IRCC News Updates for the Week of June 8–15, 2025

Program Delivery Updates

• Collection of Fees for Temporary Resident Permits (June 11, 2025):

  • IRCC has updated its internal guidance to confirm that Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) fees must always be paid before any assessment can take place, without exception.

    🔹 The $200 TRP fee is mandatory and non-refundable, and payment must be received in advance, whether the application is made inside or outside Canada.

    🔹 A common exemption applies only to individuals covered under paragraph R298(2)(a)—typically those applying for a work or study permit outside Canada who are issued a TRP instead of a TRV due to inadmissibility. In such cases, only the work/study permit fees are required.

    🔹 Inside Canada, TRP applications must include proof of payment when submitted. Incomplete applications will be returned.

    🔹 TRPs are not extendable. Once a TRP expires, the individual must apply for a new permit and repay the associated fee.

    🔹 Public policy exemptions may apply in specific cases (e.g., victims of trafficking or family violence, or certain criminal inadmissibility cases), but these are limited and clearly defined in IRCC manuals.

    This clarification ensures a consistent approach to TRP fee collection and reinforces that payment is a precondition for consideration, not a guarantee of approval.

• New Instructions on In-Canada Work Permit Printing for Subsequent International Experience Canada Participants (June 11, 2025):

  • Effective April 16, 2025, International Experience Canada (IEC) participants who are currently inside Canada and have submitted a subsequent IEC application can now request their new work permit to be issued from within the country—without needing to exit and re-enter Canada.

    This update was made in response to the flagpoling ban introduced by CBSA on December 23, 2024, which restricts individuals from activating new permits by crossing into the U.S. or Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

    ✅ Who is Eligible?

    IEC participants must meet all three conditions:

    1. Applied for their new IEC while holding a valid IEC work permit.

    2. Received a Letter of Introduction (LOI) that hasn’t expired.

    3. Still maintain valid immigration status in Canada.

    🔧 How to Request In-Canada Issuance:

    • Use the IRCC web form with the keyword A112025.

    • Provide personal contact details, employer info (if applicable), and upload:

      • A copy of the previous IEC work permit,

      • Valid health insurance (for the entire permit duration).

    ⚠ Important Notes:

    • If health insurance doesn’t cover the full requested duration, the work permit will be shortened accordingly.

    • This temporary process remains in effect until December 1, 2025.

    • Applicants are not eligible to extend work permits issued under shortened durations due to partial insurance coverage.

    This streamlined process ensures IEC participants can transition smoothly between permits without leaving Canada. Processing time is typically 5 business days once the request is received.

• EMPP Pilot Extended – Supporting Skilled Refugees and Canadian Employers (June 12, 2025)

• Canada has officially extended the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) federal stream until December 31, 2025. This unique program allows skilled refugees and displaced individuals to immigrate through economic pathways, offering a solution to labour shortages in high-demand sectors such as health care, construction, and food services.

  🔹 What is EMPP?
  The EMPP is Canada’s first refugee labour mobility initiative, combining humanitarian protection with economic immigration. It offers a safe, legal alternative to traditional resettlement, recognizing the value of refugees’ existing skills and work experience.

  🔹 Impact So Far

  • Since 2019, 970 newcomers have arrived under EMPP.

  • Over 30% have filled roles in the health care sector.

  🔹 2025 Updates

  • The job-offer stream is now capped at 950 applications.

  • The extension ensures that more employers in key sectors can access qualified talent, while refugees gain a direct pathway to permanent residence.

  This pilot reflects Canada’s broader immigration goals: addressing workforce needs, fostering inclusive economic growth, and helping newcomers establish strong roots in Canadian communities.

Provincial Government News: