Ottawa Immigration Services

04/18/2025

The first draw of Canada Express Entry resulted in 825 new PR invitations being issued after LMIA points were eliminated.

In its most up-to-date Express Entry draw on April 14, 2025, Canada issued 825 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. This is the first time since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) removed the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for arranged employment.

The draw was restricted to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, and the CRS cutoff score was 764. Those who had created an Express Entry profile by August 17, 2024 were the only ones eligible.

04/08/2025

New Citizenship Fees:

Starting on April 1, 2025, all permanent residents 18 years of age and older who apply for Canadian citizenship will have to pay.

Processing Fee: $530
Right of Citizenship Fee: $119.75
Total Cost: $649.75

The total fee for this year is slightly higher than the previous one of $630. The new rates do not apply to individuals who submitted their online citizenship applications before midnight on March 31 and paid the $100 right of citizenship fee. Those who submitted paper applications before this date may be required to pay the difference of $19.75.

It should be noted that stateless adults who were born to Canadian parents are required to pay the newly elevated right of citizenship fee.

What concerns minors?

The new fee structure does not change the $100 processing fee required for minors under 18.

Who qualifies for Canadian Citizenship?

Applicants must meet the following requirements to apply for Canadian citizenship through naturalization:

Permanent Resident Status:

-It is necessary to have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) out of the past 5 years.
-Filing taxes for at least 3 years within 5 years (if required by law) is necessary.
-Demonstrate proficiency in English or French at a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 (ages 18–54).
-Applicants aged 18–54 must pass the Citizenship Test.
-A virtual or in-person ceremony is required for applicants aged 14 and older to take the Oath of Citizenship.

Minors are not required to meet language, test, or physical presence requirements, but they still have to meet certain conditions that are specific to their individual circumstances. From IRCC

03/25/2025

Starting on March 25, 2025, job offer points, including those from LMIA-backed offers, will not be counted towards your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This change means that while a valid job offer remains essential for eligibility under programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and select provincial nominee streams, it won’t give you extra CRS points anymore.

To stay eligible for these programs, make sure your Express Entry profile is up to date with all required job offer details (such as start date, employer name/address, LMIA number, and NOC code). Make sure to make any necessary changes to your strategy and stay informed of any further updates! From IRCC

03/05/2025

Express Entry: Category-based selection 2025

2025 categories for Express Entry, which include a new education category to align the selection of federal economic immigrants with Canada’s long-term labour shortages.

For 2025, the focus of the federal economic class draws will be to invite candidates with experience working in Canada (Canadian Experience Class) to apply for permanent residence.

Additionally, to meet Francophone immigration targets and meet the acute needs in health, trades and education, IRCC will conduct category-based invitation rounds in the following categories:

-strong French language skills, or
work experience in the following fields:
-health care and social services, such as family physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and chiropractors;
trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors;
-education, such as teachers, child care educators and instructors of persons with disabilities.

If you are eligible for any of the categories, please make sure your Express Entry profile is up-to-date to ensure you have the best possible chance to be invited to apply for permanent residence in upcoming Express Entry rounds. Note that the lists of eligible occupations for existing categories have changed, which may impact your eligibility for category-based rounds of invitation.From IRCC

02/21/2025

New regulations are being implemented to enhance temporary resident document cancellations and enhance border security and integrity.

Immigration and border services officers are authorized to cancel electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs) on a case-by-case basis, including when, as a result of these changes

-A person's eligibility to hold the document may be affected by changes in their status or circumstances, such as providing false information, having a criminal record, or being deceased.
-An officer is unsure if someone will leave Canada before their authorized period of stay
-The document is either lost, stolen, destroyed, or abandoned.

Officers can cancel TRVs, ETAs, work permits, and study permits issued to individuals when necessary due to the changes.

-they become a permanent resident
-they are deceased, or
-an administrative error resulted in the document being issued. From IRCC

02/03/2025

New permanent residence pathways for home care workers are set to launch in Canada as announced.

New immigration pilots for home care workers will be opened by IRCC on March 31, 2025. According to IRCC, the new pilots are called Canada's 'Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots'.

These new enhanced care worker pilots require foreign nationals to meet certain requirements:

-Have language proficiency that matches level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scale.

-Be able to hold the equivalent of a high school diploma in Canada.

-Have recent and relevant work experience*; and
Receive a job offer for a home care position that is full-time. From IRCC

01/16/2025

New eligibility for Canada Open Work Permits effective January 21.

-Master’s Programs: Spouses can apply for an OWP only if their partner is enrolled in a master’s program with a minimum duration of 16 months.

-Doctoral Programs: Eligibility extends to spouses of students pursuing doctoral degrees.

-Professional Programs: A select group of professional programs will also qualify, but specifics on these programs are yet to be detailed, with full disclosure scheduled for January 21, 2025.

For Spouses of Foreign Workers:

-High-Skill Jobs: Spouses are eligible only if their partner holds a work permit for occupations classified under TEER 0 or 1 of the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC).

-Labour Shortage Sectors: Additionally, spouses of workers in TEER 2 or 3 occupations can apply, but only if those jobs are in sectors currently facing labour shortages or are aligned with government priorities.

Exceptions to the New Rules

-Free-Trade Agreements: Spouses of workers under free-trade agreements remain unaffected by these new restrictions.

-Pathway to Permanent Residency: Those in the process of transitioning to permanent residency will also see no changes to their eligibility for family OWPs. From IRCC

01/03/2025

The new Destination Canada job forum for 2025 is now open.

Registration for the 2025 Job Fair is now open for the Destination Canada Mobility Forum, which is hosted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The forum that takes place in February and March 2025 is an exceptional opportunity for bilingual and Francophone candidates to explore job prospects and Canadian immigration pathways.

IRCC hosts the Destination Canada Mobility Forum every year to connect skilled, bilingual, and Francophone individuals with Canadian employers, provinces, territories, and communities outside of Quebec.

The event this year will continue to emphasize jobs that support Francophone and bilingual communities across the country.

Who Can Participate?

To be eligible for participation, candidates must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

-Express Entry Profile: You already have an active Express Entry profile.
-Work Permit Holders: You hold a Working Holiday Permit through International Experience Canada or a Francophone Mobility Work Permit.
-Immigration Eligibility: You meet the eligibility requirements for immigration to Canada outside Quebec.
-Matching Job Skills: Your skills and experience align with what Canadian employers are seeking outside Quebec. From IRCC

12/31/2024

12/19/2024

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/what-to-know-about-immigration-fraud-and-changes-to-temporary-foreign-worker-program

Due to increased fraud, Canada plans to eliminate the bonus points awarded to prospective immigrants for labour market impact assessments.