On January 1, 2026, Canada's immigration system underwent five changes.
- nmredm
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
A number of initiatives, including the closing of an entrepreneurial pipeline and new provincial labour regulations, went into effect in Canada on New Year's Day. Here are some recent developments and the people they primarily impact.
A Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter is no longer required for graduate students.
Who it affects: International students considering a master's or doctorate degree in Canada. Master's and doctorate students enrolled in public designated learning institutions (DLIs) will no longer require a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) in order to obtain a study permit as of January 1, 2026.
In order to verify that a study permit applicant is included in the province or territory's international student cap, the government implemented PAL/TALs in 2024.
In other words, more graduate students will be able to study in Canada because master's and doctoral students will no longer be subject to Canada's study permit cap. Additionally, students at the doctoral level will now be eligible for expedited visa processing, which can take as little as two weeks.
Because they are no longer subject to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processing constraints and can apply even if the study permit ceiling has been reached, foreign nationals considering pursuing these programs in Canada will find it easier to obtain a study permit.
Additionally, as acquiring a PAL or TAL frequently requires students to submit a deposit to a DLI to affirm their desire to enroll in that institution, this lowers the upfront cost of a study permit for these students.
New applications for Canada's Start-Up Visa program are no longer being accepted.
This affects foreign businesspeople who are applying for permanent residence (PR) in Canada. At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, IRCC ceased accepting new applications under the Start-Up Visa program.
Foreign nationals who have already obtained a commitment certificate from a designated organization that has committed to supporting the business are exempt. Candidates have until June 30, 2026, to apply if they have a legitimate commitment from a designated organization from 2025.
Additionally, IRCC is no longer taking new applications for work permits issued under this scheme. While their PR application is being handled, those who already have such a work permit could be eligible to extend it.
New Pilot:
These modifications are part of the "transition to a new, targeted pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs," according to the federal government.
In 2026, information about this new pilot program will be made public.
Ontario increases out-of-province workers' mobility in regulated occupations
This affects professionals who want to move to Ontario yet have qualifications in other Canadian jurisdictions.
Thanks to the provincial government's "As of Right" framework, workers in a variety of regulated professions in Ontario can take advantage of quicker work authorization starting on January 1, 2026.
After their qualifications have been verified by their regulatory body, professionals with certifications from provinces outside of Ontario will be permitted to practice in Ontario within 10 business days under this framework—for a maximum of six months while they obtain Ontario-based authorization.
It frequently took months for workers to obtain permission to perform their profession in Ontario before this was approved.
Architects, engineers, electricians, and some healthcare positions are among the professions covered by the "As of Right" regulation, which is applicable to more than 50 Ontario regulatory bodies and 300 certifications.
Ontario bans the necessity of Canadian work experience in job advertisements.
Who will be impacted by this: anyone looking for work in Ontario who has never worked in Canada before.
On January 1, 2026, Ontario's Employment Standards Act was amended to include new rules for publicly advertised job advertisements.
The prohibition on employers stating "Canadian work experience" as a prerequisite in job advertisements or related application forms is a significant component of these modifications.
Employers in Ontario were formerly permitted to designate "Canadian work experience" as a prerequisite; this has been criticized as a problem that prevents immigrants without Canadian experience from obtaining employment in their industry.
A number of other safeguards have also been put in place in addition to this one, such as requiring disclosure of any usage of AI throughout the employment process.
Alberta's Rural Renewal Stream criteria have been tightened.
Those who have a job offer and intend to relocate to rural Alberta are affected.
Alberta's stricter requirements for its Rural Renewal Stream went into force on January 1, 2026. Changes to the stream as of January 1 include:
Requiring applicants from Canada to have a valid work permit both at the time of application assessment and at the time of application submission (maintained status, no longer counts.
Requiring residents of Alberta to be eligible for lower-skilled (TEER 4 or 5) employment;
Limiting the amount of community endorsements; and
Endorsement letters have a 12-month expiration date.
Through the Rural Renewal Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, Alberta can nominate a foreign national for permanent residence if a selected rural community supports them with a local job opportunity.
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