IRCC Policy Update — April 23, 2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Bill C-12 (the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act) received royal assent on March 26, 2026, introducing two new asylum eligibility restrictions: claims made more than one year after first entry into Canada (after June 24, 2020) will not be referred to the IRB, and claims from people who entered between ports of entry along the Canada–US border and waited more than 14 days will also be ineligible for IRB referral.
Effective April 1, 2026, eight immigration changes took effect simultaneously, including: a passport fee increase (adult 10-year passport now $163.50; 5-year passport $122.50), a new 30-business-day passport processing guarantee with automatic full refund if the deadline is missed, and more flexible Super Visa income requirements for parents and grandparents sponsorship.
IRCC published several new temporary public policies in April 2026, including a policy for Gaza nationals with approved TRVs (April 23), a policy to facilitate work permits for prospective PR candidates in Quebec (April 21), and policies for foreign nationals affected by domestic natural disasters and emergency services personnel supporting disaster response (April 1).
What You Should Do
- If you or someone you know is in Canada and considering an asylum claim, review the new Bill C-12 eligibility rules immediately — if your first entry to Canada was after June 24, 2020, and more than one year has passed without filing a claim, your claim may now be ineligible for IRB referral. Consult a regulated immigration consultant or lawyer urgently.
- If you are applying for a Canadian passport, note the new fees effective March 31, 2026: $163.50 for a 10-year adult passport and $122.50 for a 5-year adult passport (inside Canada). Submit a complete application to benefit from the 30-business-day money-back guarantee. Apply at canada.ca/passport.
- If you are a prospective PR candidate in Quebec working on a temporary resident basis, check the April 21, 2026 temporary public policy to facilitate work permits for Quebec PR candidates at canada.ca/public-policies to determine if you qualify for an open work permit bridge while your PR application is processed.
- If you are a foreign national from Gaza who holds an approved Temporary Resident Visa, review the April 23, 2026 temporary public policy at canada.ca/public-policies for details on how to use your TRV to enter Canada under the special measures.
Sources
Topics Covered
Service Fee Adjustments: Effective March 31, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased for the first time since 2013: adult 10-year passports now cost $163.50 (up from $160) and 5-year passports cost $122.50 (up from $120). A new 30-business-day processing guarantee with automatic refunds was introduced simultaneously on April 1, 2026.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan has shifted targets significantly: LMIA-exempt IMP permits increased by 32% to 170,000, LMIA-based TFW permits reduced by ~27%, and a one-time TR-to-PR pathway of 33,000 spots over two years has been introduced.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — June 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
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