Canada Weekly Immigration Briefing

Dates Covered: March 23–29, 2026

This week’s Canada immigration update covers major policy changes including the implementation of Bill C-12, new asylum eligibility rules, expanded work permit access for ineligible claimants, and increases in citizenship and permanent residence fees. We also review key Federal Court decisions, IRCC program delivery updates, and the latest Provincial Nominee Program draws across Ontario and Manitoba.

Case Law Trends

Recent Federal Court decisions continue to reinforce important legal principles regarding procedural fairness, officer reasoning, and application delays.

• Refugee Protection – Torres Ponce v. Canada, 2026 FC 406: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a RAD decision that rejected a Mexican citizen’s refugee claim due to serious credibility concerns. The Applicant claimed fear of the Los Zetas cartel and his corrupt father-in-law, but failed to identify these specific agents of persecution until filing an amended Basis of Claim (BOC) form on the day of his hearing—three years after arriving in Canada. The Court found it reasonable for the RAD to reject the Applicant’s explanation that he was too afraid to disclose these details earlier, noting that his original BOC included many other peripheral details but omitted the core identities of his alleged persecutors. Furthermore, the Court upheld the RAD’s decision to give no weight to a supporting letter from the Applicant’s sister, which contained inconsistencies regarding which leg the Applicant had injured and failed to name the cartel. Judicial review dismissed.
  

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•  Refugee Protection / IFA – Akinniyi v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 403: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a RAD decision that, while reversing an RPD credibility finding in favor of the Applicant, ultimately denied his refugee claim based on a viable Internal Flight Alternative (IFA) in Port Harcourt or Abuja, Nigeria. The Applicant, who feared persecution by Fulani Herdsmen, argued he was denied procedural fairness regarding the notice period for the “new” IFA issue. Mr. Justice Pentney rejected this, noting the Applicant’s own record admitted he had 14 days to respond and had previously stated the RPD record was “ample” for an IFA determination. The Court held the RAD reasonably concluded that conflicts with Fulani Herdsmen were localized and clan-based, with no evidence of the motivation or means to pursue the Applicant in different regions of the country. Judicial review dismissed.

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  Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds – Kaur v. Canada, 2026 FC 389: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a decision refusing H&C status for a 73-year-old widowed citizen of India. The Applicant, living in Canada on a super-visa with her son’s family, argued that Indian tradition prevented her from living with her daughter in India, leaving her with no support system. Madam Justice Azmudeh found the Officer’s decision reasonable, noting that the Applicant had lived independently in India for nearly a decade after her husband’s death before coming to Canada. The Court held that the Officer properly weighed the “emotional support” of her Canadian family but found the evidence of “undue hardship” insufficient, as the Applicant failed to provide objective country condition evidence regarding the specific plight of widows in India or her inability to live independently. Furthermore, a psychological report suggesting potential “deterioration” was given limited weight as it was deemed a speculative prognosis rather than a formal diagnosis. Judicial review dismissed.

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• Refugee Protection / PRRA – Baya v. Canada, 2026 FC 395: Judicial review of a decision refusing the Applicants’ Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). The Nigerian Applicants alleged new risks: persecution of the Principal Applicant based on sexual orientation (bisexual) and a violent inheritance dispute involving their in-laws. The Court found the Officer’s assessment of the sexual orientation risk was flawed but not enough to overturn the decision on its own. However, the Court granted the judicial review because the Officer failed to meaningfully engage with new evidence concerning the inheritance dispute—specifically, that in-laws had allegedly located and threatened the Applicants at their family home in the proposed Internal Flight Alternative (IFA) of Lagos. The failure to address evidence that directly challenged the viability of the IFA rendered the decision unreasonable. Judicial review granted; matter returned for redetermination.
  

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• Refugee Protection – Mukolu v. Canada, 2026 FC 393: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a RAD decision which rejected the Applicant’s refugee claim based on his sexual orientation as a bisexual man from Nigeria. The Court held that the RAD reasonably drew negative credibility inferences due to material inconsistencies regarding the dates of his son’s birth and wife’s death, as well as vague testimony concerning his same-sex relationships in Nigeria and Canada. Justice Gleeson found that the RAD properly considered the SOGIESC Guidelines and the Applicant’s psychological report, but reasonably concluded that these factors did not adequately explain the contradictions between his BOC, his testimony, and the corroborating documentary evidence. Judicial review dismissed.
  

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• Refugee Protection – Rahmatov v. Canada, 2026 FC 385: The Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) confirmed that the Applicant, a citizen of Tajikistan and permanent resident of Ukraine, was excluded from refugee protection under Section 98 of the IRPA (Article 1E of the Convention). The Court found the RAD reasonably applied the Zeng and Shamlou tests, concluding that the Applicant’s rights in Ukraine—including unrestricted work, residence, and healthcare until 2031—were substantially similar to those of a national. Despite the ongoing war, the Court held that generalized insecurity and social upheaval do not invalidate an Article 1E exclusion unless a personalized risk of persecution or harm is established, which the Applicant failed to demonstrate. Judicial review dismissed.

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• Temporary Resident Visa – Shaterhosseini v. Canada, 2026 FC 391: TRV refused under paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR as the Officer was not satisfied the Applicant would depart Canada, citing significant family ties in Vancouver (spouse and children) and insufficient ties in Iran. The Court dismissed the judicial review, holding that the Officer’s use of brief, boilerplate language in GCMS notes was acceptable and that the decision was reasonable; the presence of immediate family in Canada provided a valid basis to doubt the Applicant’s motivation to return, notwithstanding his extended family and employment in Iran. Judicial review dismissed.
  

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• Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds – Roberts v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 397: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a decision refusing H&C status to a 15-year-old Nigerian Applicant. The Applicant argued that her return to Nigeria would trigger a recurrence of a past psychotic episode—caused by a previous sponsorship failure—and that her parents were unable to care for her due to their own mental health issues. Justice Régimbald found the Officer’s decision reasonable, noting that the single psychiatric report provided described the previous episode as an isolated event with no evidence of ongoing mental health needs. Furthermore, the Court held that the Applicant failed to provide objective medical evidence regarding her parents’ conditions, leaving her claims as unsubstantiated hearsay. The Court concluded the Officer properly conducted a “Best Interests of the Child” analysis but was not required to grant residency where the evidence of future hardship was insufficient. Judicial review dismissed.
  

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• Sponsorship Appeals – Rusakov v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 370: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of an Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) decision that found it lacked jurisdiction to hear a sponsorship appeal. The Applicant’s spouse was barred from applying for permanent residence for five years due to a prior finding of misrepresentation under section 40(2)(a). Although the spouse submitted a new application with a request for humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) relief, the Court upheld the IAD’s finding that an H&C request cannot “side-step” the statutory five-year ban. Following the Supreme Court’s guidance in Pepa, the Court concluded that the IAD reasonably interpreted the law: since the underlying permanent residence application was legally barred by the misrepresentation penalty, there was no valid “refusal” that the IAD had the power to hear. Judicial review dismissed.

IRCC Program Delivery Updates

Several Program Delivery Instructions (PDIs) were updated this week affecting work permits, immigration pilots, and refugee sponsorship programs.

• Permanent Residence – Fee Increases – March 27, 2026:
  IRCC announced that permanent residence application fees will increase effective April 30, 2026, in line with biennial adjustments under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Updates include the right of permanent residence fee rising to $600, Provincial Nominee Program to $990, business class to $1,895, family class to $570, and protected persons and humanitarian applications to $660, with permit holder fees also increasing to $390. The new fees will apply to applications received on or after April 30, 2026. Read More

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  Citizenship – Right of Citizenship Fee Increase – March 27, 2026:
  IRCC announced that the right of citizenship fee for adult applicants will increase from $119.75 to $123 effective March 31, 2026, as part of annual adjustments under the Service Fees Act to account for inflation and support program delivery. The $530 processing fee remains unchanged, and the new fee will apply to applications received on or after that date. Read More

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  Refugee Claim Ineligibility Grounds – March 27, 2026:
  IRCC updated its program delivery instructions following recent amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, introducing new grounds under which refugee claims may be found ineligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), including the one-year bar from first entry and the 14-day rule for irregular border crossings. The update also includes clarifications on existing provisions such as A101(1)(c.1) related to prior claims in partner countries, along with general procedural improvements to guide officers in eligibility assessments. Read More

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  Open Work Permits for Ineligible Asylum Claimants – Temporary Public Policy – March 26, 2026:
  IRCC introduced a temporary public policy allowing certain foreign nationals whose refugee claims are found ineligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to apply for or maintain open work permits before becoming eligible for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). The policy provides exemptions from standard work permit requirements and prevents automatic cancellation of existing permits upon enforcement of removal orders, ensuring continued access to employment while reducing reliance on provincial support systems. Read More

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  New immigration and asylum measures from Bill C-12 have become law – March 26, 2026:
  Bill C-12 has officially come into force, introducing stricter asylum eligibility rules, including a one-year limit from first entry and a 14-day deadline for claims made after irregular border crossings. The legislation also implements a more streamlined asylum process by prioritizing complete applications and accelerating decision-making, expands IRCC’s authority to share information with federal and provincial partners, and grants the government new powers to suspend, cancel, or manage immigration documents and applications in the public interest, subject to Governor in Council approval. Read More

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• Innovation Stream Pilot (C88) – Work Permit Extension – March 23, 2026:
  IRCC has extended the Innovation Stream pilot under the International Mobility Program, which allows LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permits for high-skilled foreign workers employed by Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP) companies, until March 22, 2028. The program supports Canada’s economic competitiveness by facilitating the entry of talent in TEER 0–3 occupations through designated high-growth employers. Read More

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  Self-Employed Persons Class – Processing Update – March 23, 2026:
  IRCC updated its program delivery guidance to clarify which processing framework applies to applications under the Self-Employed Persons Class, a permanent residence pathway for individuals with relevant experience in cultural, artistic, or athletic activities. Applications received on or before May 2, 2017, must continue to be processed under the legacy OP8 manual, while those submitted after that date are assessed under the newer Self-Employed Program Delivery Instructions, ensuring consistency with updated program requirements and evaluation criteria. Read More

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  Intercountry Adoptions – Program Delivery Update – March 23, 2026:
  IRCC has modernized its guidance on intercountry adoptions by integrating the former OP3 manual into updated Program Delivery Instructions. The revisions provide enhanced clarity on key elements of adoption-based permanent residence applications, including adoptability, habitual residence, the best interests of the child, provincial requirements, and application procedures, along with updated guidance aligned with international standards such as the Hague Convention. Read More

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  Spouses of Significant Investment Project (SIP) Workers – Work Permit Expansion – March 23, 2026:
  IRCC updated its program delivery instructions to expand open work permit eligibility for spouses of workers under Significant Investment Projects in British Columbia. Effective March 23, 2026, spouses of SIP workers at all TEER levels are now eligible to apply for open work permits under codes C41 (high-skilled) or C47 (low-skilled), removing previous restrictions that limited eligibility primarily to higher-skilled occupations. Read More

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  International Students – Auditor General Report Response – March 23, 2026:
  The Minister of Immigration, Lena Metlege Diab, responded to the Auditor General’s report on international student reforms, confirming that recent measures have helped reduce student volumes, improve program integrity through enhanced verification systems, and diversify the student population. The government accepted recommendations to strengthen enforcement against fraud and non-compliance and reaffirmed its plan to reduce the temporary resident population to below 5% by 2027, while continuing broader multi-year reforms to ensure the sustainability and credibility of the International Student Program. Read More

CBSA News Updates

Latest Draws (EE & Provincial Nominee Programs)

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Draws

• Manitoba (March 26, 2026)
  Skilled Worker Stream
  • Invitations: 14
    

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• Ontario (March 25, 2026)
  • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker (Eastern Ontario)
    Invitations: 64
    Score: 57
  • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker (Northern Ontario)
    Invitations: 28
    Score: 54
  • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker (Southwestern Ontario)
    Invitations: 99
    Score: 53
  • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker (Central Ontario – excluding GTA)
    Invitations: 51
    Score: 55
  • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker (Greater Toronto Area – GTA)
    Invitations: 355
    Score: 61
  • Employer Job Offer – International Student (Eastern Ontario)
    Invitations: 79
    Score: 83
  • Employer Job Offer – International Student (Northern Ontario)
    Invitations: 29
    Score: 80
  • Employer Job Offer – International Student (Southwestern Ontario)
    Invitations: 152
    Score: 81
  • Employer Job Offer – International Student (Central Ontario – excluding GTA)
    Invitations: 82
    Score: 82
  • Employer Job Offer – International Student (Greater Toronto Area – GTA)
    Invitations: 76
    Score: 90
  • Employer Job Offer – In-Demand Skills (Eastern Ontario)
    Invitations: 31
    Score: 34
  • Employer Job Offer – In-Demand Skills (Central Ontario – excluding GTA)
    Invitations: 66
    Score: 32

Important Upcoming Dates

• March 31, 2026 – Several immigration policies expire:

  • The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) temporary public policy is scheduled to expire.
  • The deadline for extended work permit eligibility under the NTNP (based on updated program rules) comes to an end.
  • Canadian passport fees will increase.
• April 1, 2026 – IRCC will limit access to federally funded settlement services for economic class permanent residents to a maximum of 6 years after landing.
• April 23, 2026 – The temporary facilitation policy for TRV applications related to Gaza will expire.

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