Weekly Digest | May 17, 2026

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Permanent Residence – Agri-Food Pilot Program – Brar v. Canada, 2026 FC 631: PR refused after the officer found the applicant had not shown one year of eligible work experience because the employer’s primary activities did not fall under NAICS 1114. The Court found the officer acknowledged but failed to engage with evidence that the employer was primarily engaged in vegetable production under cover, relied on an unexplained open web search, and did not justify why limited greenhouse coverage was determinative. Judicial review granted. Read more

Immigration Levels Consultations – May 12, 2026: IRCC opened consultations for the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan until June 14, 2026, seeking public input on sustainable immigration levels, labour gaps, key sectors, community needs, infrastructure, services, housing capacity, refugee protection, family reunification, and Francophone immigration outside Quebec. Read more

Citizenship Certificate Applications – May 15, 2026: IRCC issued new instructions on the intake of Canadian citizenship certificate applications, including applications from outside Canada and the United States, minimal completeness checks for paper proof of citizenship applications, and rejection procedures for incomplete applications. Read more

IMM 5707 for In-Canada Work Permits – May 12, 2026: IRCC updated instructions to clarify that the IMM 5707 Family Information form is optional, not required, for in-Canada work permit applications. Read more

Humanitarian Reasons Work Permits – May 12, 2026: IRCC updated instructions under R208, splitting the page into Destitute Students [R208(a) – H81] and Temporary Resident Permit Holders [R208(b) – H82], and updating the introduction, table of contents, eligibility, documentary evidence, assessment, final decision, approval/refusal, family member guidance, language, and formatting. Read more

Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations – May 12, 2026: IRCC updated instructions for officers assessing and processing humanitarian applications or requests. Read more

GATS Professionals – May 12, 2026: IRCC updated International Mobility Program instructions for foreign nationals entering Canada under the General Agreement on Trade in Services Professionals category [R204(a) – T33], including a revised page title, formatting changes to align with IMP standards, updated language and links, and added clarification of officer instructions. Read more

Resettlement Exit Barriers – May 12, 2026: IRCC issued new guidance for officers assessing resettlement applicants who may face barriers exiting the host country, such as not being legally registered there. Read more

Housing and Skilled Trades Workforce – May 11, 2026: IRCC announced that Minister Diab highlighted Spring Economic Update 2026 measures in Halifax, including accelerated low-cost loans to support up to 16,500 rental homes, up to $6 billion over five years for skilled trades workforce growth, $41.9 million over five years to modernize homebuilding systems, and immigration’s role in supporting construction labour needs through Express Entry category-based selection and provincial nominee programs. Read more

Indigenous Name Reclamation Fee Waiver – May 11, 2026: IRCC issued a notice that the five-year fee waiver introduced in 2021 under Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 17 ends on May 30, 2026; until then, eligible Indigenous people, residential school survivors, and their families may reclaim Indigenous names on replacement passports, travel documents, citizenship certificates, and permanent resident cards at no cost, with regular processes and fees applying after that date. Read more

May 24, 2026: IRCC’s consultations on proposed Express Entry reforms close, including proposed changes to program structure, CRS factors, and points for high-wage occupations. Read more

June 22, 2026: Deadline to submit an Expression of Interest profile for consideration in the next Northwest Territories Nominee Program Employer-Driven Stream draw. Read more

June 25, 2026: Northwest Territories is scheduled to hold an Employer-Driven Stream EOI draw. Read more

June 25, 2026: Quebec’s current intake cap period for certain Family Sponsorship undertaking applications remains in effect until this date. Read more

June 30, 2026: The end of IRCC’s Start-Up Visa intake at the Centralized Intake Office, while existing applications continue to be processed and no new Federal Self-Employed Persons Class applications are accepted. Read more