On October 3, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released updated guidelines concerning the Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) work permit category. These revisions introduce a more restrictive interpretation of the ICT category, significantly impacting foreign companies seeking to establish or expand operations in Canada.

The changes to Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, which will take effect on November 1, 2024, will have a significant impact on international students who wish to work in Canada after graduation. The new language and field of study requirements, particularly for students submitting study permit applications after the deadline, add extra considerations.

Earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a reduction in the temporary resident population from 6.5% of Canada’s total population to 5% by 2026. To achieve this goal, the federal government is taking action to manage the growth of temporary residents and hold employers accountable for system abuse. Specific measures include reforming the international student program, tightening the eligibility requirements for temporary foreign workers, enforcing employer compliance more strictly, and strengthening labor market impact assessments to reduce fraud.

On June 3, 2024, the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Marc Miller, announced the introduction of new enhanced caregiver pilot programs in Toronto.

In response to the growing processing times for immigration applications, the Canadian government announced a series of reform measures aimed at the Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed programs. These measures, which are set to take effect on April 30, 2024, aim to reduce backlogs and expedite the approval process, thus enhancing the efficiency of the immigration system and improving services for both newcomers and Canadian citizens.

In January 2025, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs will introduce significant updates to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to streamline pathways for international workers and improve their outcomes in B.C.. Key changes include the restructuring of the International Graduate and Post-Graduate streams into Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate streams with specific eligibility criteria, alongside a province-wide elevation of language requirements to a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8.

Canada is considering implementing a cap on the number of international students it admits, in response to its ongoing housing affordability crisis. In 2023, a record high of nearly one million students were admitted, coinciding with a significant increase in Canadian rent prices, which rose by 22% over the last two years due to a housing shortage

An economic update from the Royal Bank of Canada says the federal government is doing the right thing in keeping immigration levels unchanged from its previous targets, but adds that in the long term, more newcomers will be needed to stabilize the age structure of the country and keep the economy rolling.