Nova Scotia's immigration authority issued an official notice on July 16, announcing an adjustment to its Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP) application processing strategy. As the number of applications for 2025 has reached the annual allocation limit set by the federal government, the province has decided to shift its processing focus for the remainder of the year to applicants already working in the province whose work permits are set to expire in 2025, with a particular emphasis on professionals in the healthcare and construction sectors. This adjustment is a direct response to the federal government's reduced 2025 PNP allocation and will significantly impact various categories of applicants.

In the first half of July 2025, the province of Alberta issued hundreds of invitations to apply through its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), aiming to attract foreign professionals capable of filling critical labor shortages. The draws covered multiple streams, including both Express Entry-aligned and non-Express Entry pathways, with a distinct focus on priority sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, aviation, and law enforcement. Data reveals that the candidate pool for certain programs, particularly the Alberta Opportunity Stream, is highly saturated, leading to fierce competition.

In late June 2025, the province of Alberta conducted two targeted draws through its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), focusing on inviting candidates from the construction and agriculture sectors. The draws featured relatively low cut-off scores, reflecting the province's precise strategy to address labor shortages. However, official data indicates that despite a significant number of nominations still available for the year, tens of thousands of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) have accumulated in the main candidate pools, signaling exceptionally fierce competition ahead.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced significant revisions to the "Maintained Status" provisions for temporary residents, effective May 28, 2025. The new rules specify that if a temporary resident's initial extension application, submitted while on maintained status, is refused, a subsequent application filed after the expiry of their original permit will no longer automatically allow them to maintain legal status in Canada. This change has profound implications for temporary residents submitting multiple extension applications and requires close attention.

In 2024, the Canadian federal government introduced several adjustments to its Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt work permit policies. These changes encompass Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP), New work permit for PNP nominee candidates, Updated instructions regarding ICTs under the IMP and more, aimed at optimizing immigration structures and managing the proportion of temporary residents. Below is a professional analysis of the key policy changes and their implications.

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.