Steady Pathways, Bold Reforms: Canadian Immigration Week in Review

As May 2026 opens, Canada's immigration landscape is buzzing with activity. Three Express Entry draws landed in a single week, permanent residence fees officially increased, a sweeping overhaul of the Express Entry system entered public consultation, and Immigration Minister Lena Diab found herself fielding pointed questions in Parliament over a controversial visa controversy. There is a great deal to unpack — so let's get into it.

🎯Express Entry Draws: A Busy Week with Three Rounds

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — closed April 2026 with a flurry of activity, conducting three consecutive Express Entry invitation rounds within days of each other. Together, these draws issued 6,473 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

Draw 412 — Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | April 27, 2026

Detail	Information
Draw Number	412
Draw Type	Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Date	April 27, 2026
Invitations Issued	473
Minimum CRS Score	795

The week opened with a PNP-specific draw. The CRS cut-off of 795 is intentionally high — this is by design, since every provincial nominee automatically receives 600 bonus CRS points. A candidate with a base score of only 195 would reach 795 with a provincial nomination in hand. The 473 invitations represent a continuing downward trend in PNP draw volumes for 2026 (down from 681 in January), which points to a thinning pool of waiting provincial nominees.

Draw 413 — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | April 28, 2026

Detail	Information
Draw Number	413
Draw Type	Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Date	April 28, 2026
Invitations Issued	2,000
Minimum CRS Score	514

The following day, IRCC ran a CEC-specific draw issuing 2,000 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 514. This is a slight one-point dip from the 515 cut-off of the previous CEC draw on April 14, 2026, but remains higher than the 509 recorded in the March 31 draw. IRCC has now issued 2,000 invitations in three consecutive CEC draws, signalling a deliberate policy of smaller but consistent rounds.

Draw #414 — French Language Proficiency | April 29, 2026

Detail	Information
Draw Number	#414
Draw Type	French Language Proficiency (Category-Based)
Date	April 29, 2026
Invitations Issued	4,000
Minimum CRS Score	400

The week's most significant draw was the French Language Proficiency round, issuing 4,000 ITAs — the fifth French draw of 2026 and the largest single draw of the week. The CRS cut-off of 400 is significantly lower than the 419 cut-off in the previous French draw, representing a 19-point drop, which is excellent news for French-speaking candidates.

🔍 Our Analysis — Express Entry Draws:

Three draws in three consecutive days is an unusual and significant pattern. IRCC appears to be "cluster-drawing" — batching different draw types together in a short window, likely to manage different candidate pools efficiently. This strategy has important implications:

The CEC scores (514) remain stubbornly elevated because the 2026-2028 Levels Plan allocates fewer spots for federal high-skilled immigrants, and smaller draws mean leftover candidates continue to accumulate in the pool. If you are a CEC-eligible candidate with a score below 510, you may want to explore two parallel tracks: improving your language scores and looking seriously at provincial nominations.

The French draw CRS of 400 is the most accessible pathway in Express Entry right now. For candidates who qualify for a French draw, a CRS of 400 is achievable for many profiles, even without Canadian work experience. This is a strong argument for investing in French language training. Minister Diab has confirmed that Canada aims to welcome over 30,000 francophone newcomers per year through 2028, reinforcing that French draws will remain frequent and large.

The PNP pattern — declining invitation volumes and high CRS floors — tells us the pool of nominated candidates awaiting federal ITAs is shrinking. This is good news if you already hold a provincial nomination; your wait should be shorter. For those without a nomination, check your province's EOI system and ensure your profile is competitive.

Our prediction: The next draws are likely around May 7–12, 2026. Expect another CEC draw (CRS 511–515 range) and possibly a category-based draw targeting healthcare, trades, or transport. A PNP draw is likely in the last week of May.

💰 Permanent Residence Fees Increase — Effective April 30, 2026

One of the most practically significant events this week was the permanent residence fee increase that took effect on April 30, 2026. IRCC adjusts these fees every two years under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to offset the cost of running the program.

Fee Type / Program	Old Fee (CAD)	New Fee (CAD)	Increase
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)	$575	$600	+$25
Economic Programs (Express Entry, PNP, Atlantic, QSW) – Principal	$950	$990	+$40
Business Class – Principal Applicant	$1,810	$1,895	+$85
Family Class – Principal Applicant	$545	$570	+$25
Protected Persons	$635	$660	+$25
Humanitarian & Compassionate / Public Policy	$635	$660	+$25
Permit Holders Class	$375	$390	+$15
Sponsorship Fee (Family)	$85	$90	+$5
Dependent Child (all programs)	$260	$270	+$10

Critical reminder for applicants: The applicable fee is based on the date IRCC receives your application — not when you prepared or mailed it. Online applicants must ensure they select and pay the correct fee before clicking submit. Paper applicants whose packages arrive at IRCC on or after April 30 are subject to the new fees, even if mailed earlier.

If you deferred paying your Right of Permanent Residence Fee, you now owe $600 — regardless of when your original application was submitted.

Canadian Immigration Blog

🔄The Biggest Story of the Month: Express Entry Overhaul Consultation (Deadline: May 24, 2026)

While the draws and fee changes dominated the week's headlines, the single most consequential immigration development of recent weeks is the public consultation IRCC launched on April 23, 2026, on potential reforms to Express Entry. The consultation closes on May 24, 2026.

This is not a minor tweak. IRCC is consulting on the most sweeping structural overhaul of Express Entry since the system launched in 2015. The proposals on the table include:

Merging FSW, CEC, and FSTP into one unified class: The existing Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program would be retired and replaced with a single "Federal High-Skilled Immigration Class" with unified minimum requirements. Proposed minimums would include CLB 6 language proficiency and one year of skilled work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

CRS reforms: IRCC is proposing to update the CRS to better reflect economic-outcome research. Points currently given for French proficiency and spousal factors are described as "weaker predictors" and may be reduced or eliminated. Conversely, a new High Wage Occupation factor is being proposed — candidates in occupations where the median wage exceeds the national median wage would receive bonus CRS points. Job offer points, removed from the system in March 2025, could return, but only for offers in high-wage occupations.

Category-based selection continues: IRCC has confirmed that category-based draws (French, healthcare, trades, STEM, transport, etc.) will continue under any reformed system.

🔍 Our Analysis — Express Entry Overhaul:

This consultation is a genuine signal of where Canada's economic immigration is heading. IRCC is effectively telling us: we want to select people most likely to earn well in Canada, not just people who check the most boxes.

The proposed High Wage Occupation factor is the most impactful proposed change. If implemented, it could dramatically realign incentives. Engineers, IT professionals, healthcare practitioners, finance experts, and tradespeople in high-demand roles could see their CRS scores increase significantly — potentially making the difference between getting an ITA and waiting years.

The elimination or reduction of spousal points and French proficiency bonuses would be controversial, especially for francophone candidates who have benefited from these draw types. However, these proposals are at an early stage. IRCC says regulatory changes require Canada Gazette publication and a full comment period, meaning we should not expect changes in 2026 itself.

What should applicants do right now? Nothing changes today. Your existing profile remains valid. However, if your competitive edge currently relies heavily on spousal points or French proficiency bonus points in a general draw, you should have a contingency strategy. Speak with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) now to assess your options.

We also encourage immigration professionals and applicants to participate in the consultation at Canada.ca. Your voice can shape the final policy. The deadline is May 24, 2026.

💼Business Immigration & the Start-Up Visa: A New Era Begins

For those following Canada's business immigration pathways, the landscape has fundamentally shifted. As of January 1, 2026, the Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program is effectively closed to new applicants — a dramatic reset of one of Canada's most celebrated entrepreneurial immigration programs.

The closure was driven by a backlog of over 42,000 applications (including dependents) and processing times that stretched to ten years or more for some 2022–2023 applicants. The Self-Employed Persons Program also remains indefinitely suspended.

Existing applicants who received a valid commitment certificate from a designated organization by December 31, 2025 have until June 30, 2026 to submit their permanent residence applications. Those holding active SUV-specific work permits may continue to extend those permits while their PR application is processed.

IRCC has signalled a new targeted entrepreneur pilot program for 2026, with lower intake caps, stricter eligibility requirements, and a strong preference for entrepreneurs already operating in Canada. The federal business immigration budget has been cut to just 500 PR spots per year under the 2026–2028 Levels Plan — down sharply from previous years.

Current alternatives for entrepreneur immigrants: Provincial PNP entrepreneur streams across nine provinces remain active. The C-11 Intra-Company Transfer / Significant Benefit work permit provides a federal pathway for owners of businesses with clear economic impact. BC's entrepreneur streams, Alberta's Rural Entrepreneur and Graduate Entrepreneur programs, and Saskatchewan's Entrepreneur pathway are among the more accessible options.

🔍 Our Analysis — Business Immigration:

The closure of the SUV marks the end of an era. For years, it attracted international innovators to Canada — but it became overwhelmed by abuse, misuse by incubators, and a severe processing backlog that made the promise of "six-month processing" laughable.

The new pilot program IRCC is designing will almost certainly be more selective: favouring entrepreneurs already in Canada with a documented business track record (at least 12 months of operation, real revenue, real employment), rather than those arriving with only a business plan. The federal business immigration allocation of 500 per year is remarkably small — this will be an intensely competitive program.

Our advice for entrepreneurs: If you are outside Canada and want to build a business here, the C-11 work permit followed by PNP entrepreneur nomination is now the most viable pathway. If you are already in Canada on a temporary work permit and have a business concept, move quickly — the new pilot portal is expected to launch no later than May 15, 2026. Prepare your documentation now.

🏛️Minister Diab & Prime Minister Carney: Statements & the IRGC Visa Controversy

The biggest political story in Canadian immigration this week came from an unexpected place: the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Iran International, an online news outlet, reported that Mehdi Taj — president of Iran's Football Federation and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — was granted a temporary resident visa to attend the annual FIFA Congress in Vancouver, despite his ties to the IRGC, which has been a designated terrorist entity in Canada since June 2024.

Immigration Minister Lena Diab told the House of Commons public safety committee that the official's permit was annulled before he landed in Canada. She stated: "The individual had no status to come into Canada. By the time they landed, they left. They are back in their own country."

Diab said: "We are very much looking forward to learning what happened in this case to ensure it doesn't happen in the FIFA Games." She added: "I'm definitely accountable but I would not have been part of that decision making process."

Prime Minister Mark Carney insisted his government is doing an effective job of keeping Iranians associated with the IRGC out of Canada, and stated that the IRGC has been designated a terrorist organization, prohibiting any active or former members from entering Canada.

Canada Border Services Agency data shows one person has been removed of the three who have been issued deportation orders for having IRGC connections.

🔍 Our Analysis — The IRGC Controversy:

This is a serious incident that reveals a gap between Canada's security admissibility policy on paper and its operational implementation. The IRGC was designated as a terrorist entity in 2024, making thousands of senior Iranian government officials inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The fact that a former IRGC commander could receive a visa — however briefly — raises legitimate questions about IRCC's screening protocols, especially ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will bring hundreds of foreign officials to Canadian soil.

For regular immigration applicants, the practical takeaway is this: security screening processes are under intense scrutiny, and applicants with any past military, government, or security service ties — particularly from countries on heightened review lists — should expect thorough background checks and should be transparent and complete in their applications. Any omission or misrepresentation regarding past affiliations can result in inadmissibility findings.

The FIFA World Cup context is critical. With Canada co-hosting the 2026 tournament beginning in June, expect IRCC, CBSA, and public safety officials to significantly tighten visa screening procedures for all FIFA-related travel applications from certain countries of origin. Legitimate immigration applicants should not be alarmed, but should ensure their applications are impeccably documented.

🔭What to Expect in the Coming Week

Based on observed patterns and current policy direction, here is what we anticipate in the week ahead:

Express Entry Draws: IRCC typically conducts draws on Wednesdays and Mondays in a cluster pattern. Given three draws last week, the pace may slow slightly. However, expect a CEC draw within the next 10–14 days (likely around May 7 or 12). CRS cut-off is expected in the 511–515 range. A category-based draw targeting healthcare or transport occupations is also possible. PNP draw volumes will likely continue to decline, reflecting a thinning pool.

New Entrepreneur Pilot Portal: IRCC has indicated that the new entrepreneur pilot program portal is expected to launch no later than May 15, 2026. Entrepreneurs with qualifying work permits and business track records should begin assembling documentation immediately — language test results, employment records, tax filings, and business performance data.

Express Entry Consultation: The public consultation on Express Entry reforms closes May 24, 2026. IRCC may release discussion papers or host virtual town halls in the coming days to encourage participation. Immigration professionals should submit formal responses and encourage their clients to engage with the process.

FIFA World Cup Visa Screening: The IRGC visa controversy will likely intensify scrutiny of temporary resident applications linked to FIFA. Anyone applying for a visitor visa to attend World Cup events should ensure their application is thoroughly documented and submitted well in advance of travel.

Parents and Grandparents Program: Per the most recent IRCC notice, PGP intake is anticipated to open later in 2026. Watch for an announcement from IRCC, as this program routinely sees massive demand and lottery-style intake processes.

🔍 Our Analysis — Looking Ahead:

2026 is shaping up to be one of the most transformative years in Canadian immigration policy since Express Entry launched in 2015. The proposed overhaul of Express Entry, the closure of the Start-Up Visa, the significant expansion of PNP allocations, new category-based draws, and tighter temporary resident controls all point to a deliberate strategic recalibration: Canada wants fewer but higher-quality, better-integrated, and economically more successful immigrants.

The opportunity is real. Canada's 380,000 annual PR target means doors remain wide open for the right candidates. But the rules are evolving quickly. Staying informed, keeping your Express Entry profile current, and working with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant has never been more important.

As always, we at Elgin Immigration are here to help you navigate every step of your journey. Book your consultation at www.elginimmigration.com.

💡Interesting Immigration Tip: The Hidden Power of a Second Language in Canada

Canada is officially bilingual, but did you know that proficiency in both English and French can transform your Express Entry CRS score? A candidate who scores CLB 9 in both English and French can earn up to 50 bonus CRS points — equivalent to having a Master's degree or an additional year of Canadian work experience. More importantly, under the current system, French proficiency makes you eligible for category-based French Language draws, where the CRS cut-off dropped as low as 393 in 2026.

The irony? Many candidates spend thousands of dollars on credential assessments and language tests in English alone, never realizing that adding French could make the difference between waiting for years and receiving an ITA within months. If you hold a CLB 7 or higher in English, even a modest CLB 5 in French can earn you 25 additional CRS points.

French courses are available online through institutions like Duolingo, Alliance Française, and community college French-language programs. The DELF and TEF Canada exams are the accepted proof of French proficiency for IRCC purposes. This investment of time and money could shorten your path to Canadian permanent residence considerably.

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