On December 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced three new measures aimed at making it easier for international physicians to obtain permanent residence. The announcement was made jointly by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Member of Parliament Maggie Chi, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health. The measures include a new Express Entry category for physicians with Canadian work experience, 5,000 specially reserved permanent residence admissions for provinces and territories, and a 14-day expedited work permit process for nominated practice-ready doctors. These initiatives will begin rolling out in early 2026 to help strengthen Canada’s healthcare workforce.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of December on December 8, issuing 1,123 Invitations to Apply (ITAs)—one of the largest PNP draws of 2025. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 729 and had to have created an Express Entry profile before March 5 at 5:10 a.m. (UTC). To date, IRCC has issued 95,599 ITAs through Express Entry in 2025, with draws continuing to prioritize PNP candidates, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, French-language proficiency candidates, and priority occupation categories.

On November 28, 2025, Nova Scotia announced a major shift in its immigration intake system, confirming that all submissions under the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) will now be processed through an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. Under the new rules, all submissions—regardless of submission date—are considered EOIs, and having a case ID or meeting eligibility criteria no longer guarantees file processing. The province will conduct periodic draws based on current labor market and economic priorities, with priority sectors such as healthcare, construction, trades, STEM, natural resources, and manufacturing. The shift aligns with broader trends driven by reduced provincial nomination allocations from IRCC. With increased immigration targets set for 2026, applicants may soon see improved chances of receiving selections.

Canada offers multiple immigration pathways for individuals who wish to immigrate through entrepreneurship or business investment, including the federal Start-Up Visa (SUV), several federal work permit categories, provincial entrepreneur programs, and the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program. Each pathway carries distinct requirements related to investment amounts, business experience, language proficiency, and documentation. With frequent policy changes and complex due-diligence procedures, many applicants work with immigration lawyers or licensed consultants to select the right program, prepare documentation, and maintain compliance to improve approval outcomes and protect their investment.

On November 28, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another round of Express Entry invitations, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the French-language proficiency category. This round’s minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off was 408 — the second-lowest score recorded in 2025. It marks the eighth French-language draw of the year and the third-largest overall. With this round completed, French-speaking candidates have now received 42,000 ITAs in 2025, continuing to lead all categories. Year-to-date, IRCC has issued a total of 94,476 ITAs through the Express Entry system.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another Express Entry draw on November 26, 2025, inviting 1,000 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates to apply for permanent residence. This round set a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 531—the lowest CEC cut-off since July—and ended a five-draw streak where the CRS threshold was locked at 533 or 534. To date, IRCC has issued a total of 88,476 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system in 2025.

On November 18, British Columbia held its largest entrepreneur immigration draw of the year, issuing invitations through both the Base and Regional streams of its Entrepreneur Immigration Program. Minimum scores and invitation numbers varied by stream, reflecting the province’s continued 2025 strategy of prioritizing candidates with high economic impact.

On November 12, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total of 330 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), marking the largest draw since July. With 220 invitations going to NLPNP candidates, the province continues to rely heavily on its provincial nomination channels. As the province reaches its 13th draw of the year and prepares for expanded federal PNP admission targets in 2026, nomination allocations may increase further.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on November 14, 2025, issuing 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services occupations category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 462—the lowest cutoff among the six Healthcare and Social Services draws held this year. This was also the third Express Entry draw of November, highlighting IRCC’s continued priority on recruiting healthcare professionals.

On November 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new round of Express Entry invitations, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 533, and candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 3:39 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on October 17, 2025. To date, IRCC has issued more than 82,000 ITAs in 2025, with CEC, French-language category, and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws remaining key priorities.