to support the trip, and did not explain why the overall financial circumstances were insufficient. This deficiency was central to the decision, rendering it unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

• Restoration of Status – Study Permit – Chamah v. Canada, 2026 FC 449: Study permit extension and restoration refused based on alleged non-compliance with study permit conditions due to a prior gap in studies. The Court found the officer failed to engage with the applicant’s central submission that the same gap had previously been disclosed and accepted by IRCC, and provided no explanation for reaching a different conclusion. The decision lacked justification, transparency, and intelligibility. Judicial review granted. Read more

• Common Law Partner Sponsorship – Haile v. Canada, 2026 FC 452: Sponsorship refused under IRPR s. 117(9)(d) as the applicant’s common-law partner and children were not declared or examined. The IAD found it lacked jurisdiction to consider the public policy exemption. The Court found this unreasonable due to failure to engage with the statutory framework or the applicant’s jurisdictional arguments. Judicial review granted. Read more

• Restoration of Status – Visitor Record – Ji v. Canada, 2026 FC 456: Restoration and visitor record refused as the officer was not satisfied the applicant would leave Canada, citing lack of ties to China and repeated extensions for tourism. An earlier extension had been refused for failure to disclose criminal charges. The Court found the officer reasonably assessed the record and that the brief reasons were sufficient. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

• LMIA-Work Permit – Kataria v. Canada, 2026 FC 461: Work permit refused based on insufficient economic ties to the home country and concerns the applicant would not leave Canada. The Court found the officer failed to engage with key financial and family evidence, relied on speculative reasoning about income, and improperly relied on economic incentives to remain in Canada. The decision lacked justification. Judicial review granted. Read more

• Humanitarian and Compassionate – Le v. Canada, 2026 FC 441: H&C application refused based on insufficient hardship, limited weight to establishment, unauthorized work in Canada, and insufficient evidence regarding the sister’s mental health and the best interests of the children. The Court found the officer reasonably assessed the evidence, including the applicant’s immigration history, limited corroboration, and the lack of evidence showing unusual or undeserved hardship. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

• Humanitarian and Compassionate – Sikder v. Canada, 2026 FC 477: H&C application refused despite claims of gender-based violence and establishment in Canada. The Court found the officer misapprehended the applicant’s evidence by concluding there was little evidence of personal harm, despite detailed submissions and prior credible findings, and failed to engage with a central argument. The decision was unreasonable. Judicial review granted. Read more

• Temporary Resident Visa – Wahidy v. Canada, 2026 FC 460: TRV refused based solely on generalized country conditions in Afghanistan. The Court found the officer relied on unsupported assumptions, failed to explain how those conditions related to the applicant’s personal circumstances, and disregarded evidence of family ties and intent to return. The decision lacked justification. Judicial review granted. Read more

IRCC News Updates

• Co-op Work Permit Requirement Removed – April 9, 2026: IRCC eliminated the requirement for a separate co-op work permit for eligible post-secondary international students, allowing work placements (including co-op and internships) to be completed under a study permit, with pending co-op work permit applications to be withdrawn. Read more Instructions: Read more

• Express Entry – April 8, 2026: IRCC deleted the “Express Entry: Invitation to Apply” page from its internal program delivery instructions. The information remains available on the public-facing website. Read more

• Fishing Guides – C11/C20 Work Permit – April 9, 2026: IRCC updated program delivery instructions for fishing guides, including retitling the page to reflect R205(a) C11 (Canadian lakes, self-employed) and R205(b) C20 (border lakes, reciprocity), aligning with International Mobility Program formatting, and clarifying language, links, and officer guidance. Read more

Canada Gazette Updates

• Provincial Nominee Program – IRPR Amendments (SOR/2026-63) – April 8, 2026: Regulatory amendments assign provinces and territories sole responsibility for assessing economic establishment and intent to reside, eliminating duplicative federal review and streamlining PNP processing while preserving IRCC’s role in admissibility and final decision-making. Read more

Forward regulatory plan: 2026-2028

• Study and Work Authorization Streamlining – April 7, 2026: IRCC proposed amendments to remove the co-op work permit requirement for international students, eliminate study permit requirements for certain apprentices, extend work authorization during pending applications, and standardize student work conditions, with consultations underway with provinces, territories, and education stakeholders. Read more

• IMP Employer Compliance Inspections – Transfer to ESDC – April 7, 2026: IRCC proposed amendments to transfer responsibility for International Mobility Program employer compliance inspections to ESDC, consolidating oversight under one department to reduce duplication and improve administrative clarity. Read more

• Passport Fees – April 7, 2026: IRCC proposed amendments to the Passport and Other Travel Document Services Fees Regulations to align fees with the actual cost of service delivery, with potential fee changes subject to consultation and Canada Gazette pre-publication. Read more

• Digital Capture – TRV and eTA Applications – April 7, 2026: IRCC proposed amendments to enable digital capture technology for remote passport data collection and authentication in applications (including TRVs and eTAs), aimed at improving data accuracy, identity verification, and processing integrity, with potential additional steps for applicants. Read more

• Federal High-Skilled Classes Modernization – April 7, 2026: IRCC proposed regulatory changes to replace the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Class with a single streamlined federal high-skilled immigration class, simplifying eligibility and Express Entry integration. Read more

• Asylum System Reform – April 7, 2026: IRCC proposed regulatory amendments to streamline in-Canada asylum processing, including a single online application, timelines for submissions and Ministerial actions, earlier work permit issuance upon eligibility, and clarified rules on claim abandonment, reinstatement, and designated representatives. Read more

Provincial Government News

• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – EOI Fee Introduced – April 7, 2026: AAIP introduced a $135 fee to submit a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI), with all other program service fees remaining unchanged. Read more

Latest Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

• April 23, 2026: Gaza TRV facilitation policy expires. Read more

• April 30, 2026: Permanent residence fees increase. Read more Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 160, Number 14:: Read more

• May 1, 2026: Interim Federal Health Program introduces co-payments of $4 per prescription and 30% for supplemental benefits, while basic health care remains fully covered. Read more