IRCC changes every applicants should know

Temporary Policy for Unaccompanied Minor Refugee Claimants:

A new  Temporary Policy for Unaccompanied Minor Refugee Claimants is being exempted from the ban on asylum claims filed more that a year after the claimant’s entered into Canada.  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented a ban under Bill C-12, asylum claims made on or after June 3, 2025, are ineligible to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB); if the claim is filed more than 1 year after the claimant first entered Canada. Eligibility instruction for referring claims to the IRB have updated. Read more information here

Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP):

The newly updated Program Delivery Instructions under R205 (a) – C15 clarifies when applications received outside of Canada, an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) is the official documentary evidence.  For applications received from inside Canada, other documentary proof of a permanent residence application may be accepted.  Additional updates were made to improve processing guidelines for work permit renewals. Read more information here and here

Spouses or Common-law partners of foreign nationals authorized to work

A new exemption has been added to the Program Delivery Instructions under IRPR 205(c)(ii) – C41 for spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign-trained health care professions in Quebec are exempt from the requirement that the principal foreign national’s work permit must be valid for at least 16 months in order to qualify for an open work permit.  Read more information here

Humanitarian & Compassionate (H & C) Program Delivery Instructions pages updated:

In June 2026, IRCC made some changes to the H & C Program Delivery Instructions, these are guidelines provided to the minister’s delegates on how they should assess and process H & C applications or requests.  This will improve transparency, standardize decision making and clarifying assessment frameworks for all H & C applicants. Officers have more explicit guidelines on inadmissibility considerations, statelessness, evidence assessment, procedural fairness and documentation analysis.  Read more information here

Public Policy to facilitate work permits for prospective permanent residence applicants in Quebec:

IRCC introduced a time‑limited public policy (March 13–December 31, 2026) that allows certain Quebec PR candidates to obtain LMIA‑exempt employer‑specific work permits — and their spouses to obtain open work permits — while they wait for their CSQ decision. This prevents loss of status, protects employers, and supports Quebec’s goal of transitioning more temporary workers to permanent residence. Read more information here

Updated Guidelines on Assessing Study Permit Conditions:

The June 2026 updated Program Delivery Instructions for study permit conditions is to tighten compliance expectations, standardize officer assessments, and clarify how non-compliance affects future applications including Post Grad Work Permit (PGWP), Extensions, Temporary Residence Visas, and H & C applications or requests.  These changes are explicit instructions to officers when assessing applicants’ attendance, academic progress, program changes, gaps in studies, and documentations requirements. Read more information here

 Processing In-Canada claims for refugee protection of minors and vulnerable persons:

IRCC officers have certain sections of their policy, procedures and guidelines updates relating to minor asylum seekers singing the Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID) and updated language. Read more information here

 Changes to Language Requirement Instructions:

IRCC updated the Language Requirements Instructions for temporary and permanent residence programs.  It clarifies the acceptable evidence, standardize officers’ assessment and tighten rules around alternative documentation.  Officers now have more explicit guidance on what counts, what doesn’t, and how to evaluate language proficiency when formal test results are missing, expired or inconsistent. Read more information here