More temporary residents are settling outside of Canada’s major cities
A recent study from the Conference Board of Canada (CoBC) has found that newcomers to Canada are increasingly choosing to settle outside of urban centres. The study used data from 2016 and 2021 to show the differences in immigration to urban centers and the surrounding areas. It discovered that Quebec had the highest number of…
Studying in Canada: An updated guide to applying for Canada’s Student Direct Stream in 2024
The process of applying for a Canadian study permit has undergone changes recently, affecting many candidates that will apply for expedited processing through the Student Direct Stream (SDS) in 2024. These changes were introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to strengthen the integrity of Canada’s international student program. Here is a step-by-step guide…
As a foreign national, am I eligible for a health card in Canada?
As a foreign national in Canada, whether you arrive here as a temporary resident (TR) or a permanent resident (PR), it is important to obtain public healthcare coverage in your destination province/territory. Failing to register for healthcare can leave you having to pay thousands of dollars for healthcare when needed. Note: The Government of Canada…
Ontario releases 2024 PNP allocation; Three provinces nominate candidates in latest draws
Ontario has received an allocation of 21,500 nominations for its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in 2024. This number represents an increase of 5,000 nominations over 2023’s 16,500. Ontario’s allocation increase follows last November’s meeting of the Federation of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) in which immigration ministers from each Canadian province and territory met with…
BREAKING: IRCC releases allocation of study permits for all provinces
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released a statement explaining how it has arrived at the final allocation of study permits each Canadian province has received for 2024. Following the announcement on January 22 that the department would implement a cap on the number of study permit applications that will be processed each year,…
How fast will IRCC process my temporary residence application in 2024?
Foreign nationals seek temporary residence (TR) in Canada for many reasons, including to work, study, or visit the country. Although there are varying eligibility criteria and requirements for each TR pathway to Canada, many foreign nationals are keen to find out how long it will take them to arrive in Canada. This is why Immigration,…
Why IRCC may refuse your visitor visa application
Foreign nationals often come to Canada for leisure, to visit family and friends, or to conduct business. To visit Canada, residents of visa-required countries* must obtain a visitor visa. However, there are many reasons that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may refuse an applicant’s visitor visa application. Read more about business visitors to Canada…
Express Entry vs PNP: Which one should I apply to?
Immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system and Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) represent Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) two biggest pathways for new permanent residents coming to Canada every year. In 2024 these two routes will account for 220,770 new immigrants out of the 485,000 that the country will welcome. For many…
Changes to Canada’s permanent residence fees starting April 30, 2024
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, as of 9:00:00 AM Eastern Time on April 30, 2024, the department will be increasing certain permanent residence (PR) fees. IRCC notes that this fee increase is being introduced according to Canada’s Immigrant and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), calculated “in accordance with the cumulative percentage increase…
Report: Canada is the 2nd happiest country among the G7
According to the 2024 World Happiness Report (WHR), Canada trails only countries in the European Union (EU) concerning overall happiness among all surveyed age groups. The World Happiness Report is an annual publication crafted in partnership between Gallup, the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford (United Kingdom, UK), the United Nations’ (UN’s) Sustainable…