IRCC News Updates for the Week of June 29 – July 6, 2025.

Program Delivery Updates

Wage Review for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) (July 3, 2025):

Source: IRCC Program Delivery Instructions

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued updated guidance on how officers should assess wages under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

🔹 Key Instruction:
Work permit applications under TFWP must continue to be processed using the wage listed in the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), even if newer provincial or prevailing wage updates have occurred.

🔹 Important Clarifications:

• The prevailing wage is defined as the highest of:

  1. The Job Bank’s regional median wage for the occupation;

  2. The employer’s own wage range for similar roles;

  3. Reliable, publicly available labour market data.

• Some TFWP streams (e.g., SAWP, Global Talent Stream, Quebec-based positions) may use alternative wage guidelines.

• Employers must pay temporary foreign workers at least the prevailing wage at the start and throughout the employment period.

• Wage cannot fall below what was stated in the positive LMIA, even if the prevailing wage decreases later.

🔹 Wage Adjustments and Application Validity:

• If provincial minimum wages rise after the LMIA is issued, the LMIA remains valid.

• Employers may increase wages after LMIA approval to meet legal requirements (e.g., minimum wage increases), without needing to report the change if:

  • The raise is ≤ 2%, or

  • Matches the new prevailing wage, or

  • Aligns with annual inflation (3.9% in 2023).

• Officers can approve work permits even if there’s a minor wage discrepancy between the LMIA and the applicant’s contract—as long as it aligns with the above allowances and does not reflect a change in duties or occupation.

PRRA Bar Exemption for Nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (July 4, 2025):

Source: IRCC Program Delivery Instructions

Effective July 4, 2025, nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are exempt from the 12-month bar on applying for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) if:

• Their most recent decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), Federal Court, or a previous PRRA was made between July 5, 2024, and July 4, 2025 (inclusive).

🔹 What this means:
DRC nationals whose decisions fall within this date range may immediately apply for a PRRA, even if 12 months have not passed.

🔹 Note:
Anyone with a decision after July 4, 2025, remains subject to the standard 12-month bar before they are eligible to apply for a PRRA.

Proof of Financial Support for a Canadian Study Permit (2025 Update)

Source: IRCC Program Delivery Instructions

To be approved for a study permit, you must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover:

• Your tuition fees

• Living expenses for yourself and any accompanying family members

• Transportation costs to and from Canada

Acceptable Proof of Financial Support

You must provide at least one of the following:

• Proof of tuition and housing payment
  (At minimum, proof of 1st year’s tuition for multi-year programs)

• Evidence you can cover living and travel expenses, such as:

  • A Canadian bank account in your name (if funds have been transferred to Canada)

  • A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian bank

  • A student/education loan from a recognized financial institution

  • Bank statements for the past 4 months

  • A convertible bank draft (in Canadian dollars)

  • A letter of financial support from a person or institution

  • Proof of Canadian funding, scholarship, or financial aid

Minimum Funds Required

You must show proof that you have the following annual funds (excluding tuition):

PGWP Eligible Programs List Updated (July 4, 2025)

Source: IRCC Program Delivery Instructions

On July 4, 2025, IRCC updated the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility list to restore study programs that were previously removed on June 25, 2025.

🔹 These restored programs remain eligible for PGWP until the next official update in early 2026.

Field of Study Requirement for PGWP

To qualify for a PGWP, your study program must match a currently eligible 6-digit CIP code (Classification of Instructional Programs) at the time you submit either:

• your study permit application, or

• your PGWP application

Note: Even if your program is later removed from the list, you will still meet the PGWP eligibility requirement if your study permit application was submitted while it was still eligible.

Who Doesn’t Need to Meet the Field of Study Requirement?

Some applicants may be exempt. This section refers only to applicants who do need their program of study to appear on the eligible CIP list.

How to Find and Verify Your CIP Code

• Check your DLI’s website: Most Designated Learning Institutions publish PGWP eligibility and CIP codes.

• Contact your school: Ask for the exact 6-digit CIP code of your program.

• Use the Statistics Canada CIP directory: Search here to find your program’s correct code.

Special Immigration Measures for 2025 Wildfire Victims (Announced July 2, 2025)

Source: IRCC Program Delivery Instructions

The Canadian government has introduced new measures to support people affected by wildfires across the country.

Announced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, these special temporary policies are in effect until November 30, 2025, and include the following:

🔹 For Canadian citizens and permanent residents:

• Free replacements for lost/damaged documents due to wildfires:

  • Passports

  • Citizenship certificates

  • PR cards

  • Other Canadian travel documents

• Refunds for replacement document fees paid on or after April 1, 2025, due to wildfire damage

🔹 For temporary residents (international students, foreign workers, visitors):

• Free replacement of immigration status documents

• Free extensions or restoration of status (even if over the 90-day deadline)

• Waived fees for new work/study permits if affected by wildfires

🔹 For foreign emergency personnel:

• As of June 11, 2025, application and biometric fees are waived for foreign firefighters and emergency responders coming to help with wildfire efforts.

CUAET Work and Study Permit Access Extended to March 31, 2026 (Announced: July 2025)

Source: IRCC Program Delivery Instructions

IRCC has extended the Temporary Public Policy that allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members who arrived in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) to:

• Apply for or renew open work permits from inside Canada

• Apply for study permits from inside Canada

Who is eligible?
Foreign nationals who:

• Are Ukrainian citizens or their family members as defined in IRPR

• Arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024

• Hold valid temporary resident status in Canada

• Were facilitated under the original or extended CUAET policies (2022 or 2023 issuance)

• Are applying for:

  • A work permit under section 200 or renewal under section 201

  • A study permit under section 216

Provincial Government News: