Canada Weekly Immigration Briefing

Dates Covered: March 30 – April 05, 2026

Canada’s immigration landscape continues to evolve rapidly. In this weekly briefing (March 30 – April 5, 2026), we break down critical Federal Court decisions affecting refugee claims, study permits, TRVs, and PR applications, along with major IRCC policy updates such as new disaster relief measures, Ukrainian work permit extensions, and revised Super Visa income rules.

We also cover the latest Express Entry draws, including a large trades-focused round with a CRS cut-off of 477, as well as key Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invitations across Ontario and Newfoundland. Additionally, new regulatory changes shifting eligibility authority to provinces signal a major transformation in how PNP applications will be assessed moving forward.

Whether you’re an applicant, consultant, or employer, this update provides essential insights to help you navigate Canada’s immigration system with confidence.

Case Law Trends

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

• Study Permits – Golmohammadi v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 428: The Federal Court granted judicial review of decisions refusing study permits for two minor siblings and a visitor visa for their mother. The Officer had rejected the applications claiming the study plan was “vague” and that family ties in Iran were insufficient to motivate a return, especially since the mother and both siblings were traveling together. Justice Battista ruled the decisions were unreasonable and non-responsive to the evidence. The Court found that the Applicants had provided a detailed study plan (including specific career goals in nursing and data science) and clear evidence that the father and another brother would remain in Iran—facts the Officer completely failed to acknowledge. The Court set aside the refusals and ordered a redetermination by a different officer. Judicial review granted. Read More
  

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• Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds – Sangarappillai v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 426: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of an H&C refusal for a Sri Lankan citizen who had been in Canada since 2019. The Applicant sought permanent residence based on her role caring for two Canadian grandchildren and potential hardship in Sri Lanka due to gender-based violence and her Tamil ethnicity. Mr. Justice Grammond found the decision reasonable, noting that the Applicant’s evidence was “thin” and consisted mostly of generalized country conditions without personal details. The Court ruled that the Officer was not required to provide exhaustive reasons for factors that were poorly documented by the Applicant, and that the Applicant was essentially seeking a “line-by-line treasure hunt for error” which Vavilov explicitly discourages. Judicial review dismissed. Read More
  

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• Refugee Protection / SOGI – Adeniran v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 418: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of an RPD decision that rejected a Nigerian man’s claim based on sexual orientation and issued a “No Credible Basis” (NCB) finding. The Applicant argued that the RPD failed to accommodate his PTSD and misapplied Guideline 9 by using a “Western lens” to judge his testimony. Madam Justice Saint-Fleur ruled the decision was reasonable, noting the RPD had applied Guideline 8 by rephrasing questions and offering breaks. The Court held that despite these accommodations, the Applicant’s inability to provide basic details about his supposed three-year relationship in Nigeria, coupled with contradictions about how he met his partner, justified a negative credibility finding. The Court confirmed that participation in LGBTQ+ organizations and pride events is not substitute proof for a lack of credible personal testimony. Judicial review dismissed. Read More
  

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• Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) – Balendra v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 423: The Federal Court granted judicial review of a PRRA refusal for a Tamil applicant from Sri Lanka. The Officer had discounted an active arrest warrant from the Sri Lankan “Terrorist Investigation Branch” because it was linked to earlier police documents that were ruled inadmissible as “new evidence.” Mr. Justice Brouwer found this reasoning unintelligible, ruling that while the prior documents were properly excluded, the warrant itself was a valid, new, and uncontradicted piece of evidence. Given that the warrant would place the Applicant on an airport “stop list” for immediate arrest upon return, the Officer’s decision to assign it “low probative value” was unjustified. The Court also took the extraordinary step of rebuking the Applicant’s counsel for professional negligence and ordered him to provide a translated copy of the judgment to the client at his own expense. Judicial review granted. Read More
  

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• Temporary Resident Visa – Shergill v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 419: The Federal Court granted judicial review of a decision refusing TRVs for a mother and daughter from India. The Officer had rejected the applications based on “insufficient assets” and a lack of “significant family ties outside Canada,” noting large, unexplained deposits in their bank accounts. Mr. Justice Gleeson ruled the decision was unreasonable, finding that while the Officer correctly identified concerns with the lump-sum deposits, they completely failed to engage with the Applicant’s other evidence of stability, including tax returns, a 50% business ownership interest, and the fact that the Applicant’s spouse and parents remained in India. The Court held that an Officer cannot ignore objectively significant ties and financial assets without providing a reasoned justification for why they are insufficient. Judicial review granted. Read More

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• Federal Skilled Trades Class – Ruchika v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 414: The Federal Court granted judicial review of a decision refusing a permanent residence application under the Federal Skilled Trades Class for a “carpet installation and flooring supervisor.” The Officer had rejected the claim because the Applicant previously declared herself a “housewife” on a 2018 visitor visa application, leading the Officer to conclude her subsequent claim of five years of experience in her family’s business was not genuine. Justice Régimbald ruled the decision was unreasonable, finding that while the Officer could note inconsistencies, they failed to meaningfully engage with the Applicant’s detailed affidavit and tax documents which described her specific supervisory duties. The Court held that an Officer cannot simply state an applicant has “no experience” while ignoring a sworn affidavit that directly contradicts that finding without providing a reasoned justification. Judicial review granted. Read More
  

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• Post-Graduate Work Permit & Restoration – Singh v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 422: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a decision refusing a third PGWP application and a request for restoration of student status for an Applicant from India. The Applicant had switched to part-time studies for one semester in 2019 due to mental health challenges, following a physician’s recommendation and approval from his faculty. Mr. Justice Duchesne ruled the decision reasonable, affirming that PGWP eligibility requirements are mandatory and must be strictly applied. The Court held that “authorized leave” is a specific regulatory category, and studying part-time—even with university approval—does not constitute being “on leave.” Furthermore, the restoration application failed because the Applicant applied for a work permit (IMM 5710) rather than a study permit, meaning there was no valid student status to “restore” under the regulations. Judicial review dismissed. Read More

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  Sponsorship Procedural Fairness – Somers-Edgar v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 417: The Federal Court granted judicial review of a decision to reject a Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) application for incompleteness. IRCC had sent a procedural fairness letter requesting “proof of relationship between the Dependant and Principal Applicant.” The Applicants, believing “dependant” referred to the son (Logan), submitted his birth certificate, whereas IRCC actually wanted the marriage certificate of the parents (Grant and Janice). Mr. Justice A. Grant ruled that the process was procedurally unfair because IRCC’s terminology was vague and “actively misleading.” The Court held that applicants should not need a law degree to decipher IRCC’s colloquial use of “dependant” when it contradicts common usage and the definitions found in the IRPR. Judicial review granted. Read More

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• Afghan Resettlement & Judicial Comity – Ahmadzai v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 412: The Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a decision refusing permanent residence to an Afghan national and his mother under a special public policy. The Applicant had also sought to be added as a de facto dependent to his brother’s successful application, but the request was made after the brother had already become a permanent resident, which violated the policy’s timing requirements. Mr. Justice Grammond dismissed the application based on judicial comity, following a previous decision by Justice Angus Grant in the mother’s identical case (2025 FC 1754). The Court also expressed concern that the Applicant’s counsel failed to disclose the previous negative ruling despite presenting the exact same arguments. Judicial review dismissed. Read More 

IRCC Program Delivery Updates

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

• New Special Measures for Domestic Natural Disasters – April 2, 2026

  Summary: IRCC has launched a new set of special measures to support individuals and communities impacted by extreme weather and natural disasters within Canada. These measures provide significant flexibility for temporary residents to maintain their status and facilitate the rapid entry of foreign emergency personnel. The policy is scheduled to remain in place for over three years, expiring on November 30, 2028. Read More

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  Facilitated Open Work Permit (OWP) Renewals – Ukrainian Nationals – April 1, 2026 

  IRCC has issued new operational guidance for a Temporary Public Policy (TPP) that facilitates the extension of open work permits for Ukrainian nationals and their family members who are already in Canada. This policy specifically targets those who previously received work permits under prior emergency measures (such as CUAET). The policy is in effect from April 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027, providing a one-year window for status maintenance. Read More

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  Facilitated Temporary Residence – Ukrainian Family Reunification Pathway – April 1, 2026 

  IRCC has released new instructions for processing temporary resident (TR) applications under a Temporary Public Policy (TPP) designed for Ukrainian nationals and their family members who have already applied for Permanent Residence (PR) via the Family Reunification Pathway (which originally closed to new applicants on October 22, 2024). This update provides a bridge for these individuals to maintain, extend, or restore their temporary status—including work and study permits—while their PR applications remain in the queue. Read More

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  Ministerial Instructions: Updated Super Visa Income Criteria (2026) – March 31, 2026

  IRCC has issued new Ministerial Instructions for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, replacing the 2023 version. The most significant change is the expansion of how Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) is calculated. Hosts can now choose between two calculation methods and, for the first time, are permitted to include the income of the foreign national(s) applying to help meet the LICO (Low Income Cut-Off) threshold. Read More

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  Extension of Work Permit Measures for Ukrainian Nationals – March 31, 2026

  The Government of Canada has extended the deadline for eligible Ukrainian nationals and their family members to apply for work permit extensions. Individuals who arrived in Canada under the CUAET or related measures (on or before March 31, 2024, or by December 31, 2024, for certain approved cases) now have until March 31, 2027, to apply to extend their open work permits for up to three additional years. Read More

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  New “30 Days or Free” Passport Processing Guarantee – March 31, 2026 

  IRCC and Service Canada have introduced a new accountability measure for passport services. Effective April 1, 2026, applicants are guaranteed a full refund of their passport or travel document fees if processing exceeds 30 business days. This guarantee applies to all standard applications, regardless of how they are submitted. Processing time is calculated from the receipt of a complete application to the moment the document is printed and verified (excluding mailing time). Read More

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• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – Transfer of Eligibility Authority – March 30, 2026

  Effective March 30, 2026, IRCC has implemented regulatory changes that transfer the primary authority to assess “intent to reside” and “ability to become economically established” from federal officers to the provinces and territories (PTs). Under the new rules, a valid provincial nomination certificate serves as conclusive evidence that these criteria have been met. These changes apply to all new and existing PNP applications currently in the inventory that have not yet passed the eligibility stage. Read More

CBSA News Updates

Latest Draws (EE & Provincial Nominee Programs)

Express Entry Draws

April 2, 2026 – Trades Occupations (2026-Version 3)

• Invitations Issued: 3,000

• Lowest CRS Score: 477

March 31, 2026 – Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Invitations Issued: 2,250

• Lowest CRS Score: 509

March 30, 2026 – Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

• Invitations Issued: 356

• Lowest CRS Score: 802

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Draws

April 1, 2026 – Ontario: Employer Job Offer (Mining Sector)

• Foreign Worker Stream: 372 invitations (Lowest Score: 56)

• International Student Stream: 355 invitations (Lowest Score: 85)

• In-Demand Skills Stream: 32 invitations (Lowest Score: 34)

March 30, 2026 – Newfoundland and Labrador

• NL Provincial Nominee Program: 209 invitations

• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 36 invitations

Important Upcoming Dates

• April 23, 2026 – Gaza TRV Facilitation Policy Expiration. Read More

• April 30, 2026: Permanent Residence (PR) Fee Increase Read More

• April 30, 2026: Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 160, Number 14 Read More

• May 1, 2026: IFHP Coverage Changes Read More

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