Immigration Watch: New Asylum Rules Among 10 Changes Newcomers Should Know

TORONTO — Canada’s immigration system is undergoing significant changes in 2026, including new rules affecting asylum claims, tighter management of temporary residents, revised Express Entry priorities and new measures affecting workers, students, families and permanent residents.

For newcomers and people planning to come to Canada, some of the changes are already in effect, while others affect applications and programs going forward.

Here are 10 changes to know.

1. New asylum eligibility rules are already in effect

Two new eligibility rules under Bill C-12 apply to asylum claims made on or after June 3, 2025.

A claim generally cannot be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada if it is made more than one year after the claimant’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020.

A separate rule applies to people who enter Canada between ports of entry along the Canada-U.S. land border. If they wait more than 14 days after entering Canada to make an asylum claim, the claim generally will not be referred to the IRB.

People affected by these rules may still have access to a pre-removal risk assessment in applicable circumstances. The rules do not change the Safe Third Country Agreement, which continues to apply at the Canada-U.S. land border.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: If you believe you need Canada’s protection, do not assume you can wait indefinitely before making a claim. The rules are complex, and individual circumstances can affect eligibility. Seek qualified legal or settlement advice promptly.

More asylum changes are proposed

The government has also proposed regulations to further modernize the asylum process. The proposals include clearer application timelines, a simplified process, support for vulnerable claimants and measures intended to give some eligible claimants faster access to work permits.

These proposed regulatory changes should not be confused with rules already in force. IRCC said implementation was anticipated later in 2026.

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2. Some temporary workers can now study for up to six months without a study permit

A temporary public policy that took effect Sept. 4 allows eligible foreign workers with valid work permits to study for up to six months without obtaining a separate study permit.

The study program cannot exceed six months, and authorization ends when the work permit expires, if that happens first.

The measure is temporary and is scheduled to remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2027.

Full-time studies beyond the permitted conditions still require a study permit.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: A temporary worker may now be able to take a short course, training program or licensing-related education without going through the study-permit process, provided the eligibility conditions are met.

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3. Express Entry is putting greater emphasis on specific skills and Canadian experience

Canada’s 2026 Express Entry categories include physicians with Canadian work experience, researchers, senior managers, transport occupations and skilled military recruits.

The system continues to select candidates in areas including health care and social services, trades and French-language proficiency.

IRCC has also indicated that Canadian Experience Class candidates are a focus of 2026 selection, reflecting an effort to transition some temporary residents already in Canada to permanent residence.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Your occupation, Canadian work experience and language profile can matter significantly when considering an Express Entry strategy. Check the current category requirements rather than relying on older immigration advice.

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4. Canada is reducing the number of new temporary residents

Under the 2026–28 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is targeting 385,000 new temporary residents in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028.

The government says it intends to reduce the temporary-resident population to less than 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.

The plan covers new temporary workers and international students; it does not simply mean that every temporary resident currently in Canada will have to leave.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: People planning to come to Canada as temporary workers or international students are entering a more tightly managed system than applicants faced several years ago.

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5. International student numbers are being managed more tightly

The 2026 levels plan sets a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals.

IRCC’s latest data also show a substantial decline in new study-permit arrivals compared with 2024. Between January and July 2026, Canada recorded about 28,200 new student arrivals, compared with 114,975 during the same period in 2025 and 292,875 in 2024.

The government says the reduction is part of its effort to manage temporary-resident numbers and pressures on housing, infrastructure and services.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Prospective international students should not assume that previous admission or study-permit conditions still apply. Program eligibility, provincial allocations and study-permit requirements should be checked before making financial commitments.

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6. Some economic-class permanent residents now have a time limit for settlement services

Beginning April 1, 2026, economic-class permanent residents generally have access to federally funded newcomer settlement services for up to six years from the date they became permanent residents.

Beginning April 1, 2027, the period will become five years for economic-class PRs.

The change applies to economic-class PRs, including people who became permanent residents before April 1, 2026.

The rules are different for refugees, protected persons and certain other groups, who may continue to have access without the same time limit.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: If you are an economic-class permanent resident, don’t assume settlement services will remain available indefinitely. Language training, employment assistance and other newcomer services may be particularly valuable during the eligibility period.

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7. New applications to the Parents and Grandparents Program are paused

In July, IRCC announced that it was pausing intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program.

Existing applications will continue to be processed, and the government plans to admit up to 15,000 people through the program in 2026.

Parents and grandparents can still visit family members in Canada through the Super Visa, subject to its requirements.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Families hoping to sponsor parents or grandparents for permanent residence should not assume that the PGP is currently accepting new applications. The Super Visa is a separate temporary-visit option.

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8. Permanent-residence application fees increased

IRCC increased permanent-residence fees on April 30, 2026.

For example, the right-of-permanent-residence fee increased from $575 to $600. The principal-applicant fee for the Provincial Nominee Program increased from $950 to $990, while the family-class principal-applicant fee increased from $545 to $570.

Applications received on or after April 30 are subject to the new fees.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Check the current IRCC fee schedule immediately before submitting an application. Using an outdated fee amount can create problems with an application.

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9. Citizenship-by-descent rules have changed

A major citizenship change took effect Dec. 15, 2025.

People born before that date who would have been Canadian citizens but for the former first-generation limit or other outdated rules may now be Canadian citizens and can apply for proof of citizenship.

For children born or adopted abroad after the change, a Canadian parent who was themselves born or adopted abroad can pass citizenship to the child if the parent demonstrates that they spent at least three years in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Canadian families living abroad, including diaspora families with children born outside Canada, should check whether the new rules affect their children’s citizenship status.

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10. Canada is accelerating the transition of some temporary workers to permanent residence

The 2026–28 Immigration Levels Plan includes a two-year initiative to accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence during 2026 and 2027.

The initiative is aimed at temporary workers who have established strong community ties, pay taxes and contribute to Canada’s economy.

This is part of a broader strategy that gives greater attention to people already in Canada with needed skills and experience.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Temporary workers who hope to remain permanently should pay close attention to Express Entry, provincial nominee programs and other applicable pathways rather than assuming that holding a work permit automatically leads to permanent residence.

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What immigrants should do now

Immigration rules are becoming more program-specific, which makes relying on old advice particularly risky.

If you are a newcomer, temporary worker, international student, asylum claimant or permanent-residence applicant:

• Check your status and document expiry dates.
• Use current information from IRCC and the relevant provincial government.
• Check whether a change actually applies to your immigration category.
• Keep copies of applications, permits and correspondence.
• Don’t rely on social-media posts or old immigration videos for legal advice.
• If your case involves asylum, inadmissibility, status problems or another complex legal issue, consider getting advice from a qualified immigration lawyer or licensed immigration consultant.

Immigration Watch

Msimulizi Community News will continue tracking changes to Canada’s immigration system and explaining what they mean for newcomers, temporary residents, permanent residents and the wider diaspora.

Last updated: Sept. 27, 2026

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Immigration rules and program requirements can change. Readers should verify their individual circumstances with official government sources or a qualified professional.

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