2. Provincial Nominee Program: Provinces Get More Power
Short answer: Effective March 30, 2026, provinces and territories have final say on whether their nominees meet intent-to-reside and economic-establishment criteria; IRCC officers with concerns must consult the province first, which decides whether to maintain or revoke the nomination.
Effective date: March 30, 2026
This is a significant structural change to how Provincial Nominee Programs work across Canada.
Before: After a province nominated a candidate, IRCC officers would independently assess whether the applicant met criteria like intent to reside in the nominating province and potential for economic establishment.
After: Provinces and territories now have the final say on whether their nominees meet intent-to-reside and economic establishment criteria. If an IRCC officer has concerns about a nominee, they must consult the province first. The province decides whether to maintain or revoke the nomination.
This shifts real decision-making power to the provincial level. It means that each province's assessment of a candidate's fit for their labor market carries more weight than before.
What This Means for Applicants
If you are a provincial nominee, your relationship with the nominating province matters more than ever. Make sure your application clearly demonstrates your ties to and plans for the specific province that nominated you.
3. Settlement Services Capped at 6 Years for Economic Class PRs
Short answer: Economic class PRs can access federally funded settlement services (LINC language training, employment assistance, community connections) for a maximum of 6 years after obtaining PR status, dropping to 5 years on April 1, 2027; family class and refugees are exempt.
A new time limit now applies to federally funded settlement services.
New rule: Economic class permanent residents can access federally funded settlement services for a maximum of 6 years after obtaining PR status. This applies to both new and existing PRs.
This cap drops further to 5 years starting April 1, 2027.
Settlement services include language training (LINC), employment assistance, community connections programs, and other supports funded by the federal government. Provincial services may have different rules.
Who Is Affected
This applies specifically to economic class immigrants: Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, Atlantic Immigration Program, and similar economic streams. Family class and refugee class immigrants are not subject to this cap.
4. Super Visa Income Requirements: More Flexibility
Short answer: Effective March 31, 2026, hosts can qualify by meeting the minimum income threshold in either of the two most recent tax years, and the visiting parent or grandparent own income can be added to the host plus co-signer income to make up any shortfall.
Effective date: March 31, 2026
The Super Visa now has more flexible income requirements for hosts sponsoring visiting parents and grandparents.
Two new options:
- Two-year lookback: Hosts can qualify by meeting the minimum income threshold in either of the two most recent taxation years (previously only the most recent year counted)
- Combined income: If the host and their co-signer meet part of the required threshold but not all of it, the visiting parent or grandparent's own income can now be added to make up the shortfall
This is a meaningful change for families where income fluctuates year to year or where the visiting parent has their own pension or savings.
5. Rural Temporary Foreign Worker Program Expansion
Short answer: Participating rural TFW employers can now employ low-wage temporary foreign workers for up to 15% of their workforce (up from 10%) for the 2026-2027 period, addressing labour shortages where local worker pools are smaller.
Rural employers participating in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program get more hiring flexibility.
New rule: Participating rural employers can now employ low-wage temporary foreign workers for up to 15% of their workforce, up from the previous limit of 10%. This applies for the 2026-2027 period.
This change addresses labor shortages in rural areas where local worker pools are smaller. It applies only to employers who are already in the rural TFW program.
