Canada Immigration Changes in 2026: What's New for Newcomers

Is the Start-Up Visa still open in 2026?

Short answer: It is closed to new applicants. IRCC stopped accepting new Start-Up Visa applications on January 1, 2026, and designated organizations stopped issuing commitment certificates after December 31, 2025. There is one exception with a hard deadline: founders who already hold a valid 2025 commitment certificate must submit their permanent residence application by June 30, 2026. IRCC has said it is building a new high-impact entrepreneur pilot to replace the program, with details still to come. The official Start-up Visa Program page confirms the closure, and our Start-Up Visa 2026 guide walks through what existing applicants and future founders should do.

What are the 2026 study permit cap changes?

Short answer: The cap is tighter and the paperwork is mandatory. For 2026, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits, including about 155,000 to newly arriving international students, as study-permit holders fall from over one million in early 2024 toward the government's targets. Most applicants now need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter from the province or territory before they apply. Without a valid attestation letter, IRCC will not process most new study permit applications. The details by province are in the IRCC notice on 2026 allocations under the international student cap, and our study permit cap guide explains how to get a PAL.

How did the super visa income requirement change?

Short answer: It got easier to meet. As of March 31, 2026, IRCC changed how it calculates family income for the super visa, the multiple-entry visa that lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay for long periods. A host can now combine their income with the income of the visiting parent or grandparent to reach the minimum, and IRCC can look at either of the two previous tax years rather than only the most recent one. The change is meant to make the program reachable for more families. Confirm the current income table on the IRCC notice, changes to the super visa income requirement, and see our super visa guide for the full checklist.

What other 2026 changes should newcomers know about?

Short answer: Several smaller updates carry real weight depending on your situation:

• Co-op and internship work permits: as of April 1, 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate work permit for placements required by their program. One study permit now covers the placement. See the IRCC co-op work permit notice.
• Settlement services: IRCC is introducing time limits on how long economic immigrants can use federally funded settlement services, a measure announced in Budget 2025. Details are in the settlement-service eligibility notice.
• Home Care Worker pilots: IRCC paused new intake to the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots on December 19, 2025, and they did not reopen in March 2026, per the home care pilots notice.
• Asylum law: Bill C-12 became law on March 26, 2026, adding eligibility limits such as a bar on claims made more than one year after entry and on certain claims by people who crossed between ports of entry. Read the IRCC backgrounder on the Bill C-12 measures, or our plain-language Bill C-12 explainer.

Did Canada change immigration measures for Iranian nationals in 2026?

Short answer: Yes, and the support was extended. On March 4, 2026, IRCC extended its temporary special measures for Iranian nationals already in Canada. Eligible people who hold a work permit issued on or before February 28, 2025, can apply to extend it, and those measures now run until March 31, 2027, with standard processing fees. Iranians who want to extend a visitor stay or a study permit can apply through the regular IRCC processes. The full details are in the IRCC notice, Canada extends special measures for Iranian nationals, and our Iran special measures guide breaks down who qualifies.

Frequently asked questions

What are the new immigration changes for 2026?

The headline changes are a permanent residence target held at 380,000, lower temporary resident intake, Express Entry category draws plus a proposed reform of the points system, the Start-Up Visa closing to new applicants, a tighter study permit cap with mandatory attestation letters, an easier super visa income test from March 31, 2026, and new asylum rules under Bill C-12. Several fees also rose in spring 2026.

How many people will get PR in Canada in 2026?

Canada plans to admit 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026, down from 395,000 in 2025, and intends to hold that level through 2028. The mix leans toward economic immigrants, especially those already working in Canada.

Is TR to PR coming back in 2026?

There is no general temporary-to-permanent program open to everyone in 2026. IRCC has committed to moving up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence across 2026 and 2027 through existing economic streams and targeted measures, rather than a broad public pathway like the 2021 one.

Which province is easiest to get PR in Canada in 2026?

There is no single easiest province, because each Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets different occupations and has its own cut-offs, and 2026 allocations were reduced across the board. The province where you have a job offer, work experience, or family ties is usually your strongest route. A licensed consultant can match your profile to the provinces where you actually qualify.

How Go Far Global can help

Short answer: With this many moving parts, the risk is applying under a rule that has already changed. Go Far Global is a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm in Toronto, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). We confirm which 2026 rules apply to your situation, find the pathway that still fits, and prepare a complete application so a stale assumption does not cost you. Book a consultation and we will build a plan around the current rules.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements for your situation with a licensed representative or on the official IRCC website before you apply.

Sources

• IRCC, 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan (supplementary information)
• IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations
• IRCC, 2026 consultations on potential Express Entry reforms
• IRCC, Start-up Visa Program
• IRCC, 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap
• IRCC, Changes to the super visa income requirement
• IRCC, Simplifying the co-op work permit requirement
• IRCC, Changes to settlement service eligibility for economic immigrants
• IRCC, Pausing Home Care Worker Immigration pilots intake
• IRCC, New immigration and asylum measures from Bill C-12
• IRCC, Canada extends special measures for Iranian nationals