IRCC Policy Update — September 14, 2026
Monday, September 14, 2026
Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 380,000 new permanent residents per year, with 244,700 spots in the economic class, 81,000 in family class, and 56,200 for refugees and humanitarian cases.
Temporary resident admissions are being sharply cut — from 673,650 in 2025 down to 385,000 in 2026 — targeting a reduction of the temporary resident share of Canada's population to 5% by end of 2026.
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' processing guarantee took effect, automatically refunding fees if processing exceeds 30 business days.
What You Should Do
- If you are a temporary resident (international student or temporary worker) in Canada, check how the new 385,000 temporary resident cap for 2026 affects your pathway to PR at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.
- If you are applying for or renewing a Canadian passport, budget for the new fees: $163.50 for a 10-year adult passport or $122.50 for a 5-year adult passport (effective March 31, 2026). Apply at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports.
- If you submitted a passport application after April 1, 2026 and it has not been processed within 30 business days, check your application status and request a full fee refund under the '30 days or free' guarantee at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports.
- If you hold a valid work permit and are considering studying in Canada, review the September 9, 2026 temporary public policy that may allow you to study without a separate study permit at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies.html.
Sources
Topics Covered
Student Work Authorization Simplification: A temporary public policy announced September 9, 2026 allows foreign nationals with valid work permits to study in Canada without obtaining a separate study permit.
International Student Cap Reduction: The 2026-2028 Levels Plan explicitly targets a reduction in new international students as part of the broader temporary resident cuts, with overall temporary resident admissions dropping by more than 40% year-over-year.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Canada's 2026-2028 Levels Plan holds permanent resident admissions steady at 380,000 per year while dramatically cutting temporary resident arrivals from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026, aiming for temporary residents to represent no more than 5% of the population by end of 2026.
Service Fee Adjustments: Canadian passport fees increased effective March 31, 2026 for the first time since 2013, with a new 30-business-day processing guarantee ('30 days or free') taking effect April 1, 2026.
How these topics connect
Canada's comprehensive immigration strategy is using study permit caps as a key lever to achieve its temporary population reduction targets.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — October 1, 2026
Oct 1, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — September 24, 2026
Sep 24, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — September 17, 2026
Sep 17, 2026
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