The Final Countdown: Wrapping Up 2025 and Preparing for a New Year in Canadian Immigration
- Gagandeep Singh
- Dec 28, 2025
- 4 min read
As we approach the final days of 2025, the world of Canadian immigration has, predictably, slowed down for the holiday break. However, "slowed down" in immigration doesn't mean "stopped." Even during festive weeks, there are important nuances to observe, final provincial pushes to note, and crucial preparations to make for the imminent arrival of January 2026.
This week, we look at the quiet on the Express Entry front and significant year-end moves by the provinces. Let’s dive into the final immigration news of the year.
Express Entry: The Holiday Pause
As anticipated by many observers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) did not conduct an Express Entry draw during this holiday week (Dec 22 – Dec 28).
Looking at the official records, there were no invitations issued this week across General, Provincial Nominee Program, or Category-Based Selection streams.
This pause is standard operational procedure for IRCC during the final week of December. It serves a few purposes:
Operational Capacity: IRCC staff take well-deserved holidays, meaning processing capacity is reduced. Pausing draws prevents an immediate backlog surge during a time of lower staffing.
Target Alignment: By late December, IRCC has likely already met its invitation targets for the 2025 calendar year. Any draws now would likely be for intake planned for mid-to-late 2026 processing.
System Reset: It allows for a strategic reset before the 2026 levels plan kicks into high gear in January.
If your profile is in the pool, do not panic. This silence is normal. Use this time to ensure your profile is absolutely perfect—language scores updated, work experience verified—so you are ready for the first draws of 2026.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): The Year-End Sprint
While the federal government hit the pause button, some provinces used the final days before Christmas to maximize their 2025 allocations. It was a busy end-of-year sprint for British Columbia.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)
Just before the holiday break, on December 23, 2025, BC conducted significant targeted draws.
Tech Draw: Issued invitations with a minimum score of 116.
Targeted Draw (Childcare): Issued invitations with a minimum score of 75.
Targeted Draw (Healthcare): Issued invitations with a minimum score of 75.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Ontario was quieter this week regarding draws but issued a general update confirming that they have effectively utilized their entire 2025 nomination allocation. They have begun queuing successful applicants for 2026 nominations.
The activity in BC highlights the province's ongoing, urgent need for specific skilled workers—particularly in tech and healthcare—regardless of the time of year. The relatively lower scores for Childcare and Healthcare continue to demonstrate the massive advantage held by applicants in these priority sectors.
Ontario reaching its quota is a reminder of how competitive the OINP is. For those hoping for Ontario in 2026, having your Express Entry profile active and monitoring OINP streams early in the year will be crucial as new quotas open up.
Business Immigration and Start-Up Visa Updates
There were no major policy shifts in the Start-Up Visa (SUV) or Self-Employed Persons programs this week. However, IRCC did update their processing times tool just before the holidays.
Current processing times for the SUV program remain lengthy. The emphasis heading into 2026 is clearly on quality over quantity. We are seeing increased scrutiny at the intake stage regarding the viability of the business concept and the genuine commitment of the Angel Investor or Venture Capital group. If you are considering this route in the new year, ensure your business plan is robust and your connection to a designated organization is solid.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the First Week of January 2026
As we hang up our new calendars, here is what we are watching for in early January:
The First Express Entry Draw of 2026: We anticipate a draw occurring as early as the week of January 5th. It will be interesting to see if IRCC starts the year with a large "General" draw to clear high-scoring candidates, or if they immediately dive back into Category-Based Selection (perhaps French proficiency to set the tone).
PNP Allocation Announcements: Provinces will soon receive their official nomination numbers for 2026 from the federal government. Watch for announcements from Ontario and Alberta specifically regarding their intake strategies for the new year.
Updated Ministerial Instructions: We may see tweaked instructions regarding the priority categories for Express Entry based on the latest labour market data.
💡 Interesting Immigration Tip of the Week
The "Passport Buffer" Rule
As you prepare your immigration goals for 2026, remember this crucial rule: IRCC generally will not issue a work permit, study permit, or visitor record past the expiry date of your passport.
If your passport expires in December 2026, and you apply for a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in January, you will likely only receive a permit valid until December 2026. You would then have to renew your passport and apply again to get the remaining time on your PGWP. Save yourself the time, money, and stress—renew your passport before submitting major applications if it has less than 2 years of validity remaining.
Conclusion
2025 was a year of significant change in Canadian immigration. 2026 promises to be a year where strategy and preparation are more important than ever.
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to make Canada your permanent home, don't leave it to chance. Let's start 2026 with a solid plan.
Read more about preparing your Express Entry Profile for the New Year on our website: www.elginimmigration.com
Wishing you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2026!
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