IRCC Policy Update — May 18, 2026
Monday, May 18, 2026
Eight immigration changes took effect on March 31 or April 1, 2026, including increased Canadian passport fees (adults: $163.50 for a 10-year passport, up from $160), a new 30-day passport processing guarantee, stricter LMIA recruitment rules, and PNP authority transfer to provinces.
IRCC's 2026–27 Departmental Plan confirms sharp reductions in temporary resident targets, a transfer of employer compliance inspections from IRCC to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and significant departmental budget cuts alongside digital modernization.
IRCC is consulting on proposed regulatory changes to modernize the federal high-skilled immigration classes by merging the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Class into a single streamlined federal high-skilled class — a consultation deadline falls in May 2026.
What You Should Do
- If you are applying for a Canadian passport, use the updated fee schedule effective March 31, 2026 at ircc.canada.ca — adults applying for a 10-year passport from inside Canada now pay $163.50. Budget accordingly and note the new 30-day processing guarantee.
- If your employer is subject to IRCC compliance inspections, prepare for the upcoming transition of inspections to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) — review your compliance records and employer obligations now at canada.ca/employer-compliance.
- Submit feedback on the proposed merger of the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Class into a single federal high-skilled class before the May 2026 consultation deadline at canada.ca/ircc-forward-regulatory-plan.
- If you are a temporary resident planning to apply under the new TR-to-PR pathway, review the 2026–28 Levels Plan details at canada.ca/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028 — the plan allocates approximately 16,500 spots per year in 2026 and 2027, and prior intake opened and closed within hours.
Sources
Topics Covered
Service Fee Adjustments: Effective March 31, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased for the first time since 2013 — a 10-year adult passport from inside Canada now costs $163.50 (up from $160) — with a new 30-day processing guarantee also introduced.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: IRCC's 2026–27 Departmental Plan confirms sharp reductions in temporary resident admissions, a goal to reduce Canada's temporary population to under 5% of total population by end of 2027, and significant budget cuts across the department.
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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