In 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has undergone a series of profound structural changes. In response to reduced federal immigration allocations and pressing labour market needs, the province has implemented a significant overhaul of the OINP. This article provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of the core policy changes effective from July 2025, which include a full transition to a new "employer-led" application model, enhanced review powers for immigration officers to protect program integrity, and relaxed application requirements for key occupations such as early childhood educators.

On July 17, 2025, the province of Quebec launched its new Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) with its first invitation round since the program's reform in 2024. A total of 238 candidates were invited, with a precise focus on individuals already residing in Quebec who possess French language skills, local educational credentials or work experience, and are in occupations that address labour shortages. This inaugural draw targeted the "Highly qualified and specialized skills" and "Exceptional talent" streams, signaling a definitive policy shift towards prioritizing candidates already integrated into Quebec society.

The federally-funded "Pre-Arrival and Post-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) Program" is now officially open, designed to provide a suite of free, customized supports for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) who have already obtained permanent resident status in Canada. Operated by the CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses, the program aims to help them overcome barriers in language, culture, and professional licensure through systematic online courses, expert mentorship, and personalized case management, thereby accelerating their entry into the Canadian healthcare workforce.

The Canadian federal government has recently updated the income requirements for sponsors under the 2025 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), introducing a significant increase. For a baseline two-person family, the minimum required income for 2024 has risen to $47,549, an increase of over $3,000 from the previous year. Sponsors must demonstrate that their income has met or exceeded the set levels for the three preceding tax years (2024, 2023, and 2022). Additionally, the government has confirmed that the 2025 invitations will be drawn from the pool of candidates who expressed interest in 2020, with plans to issue approximately 17,860 invitations to receive 10,000 complete applications. For those unable to apply, the Super Visa remains the primary alternative for long-term family reunification.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has announced a temporary policy update, suspending the intake of new applications for its key Employer Services stream, effective July 4, 2025. This pause is scheduled to last until August 5, 2025. This proactive measure is aimed at planning and preparing for future process enhancements. For prospective applicants, this means an adjustment to their timelines, while applications already submitted will continue to be processed.

Canada's federal government has announced that the highly anticipated Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) will launch a new round of invitations on July 28, 2025. Over a two-week period, the immigration department will send 17,860 invitations to candidates who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020, with the goal of accepting 10,000 complete permanent residence applications. For sponsors who do not receive an invitation this round, or for families who were unable to enter the pool in recent years, the Super Visa remains an important pathway for parents and grandparents to reunite with family in Canada for long-term stays.

In a surprise announcement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revealed it will postpone the implementation of a highly-watched measure to tighten eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Certain study programs slated for removal from PGWP eligibility on June 25, 2025, will now remain eligible until early 2026. This adjustment not only safeguards students who applied for study permits during the policy transition period but has also temporarily increased the total number of PGWP-eligible programs, marking a significant boon for students in non-degree college programs, who are the primary group affected.

Recent measures by the Canadian federal government to tighten policies concerning temporary residents are having a noticeable impact on the local housing market. The latest data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) indicates that a decline in international students and foreign workers has led to reduced rental demand. Consequently, major cities including Toronto and Vancouver experienced their first year-over-year drop in asking rents in recent memory during Q1 2025. Despite this softening, high rent-to-income ratios suggest that housing affordability remains a major challenge for new immigrants and local residents alike.

Quebec's immigration ministry announced on July 9 that it has paused the intake of new applications for spousal, partner, and adult dependent sponsorship after reaching its predetermined cap. The measure is part of Quebec's immigration quota management and will remain in effect until June 25, 2026. During this period, the application stream for sponsoring minor children, parents, and grandparents will remain open.

On July 11, the Canadian government updated its list of restricted regions for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). According to the latest directive, 26 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) across the country will suspend the processing of "low-wage stream" Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications due to unemployment rates at or exceeding the 6% threshold. This measure is a continuation of a policy announced by the federal government in early 2024, aimed at protecting job opportunities for local residents in areas with high unemployment. The expansion of this list, which includes major immigration destinations like Toronto and Vancouver, undoubtedly has profound implications for many foreign nationals and their employers seeking to obtain or extend work permits for low-wage positions.