Weekly Digest | May 31, 2026

Recent Judicial Reviews
Ebola Temporary Measures – Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda
eTA Eligibility – Indonesia and Malaysia
Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots
Spousal Open Work Permits – C41
Digital Nomads
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Worker Expression of Interest
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – Skills Immigration Guides
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program – Regulatory Amendments
Prince Edward Island – Non-Resident Residential Property Ownership
Latest Draws
Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit – Roushenas v. Canada, 2026 FC 664: ICT work permit refused after the applicant sought to transfer from an Iran-based school to a newly incorporated Canadian company planning to open a Farsi-language school in Greater Vancouver. The Court found the officer reasonably assessed whether the Canadian start-up was a legitimate and continuing establishment of the foreign enterprise and reasonably concluded that, at best, the Canadian company existed in name only. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

LMIA-Work Permit – Rafique v. Canada, 2026 FC 658: Third LMIA-supported work permit refusal set aside after the Minister conceded the decision was unreasonable. The Court refused to declare that the applicant qualified for the work permit or give directions for reconsideration, noting that work permit decisions are fact-driven and discretionary, and the supporting LMIA had expired nearly two years earlier. Judicial review granted. Read more

LMIA-Work Permit – Gill v. Canada, 2026 FC 659: Work permit refused for a general farm worker position after the applicant, a self-employed taxi driver since 2009, provided no agricultural work experience or training. The Court found the officer reasonably gave limited weight to the applicant’s general familiarity with farming in Punjab and the employer’s support letter, as there was no corroborated evidence of tractor, farm machinery, or agricultural work experience. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Open Work Permit – Soltan Mohammadi v. Canada, 2026 FC 682: Open work permit refused for a 21-year-old Iranian applicant whose parents were in Canada on work permits and who applied to reunite with them under the International Mobility Program. The Court found the officer gave inadequate reasons, failed to explain why her economic ties to Iran, including property ownership and bank assets, were insufficient, and did not appear to give sufficient weight to her family reunification purpose. Judicial review granted. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Siddiqui v. Canada, 2026 FC 683: TRV refused for a retired 66-year-old Pakistani applicant seeking to visit his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren in Winnipeg for 10 months. The Court found the officer speculated about why the applicant and his wife applied separately, failed to identify evidence that another family member was his sister in Pakistan, and did not address his residential property as an economic tie. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian and Compassionate – Duhar v. Canada, 2026 FC 699: H&C application refused for a widowed 55-year-old Indian applicant who had lived in Canada for about 10 years with her Canadian children and grandchildren, had suffered a stroke, and relied on her family for emotional and financial support. The Court found the officer unreasonably gave her establishment neutral weight despite her decade of residence, family co-residence, financial and emotional dependence, and caregiving role within the family. Judicial review granted. Read more

Work Permit – Misrepresentation – Li v. Canada, 2026 FC 697: Work permit refused with a misrepresentation finding after the officer questioned whether the applicant could perform an office manager role at a Saskatoon car repair shop and whether the job offer was genuine. The Court found the applicant was not given a fair opportunity to respond to concerns about the employer, including missing employer documents, payroll, staffing, financial capacity, and job genuineness, before the serious misrepresentation finding was made. Judicial review granted. Read more

IRCC News Updates

Ebola Temporary Measures – May 29, 2026: IRCC introduced temporary measures from May 27, 2026, to August 28, 2026, suspending certain immigration documents for foreign nationals living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda, while continuing to process applications but delaying final decisions until the measures end or are repealed. Read more Public Health: Read more

eTA Eligibility – Indonesia and Malaysia – May 25, 2026: Starting May 26, 2026, eligible citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia who held a Canadian TRV in the past 10 years or hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa may apply for an eTA, instead of a visa, when travelling to or transiting through Canada by air. Read more Backgrounder: Read more PDI: Read more

Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots – May 28, 2026: IRCC updated Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot work permit instructions under C15 to clarify when an Acknowledgement of Receipt is required for outside-Canada applications, when other proof of a permanent resident application is accepted for in-Canada applications, and work permit renewal guidance. Read more

Spousal Open Work Permits – C41 – May 28, 2026: IRCC updated instructions for spouses or common law partners of high-skilled foreign workers under C41, adding an exemption from the 16-month open work permit restriction for spouses of foreign-trained health care professionals in Quebec. Read more

Digital Nomads – May 26, 2026: IRCC updated temporary resident instructions to clarify that digital nomads may work remotely from Canada as visitors for up to six months at a time if their income is earned entirely outside Canada, including for a foreign employer or, if self-employed, exclusively for clients outside Canada. Read more Guidelines: Read more

Provincial Government News

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Worker Expression of Interest – May 26, 2026: AAIP candidates can now edit their Worker Expression of Interest without changing its one-year validity, reject unwanted stream invitations before the 15-day period ends, and may request a fee refund if they paid between April 7, 2026, and May 26, 2026, and had to cancel to make edits. Read more

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – Skills Immigration Guides – May 28, 2026: BC PNP released updated Skills Immigration guides, effective May 28, 2026, reflecting April 23 program changes, current application processes, and eligibility for the Temporary Rural / Remote Health Support initiative, with registration open June 15, 2026, to August 31, 2026. Read more

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program – Regulatory Amendments – May 29, 2026: Amendments to Ontario Regulation 421/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act take effect May 30, 2026, preparing for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program redesign, while applications already received will be assessed under the eligibility requirements in place at the time of application. Read more

Prince Edward Island – Non-Resident Residential Property Ownership – May 29, 2026: PEI amended the Prince Edward Island Lands Protection Act to expand oversight of non-resident municipal residential property ownership, including multiple purchases in areas with official plans. The changes target speculative ownership, vacant homes, and housing availability, and are expected in force 60 to 90 days after Royal Assent. Read more

Latest Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

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