Canada’s immigration system is undergoing another round of significant updates in 2026, and these changes will shape how newcomers apply, work, reunite with family, and plan for longterm settlement. New Express Entry categories have been added, Bill C12 is moving through the Senate without amendments, citizenship by descent rules are now in force, and TR to PR pathways have been promised for 33,000 foreign workers. This month’s newsletter aims to break down what each change means.

1. New Express Entry Categories:

Express Entry is Canada’s online system for choosing skilled workers who want to become permanent residents. It’s not a program by itself, but a selection system that manages applications for three federal immigration programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Individuals will make a profile online, including information about one’s age, education, language skills, and work experience and the system attributes a “CRS” score (Comprehensive Ranking System). Once in the Express Entry pool, IRCC will periodically conduct draws, where they send out invitations to those with the highest scores in a particular category to apply for permanent residence.

In 2023, IRCC first introduced “category based” draws which allows the government to conducted targeted draws for specific priority groups, such as: French-language proficiency, healthcare, and trades, to name a few.

In February 2026, IRCC added give new categories:

1. Physicians: Medical doctors, including those with Canadian work experience.
2. Researchers: Individuals with research-focused occupations or advanced research roles
3. Senior Managers: High‑level management roles with Canadian work experience.
4. Transport Occupations: Examples include pilots, aircraft mechanics, inspectors, and other transport‑sector roles.
5. Skilled Military Applicants: Highly skilled foreign military recruits in key roles such as military doctors and other specialized positions.

To be eligible, applicants need a total of 12 months of work experience in a qualifying occupation within the last three years. This does not need to be continuous or with the same employer. If you already have the required Canadian work experience in one of these fields, it may be worth creating an Express Entry profile if you haven’t done so yet. Category‑based draws happen unpredictably, and IRCC can only issue an invitation to people who are already in the pool.

2. 33,000 Spaces for Temporary Residents to Permanent Residence Program

In 2025, the government announced in both their federal budget and their annual immigration levels plan that they would “accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residency in 2025 and 2027”, targeting current work permit holders.

According to IRCC’s Minister, the program has been launched softly already, though further details of how exactly the government plans to implement this acceleration plan will be released in April 2026.

3. Current Progress on Bill C-12

On September 8, 2025, I wrote about Bill C2, the “Stronger Borders Act,” which proposed major changes that would affect people across all immigration status groups in Canada, especially those in the most vulnerable situations. These changes included two new ineligibility provisions for those making refugee claims and sweeping powers by the government to cancel immigration documents, if found to be in the public interest.

On October 8, 2025, the government introduced Bill C12 to address some of the concerns raised about Bill C2. However, most of the issues outlined in my original article remain unchanged; they are simply moving forward under a new bill number.

Bill C-12 quickly passed through the House of Commons with little opportunity and consideration given to the concerns being raised by immigrant serving agencies. The Bill is now proceeding through the Senate, with its third reading scheduled for March 9, 2026.

The immigration provisions of the Bill were studied by the Senate’s Social Affairs, Science, and Technology (“SOCI”) committee. The committee took the time to listen to the concerns by over 35 witnesses, including many representatives from immigrant serving agencies. As a result, the SOCI committee made a series of recommendations, including recommending the full removal of certain sections of the bill. SOCI’s recommendations made a strong case for the significant harm this legislation would cause if it passed without amendments.

However, while the SOCI committee provided recommendations, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence, and Veterans Affairs (“SECD”) is the committee that will determine if amendments will be suggested. Disappointingly, the SECD has voted down all proposed amendments, despite the strong recommendations by the SOCI about the concerns, including the disproportionate impact on children, women, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and frontline workers.

As such, Bill C-12 could be voted on as early as March 10, 2026, and it will likely pass without any amendments to the immigration related provisions.

4. Citizenship by Descent:

In December 2025, the citizenship laws changed to correct previous citizenship laws that were found to be unconstitutional. In particular, this removed the first-generation limit on citizenship, opening up a pathway to citizenship for many who are living abroad who have a Canadian-born relative in their lineage, as long as they can demonstrate that unbroken lineage through documentary evidence.

Before this bill, a child born outside Canada was only a citizen if their Canadian parent was either born in Canada or naturalized. The amended Act ends the first generation limit and recognizes as citizens people who were denied citizenship solely because their Canadian parent was also born or adopted abroad.

For those born abroad after December 15, 2025: under the new rules, children born outside Canada on or after December 15, 2025, can inherit Canadian citizenship even if their Canadian parent was also born abroad, but only if that parent has a “substantial connection” to Canada.

A substantial connection means that the Canadian parent must have lived in Canada for a meaningful period of time before their child is born. It is essentially a physical presence requirement.

The new citizenship laws introduce a three year physical presence requirement (cumulative, not consecutive) for parents who were themselves born abroad and want to pass citizenship to a child born outside Canada.