IRCC Policy Update — July 9, 2026
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan caps new temporary resident arrivals at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028, with a goal of reducing Canada's temporary population to under 5% of the total population by end of 2027.
IRCC's 2025-2026 Departmental Plan outlines several upcoming changes: making the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot permanent by end of 2025, creating a new agriculture/fish processing work permit stream, updating PGWP field of study requirements, and changing spousal open work permit eligibility.
As of April 1, 2026, Canadian passport fees increased (e.g., 10-year adult passport now $163.50), and a new '30 days or free' passport processing guarantee took effect; IRCC also updated processing times in July 2026, with permanent residence applications ranging from 6 to 27 months and citizenship from 12 to 19 months.
What You Should Do
- If you are a temporary resident in Canada, check whether you fall within the new arrival targets by reviewing the 2026-2028 Levels Plan at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028.html to understand how reduced caps may affect future permit renewals or extensions.
- If you hold a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or are planning to apply for one, monitor IRCC's website (canada.ca/ircc) for updates on the new field of study eligibility framework, which is expected to be established during 2025-2026.
- If your spouse currently holds or is applying for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP), check the updated SOWP eligibility requirements on canada.ca/ircc before applying, as IRCC has announced changes to eligibility for spouses of both foreign workers and international students.
- If you are applying for a Canadian passport, be aware that fees increased as of March 31, 2026 (10-year adult passport: $163.50; 5-year adult passport: $122.50). Submit a complete application to qualify for the '30 business days or free' guarantee introduced April 1, 2026. Check current fees at canada.ca.
- Check your current application's processing time using IRCC's online tool at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html — times were updated July 7, 2026, and range from 6–27 months for PR and 12–19 months for citizenship.
- If you work with or plan to hire a licensed immigration consultant, be aware that new regulations governing consultants take effect July 15, 2026. Verify your consultant's license status through the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) at college-ic.ca.
Sources
Topics Covered
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Canada has set new temporary resident arrival targets of 385,000 for 2026 and 370,000 for 2027 and 2028, aiming to reduce the temporary population to under 5% of total population by end of 2027.
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: IRCC's 2025-2026 Departmental Plan announced plans to create a new foreign labour stream and work permit type specifically for the agriculture and fish processing sector.
Student Work Authorization Simplification: IRCC announced plans to establish a new framework for updating field of study requirements for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) as part of its 2025-2026 Departmental Plan.
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: IRCC has announced changes to eligibility requirements for spousal open work permits (SOWPs) for spouses of both foreign workers and international students, with details to be rolled out during 2025-2026.
Service Fee Adjustments: Canadian passport fees increased as of March 31, 2026, for the first time since 2013, with a 10-year adult passport now costing $163.50. A new '30 business days or free' processing guarantee also launched April 1, 2026.
Citizenship Processing Improvements: IRCC updated its processing times on July 7, 2026; citizenship applications now have an estimated processing range of 12 to 19 months, while permanent residence applications range from 6 to 27 months.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — July 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — July 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — July 6, 2026
Jul 6, 2026
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