Canada Immigration Highlights | April 21–27, 2025

Program Delivery Updates

Stay informed with the latest Canadian immigration news and updates from April 21 to April 27, 2025.

• April 22, 2025: Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID)
  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced the Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID), replacing the previous Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD) as of March 25, 2025. The bilingual RPID serves as a valid ID for six years, without indicating eligibility decisions or sex/gender information. It is issued upon claim promotion. Existing RPCDs remain valid until their expiry, after which claimants can request an RPID.
  Source: IRCC

• April 23, 2025: Study Permits – Off-Campus Work Hours Update
  IRCC updated its policies to reflect a regulatory change increasing the maximum off-campus work hours for international students from 20 to 24 hours per week. References to the expired temporary public policy permitting unlimited work hours have been removed.
  Source: IRCC

• April 23, 2025: Study Permits – International Student Program Amendments
  New IRCC guidelines effective November 8, 2024, introduce stricter requirements for Letters of Acceptance (LOAs), mandate new permits for changing Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs), update study permit conditions, and enforce automatic invalidation upon unenrollment. A suspension list has also been established for non-compliant DLIs.
  Source: IRCC

Provincial Government News

• April 22, 2025: Newfoundland and Labrador – Skilled Trades Fee Removal
  As of April 1, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador has eliminated all certification, application, and exam fees for apprentices and trade qualifiers, including costs related to exams, logbooks, certificates, and Red Seal certifications. The move aims to reduce financial barriers and promote careers in the skilled trades.
  Source: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

• April 24, 2025: Northwest Territories – Survey for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs)
  The Northwest Territories government launched a survey (April 24–May 25, 2025) to collect feedback from internationally educated nurses residing in the NWT who are not currently licensed to practice. The survey aims to identify licensing barriers and inform future healthcare workforce planning.
  Source: Government of Northwest Territories

Immigration News

• April 21, 2025: LMIA Processing Delays Impact Migrants
  A Reuters report highlighted that prolonged processing times for Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs)—increasing from 58 to 165 business days since September 2023—are causing many migrants to lose their legal work status and access to essential services such as healthcare.
  Source: Reuters

• April 23, 2025: IRCC Updates Processing Times
  IRCC reported faster processing times in some streams: citizenship grants now take approximately 8 months (down from 9), and citizenship certificates about 3 months (down from 4). However, spousal sponsorships—especially in Quebec—continue to face long delays of up to 36 months.
  Source: Immigration News Canada

• April 24, 2025: 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan Update
  Canada has revised its immigration targets, aiming to welcome 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, down from the earlier target of 500,000. The reduction reflects growing concerns about housing affordability and pressure on public infrastructure.
  Source: Centuro Global

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Updates

• April 21–27, 2025: No Specific PNP Draws Reported
  No new PNP draws were officially reported during this week. However, previous developments remain relevant:

  • British Columbia: PNP allocations for 2025 were cut by 50%, allowing 4,000 nominations with a focus on healthcare workers and entrepreneurs (accepting only 1,100 new applications).

  • Manitoba: Introduced two-year work permits for certain PNP candidates to help maintain their legal status, with applications starting April 22, 2025.

  • Federal: National PNP targets were reduced to 55,000 annually under the updated 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, increasing competition and expected delays.

👉 Stay informed by regularly checking IRCC and provincial government updates. For personalized advice, consult a licensed immigration professional.