Immigration & Citizenship

  1. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced changes to Express Entry through category-based selection on May 31, 2023. These changes will help address labour shortages and support economic goals by inviting candidates with specific work experience or French language ability to apply for permanent residence.
  2. On May 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced changes to Express Entry through category-based selection. These changes will help address labour shortages and support economic goals by inviting candidates with specific work experience or French language ability to apply for permanent residence.
  3. The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will welcome 48 of Canada’s newest citizens from 13 countries. The ceremony will be presided by Citizenship Judge Albert Wong.
  4. “By opening our doors to those seeking a better life, we open our communities to those wanting to build a stronger Canada. Other than Indigenous peoples, who have been here since time immemorial, all Canadians can trace their stories back to immigration. Whether your family has been here for many generations, like mine, or has just joined Canada, we can all celebrate the benefits of an inclusive welcoming community."
  5. As house prices have climbed, saving for a down payment is out of reach for many Canadians, particularly young people. Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, shared how the new tax-free First Home Savings Account is available and helping put home ownership back within reach of Canadians across the country.
  6. The Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will share details about the new tax-free first home savings account.
  7. The Government of Canada is committed to providing Canadian youth with opportunities to gain international experience and perspectives, as they are particularly important in today’s global economy. Canadian youth will soon have easier access to a new destination for working and travelling abroad.
  8. Canada’s Express Entry system is now tailored to provide a streamlined and efficient pathway for individuals with expertise in critical fields. By prioritizing the invitation of skilled newcomers with experience in the trades, Canada aims to meet the increasing demand for talent and fill key positions that contribute to the nation’s economic growth and advancement.
  9. As Nova Scotia experiences severe flooding, the Government of Canada is urgently mobilizing to help support communities and the people who live in them. This includes help for Canadians and for people who will be crucial to the rebuilding effort.
  10. Human rights defenders (HRDs) are active in every part of the world and play an essential role in promoting and protecting human rights internationally. In many countries, HRDs are increasingly at risk of violence, often subject to threats and injustices, forced to flee their homes due to fear of attack and reprisal, and on occasion, unable to return to their home country. Individuals from vulnerable and marginalized groups are at particularly heightened risk due to their intersectional identities.
  11. Canada continues to receive unprecedented interest from people around the world who want to come here to work, study and build lives with their families. To improve that experience, the Government of Canada is modernizing its immigration platform to help ensure Canada remains a destination of choice.
  12. Canada is a nation that has been shaped by immigration. With increasing global migration, like many other countries, Canada is experiencing a rise in the number of people claiming asylum. While housing and supports for asylum claimants are the responsibility of provinces and municipalities, the federal government recognizes the need for all levels of government to work together on solutions to address the current need, and we have been there every step of the way.
  13. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will make an important immigration announcement.
  14. As Russia’s ongoing, brutal invasion of Ukraine persists, Canada continues to adapt its response to help those fleeing violence. Since its launch in March 2022, the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) has provided temporary safe haven to over 166,000 Ukrainians. Now, we are introducing ongoing support for those who want to come to Canada, and for those who want to stay here permanently with their family.
  15. The governments of Canada and the United Kingdom are committed to providing Canadian and British youth with work opportunities that will empower them to achieve their full potential.
  16. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement:
  17. Pre-arrival settlement services are key to setting newcomers up for success in Canada. They provide newcomers with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their new lives in Canada before they arrive, which helps them successfully transition into their communities and find work faster.
  18. Canada continues to stand by Hong Kong residents, and supports their freedom and democracy. Since 2021, Canada has opened its doors to Hong Kongers through dedicated immigration pathways, and continues working to improve these pathways and make it easier for them to remain in Canada long-term.
  19. Paul Chiang, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion and Member of Parliament for Markham—Unionville, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will make an important announcement regarding continued support for Hong Kong residents in Canada.
  20. The French language is an integral part of the Canadian identity. It’s our shared responsibility to create a Canada where everyone can flourish in the official language of their choice. Given the importance of enhancing the vitality of French linguistic minority communities across the country, Canada's Express Entry system is now tailored to provide a streamlined and efficient pathway for French-speaking immigrants. By prioritizing the invitation of French-speaking newcomers, Canada aims to support economic growth through Francophone immigration outside Quebec while recognizing this enriches and strengthens these communities.
  21. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement today
  22. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will welcome several of Canada’s newest citizens at two special ceremonies in Toronto.
  23. Communities across Canada need health workers. The health field is one of several key sectors of Canada’s labour force which is facing unprecedented shortages. To help respond to this challenge, last month, Minister Fraser announced new changes to Canada’s flagship economic immigration program, Express Entry. Now the Government of Canada can issue invitations to apply for permanent residency in Canada to candidates from particular fields or with specific skills, training or language ability.
  24. On June 28, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the first invitations under Express Entry for skilled newcomers with work experience in health care fields.
  25. Recognizing the immense value and transformative potential that STEM professionals bring to the country, Canada's Express Entry system is now tailored to provide a streamlined and efficient pathway for individuals with expertise in these critical fields. By prioritizing the invitation of skilled newcomers with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) experience, Canada aims to meet the growing demand for talent and fill key positions that contribute to the nation's economic growth and technological advancement
  26. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will be joined by the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, to announce measures to address labour needs in the health care sector.
  27. Pre-arrival settlement services are key to setting newcomers up for success in Canada. They provide newcomers with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their new lives in Canada before they arrive, which helps them successfully transition to their communities and find work faster.
  28. Pre-arrival settlement services are key to setting newcomers up for success in Canada. They provide newcomers with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their new lives in Canada before they arrive, which helps them successfully transition to their communities and find work faster.
  29. Canada’s high-growth industries will provide the jobs of the future, and companies need access to top talent that will fuel innovation, and drive emerging technologies forward.
  30. The Government of Canada is embracing Canada’s emerging role as a leader in global tech talent recruitment and attraction to ensure Canada is not only filling in-demand jobs today, but also attracting the skills and business talent to create the jobs of tomorrow.
  31. Every year, thousands of temporary foreign workers bring their skills to Canada, helping to drive our economy and fill critical labour market gaps. While they play an important role in Canada’s prosperity, foreign workers sometimes face barriers in the types of study programs in which they can enrol to pursue their dreams and create new opportunities.
  32. Pre-arrival settlement services are key to setting newcomers up for success in Canada. They provide newcomers with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their new lives in Canada before they arrive, which helps them successfully transition to their communities and find work faster.
  33. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) plays a key role in ensuring the integrity of our immigration system. The CBSA announced today that charges have been laid against Brijesh Mishra, a citizen of India, for immigration-related offences.
  34. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will visit Toronto for an exclusive immigration announcement and a special citizenship ceremony.
  35. "Today, on World Refugee Day, the global community honours the strength and courage of millions of refugees, while showing empathy and understanding for their plight. In Canada, we have a proud history of resettling the world’s most vulnerable people, and refugees play an essential role in building and strengthening our communities. To celebrate this year’s World Refugee Day theme, Hope Away From Home, we are focusing on the opportunities Canada provides refugees and displaced people that inspire hope."
  36. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2023 SCC 17:
  37. Francophone immigration is at the heart of the Government of Canada's priorities. The country has always been a forerunner in its initiatives to welcome as many French-speaking nationals as possible, by implementing innovative initiatives to foster the contribution of newcomers to minority communities and thus maintain the social fabric of our country.
  38. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will hold a media scrum to address recent reports of fraudulent acceptance letters affecting international students and graduates in Canada.
  39. Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), issued the following statement: "There have been recent reports of international students and graduates facing removal from Canada, after letters of acceptance submitted as part of their study permit application were determined to be fraudulent."
  40. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that Canada was launching a new federal economic pathway under the EMPP to help Canadian employers hire skilled refugees and other displaced individuals.
  41. Refugees and other displaced individuals are forced to restart their lives when they flee their home country, but they should not have to start from scratch, particularly when it comes to acquiring skills, training, experience and education. Through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), Canada is tapping into talent that is too often overlooked by creating more opportunities for skilled refugees and other displaced individuals to immigrate and to use their education, training and experience to continue their careers in Canada.
  42. With the country experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season, the Government of Canada is urgently mobilizing to help support communities and the people who live in them. This includes help for Canadians and for people who are crucial to the rebuilding effort.
  43. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will attend the Freedom Toronto event.
  44. Canada is a destination of choice for people looking to visit, do business or reunite with family and friends. That’s why we are committed to improving our immigration programs and services by making them more efficient and equitable for people around the world.
  45. On June 6, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the addition of 13 countries to the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program. Travellers from these countries who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air. Effective today, eligible travellers from these countries can benefit from the program.
  46. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will visit Winnipeg for an immigration announcement and a special citizenship ceremony.
  47. With employers eagerly seeking to fill countless vacant positions across the country, immigration emerges as a vital piece to solving this puzzle. Recognizing this reality, the Government of Canada is building an immigration system that acts as a catalyst for growth, empowering businesses, helping address their labour needs and strengthening French communities. When combined, these efforts will ensure Canadians benefit from economic and social prosperity for years to come.
  48. Every year, Citizenship Week is a chance to celebrate new citizens and all that it means to be Canadian.
  49. Vancouver—Families are meant to be together, especially during life’s big moments like moving to a new country. That is why Canada is working to help families reunite more quickly and easily, and support themselves once in Canada.
  50. Strong humanitarian partnerships to navigate complex geopolitical realities are crucial in bringing Afghans to safety in Canada. The Government of Canada continues to work with like-minded countries, partners in the region and non-governmental organizations to facilitate the safe movement of Afghans destined for Canada.