Over the next three days, we'll publish the 2025 results and cover all the changes happened in 2025, both at the federal and provincial levels! So if you weren't up to date on immigration last year, don't worry, this will be brief and to the point!
EVERYTHING you missed in 2025! Federal level!
2025 has been one of the most eventful and unstable years for the Canadian immigration system in the past decade.
Some measures were extended, others were scaled back, and still others were drastically changed: all against the backdrop of global crises, immigration policy reviews, and increased government oversight.
If you missed the news, this article summarizes all the key changes: short, clear, and to the point.
1. Special measures for citizens of Haiti and Sudan—a major extension of the program until October 27, 2026. The program allows you to obtain open work or study permits, waives consular fees when applying for permits, and, most interestingly, allows you to apply WITHOUT A VALID PASSPORT (interesting food for thought, isn't it?)
These waivers apply to citizens of Haiti and Sudan currently in Canada, as well as to foreign family members of Canadian citizens/permanent residents who cannot return home due to the critical situation in their countries.
2. Open Work Visa Program for Ukrainians (CUAET) – application deadline extended until March 31, 2026.
3. Open Work Visa Program for Israeli citizens → closed in summer 2025 and will not be extended.
4. Extended TRP for victims of domestic violence. TRPs are now issued for a minimum of 12 months, up from the previous 6, significantly increasing the protection of vulnerable applicants.
5. Introduction of Bill C-3 – Citizenship for "Second Generation" Canadians. The federal government has finally closed a loophole in the legislation: second-generation Canadians born abroad can now pass on citizenship to their children.
6. Quebec introduced quotas for family sponsorship. The sensational news of the year: Quebec set limits on the sponsorship of spouses, children, and parents. In essence, the family sponsorship program in the province was almost completely halted, causing a huge public outcry.
7. Federal government invited 25,000 parents to apply for sponsorship
Amid tightening restrictions in Quebec, the federal government, on the contrary, took a record step – opening a wave of invitations to 25,000 people under the Parents & Grandparents Program. Now, sponsorship processing times in Quebec will be three times longer than in the rest of Canada.
8. Bill C-12 – Cancellation of Previously Issued Visas, Work Permits, and Study Permits
In November, Canada introduced Bill C-12, which allows:
- Cancellation of already issued visas,
- Revocation of work and study permits,
- Cancellation of documents obtained in error or fraud.
This is one of the most stringent innovations of the year, strengthening controls over temporary residents.
9. Automatic exchange of personal data with the United States. Effective January 31, 2025, Canada and the United States began the automated exchange of data on permanent residents. This was done for the security of both countries.
Interestingly, the Personal Data Protection Act prohibits governments from spying on their own citizens, but allows each other to do so for security reasons.
The United States and Canada have addressed this situation in a very original way – they have allowed their neighbors to spy on their citizens and then simply share this data with each other. This means that no one is directly spying on their own citizens – it's their neighbor!
10. The threshold for eligible annual healthcare expenses has been increased for temporary residents or those applying for permanent residence.
Effective January 1, 2025, it has increased to CAD 27,162/year.
For comparison:
• in 2024 – CAD 26,220
• until March 2022 – only CAD 8,019.
This nearly triple increase in just a few years is a significant change for those with health issues and who may require ongoing medical care for chronic or serious illnesses.
Oleksandra Melnykova, Canadian Immigration and Refugee Consultant.
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