Weekly Digest | July 26, 2026

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Security Inadmissibility – Yan v. Canada, 2025 FC 1097: Applicant sought PR with his spouse and child. Officer found the spouse inadmissible under IRPA 34(1)(a), making the applicant inadmissible under IRPA 42(1)(a). The spouse had studied at Tsinghua University and worked as an engineer and quality controller at CETC’s 15th Institute. Open sources linked Tsinghua to cyberattacks and CETC’s 15th Institute to military defence and industrial espionage. Applicant argued she attended evening school, held no managerial role, and had never engaged in espionage. Court found the officer considered these explanations and reasonably concluded her background could position her for illicit knowledge transfer in Canada; evidence of prior espionage was unnecessary. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Start-Up Visa – Darvish v. Canada, 2026 FC 982: Four co-founders applied for PR as essential members of one start-up. One applicant first applied in August 2021, then resubmitted in March 2022 after the original commitment certificate expired, relying on a second certificate allegedly issued by the designated entity. Despite two procedural fairness letters, there was no evidence the entity sent the second certificate directly to IRCC. His refusal triggered refusal of the other three applications. Court found the regulatory requirements clear, rejected the alleged IRCC practice allowing expired certificates, and found no procedural unfairness. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Mandamus – Roghangar v. Canada, 2026 FC 987: Iranian applicant filed a study permit application on January 1, 2023, for a mechanical engineering master’s program. He promptly provided military records showing one year of compulsory service with the Iranian police, and IRCC referred the file for security screening. The application remained pending for 1,262 days, about 20 times IRCC’s 60-day service standard. The delay caused multiple admission deferrals and the loss of a specific research opportunity. IRCC relied on security screening, but provided only three security-related GCMS entries from 2023, with no evidence of recent activity, remaining steps, or a timeline. Mandamus granted with $1,000 in costs. Read more

Study Permit Financial Requirements – July 24, 2026: IRCC updated its instructions to clarify how officers assess the availability and source of funds submitted by study permit applicants. Read more

Academic Exchange Work Permits – July 24, 2026: IRCC reorganized and expanded its C22 reciprocal employment instructions, including eligibility, documentary evidence, application assessment and final decisions. Read more

Atlantic Immigration Program – July 23, 2026: IRCC clarified documentary requirements where a change in employer ownership causes the employer to lose its designation, but the province continues supporting the applicant. Read more

H&C Requests under In-Canada Public Policies – July 22, 2026: IRCC issued new instructions for processing in-Canada permanent residence applications under public policies where applicants also requested humanitarian and compassionate consideration. Read more

Canada Child Benefit Increases – July 20, 2026: Annual maximum payments increased to $8,157 per child under age 6 and $6,883 per child aged 6 to 17 for the 2026–27 benefit year. Read more

Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot – July 21, 2026: IRCC replaced the prior public policy governing study permits, renewals and accompanying family applications, maintained an annual cap of 2,970 new study permit applications, and extended the pilot for new applicants until August 25, 2027. Read more

Francophone Student Pilot – Permanent Residence and Open Work Permits – July 21, 2026: IRCC updated the public policy allowing qualifying pilot graduates outside Quebec to apply for permanent residence and obtain open work permits of up to three years while awaiting a decision, with facilitation also available for accompanying family members. Read more

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream – July 20, 2026: OINP published the eligibility criteria for its new stream and confirmed that the related Expression of Interest system will launch later this summer. Read more Ontario Workforce Priority: Read more O. Reg. 422/17: Read more

Yukon Physician Licensing Pathway – July 22, 2026: Yukon introduced the “Limited A” pathway, allowing qualifying family physicians trained in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia to obtain limited licences without an additional practice assessment or supervised practice period. Read more

IMM 1294: Application for a Study Permit Made Outside of Canada: Read more
IMM 5709: Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student: Read more
IMM 0008: Generic Application Form for Canada: Read more
eIMM 5669: Schedule A: Sponsorship Background/Declaration Form – To be used only when applying for refugee protection within Canada (Guide 5746): Read more

July 31, 2026: End of Canada’s FIFA 2026 work authorization exemption allowing select FIFA-invited foreign nationals to perform time-limited work in Canada without a work permit. Read more

July 31, 2026: Expiry of IRCC’s temporary public policy for certain Palestinian nationals in Canada, which allows eligible applicants to apply for fee-exempt temporary status extensions, open work permits, or study permits. Read more

July 31, 2026: Expiry of IRCC’s in-Canada temporary special measures for foreign nationals affected by the crisis in the State of Palestine. Read more

August 31, 2026: Deadline to register for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program’s Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative. Read more