Spring Immigration Roundup: Express Entry Changes on the Horizon 

Canadian immigration policy is constantly changing. Recently, the passage of Bill C-3 and Bill C-12 significantly changed Canada’s immigration landscape. More changes are on the way, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released their 2026-2027 Departmental Plan.

Reforms are coming to Canada’s Express Entry system, according to the Departmental Plan. Currently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is in a consultation phase regarding proposed changes to Express Entry. 

Implementation of a Unified Express Entry Stream

Currently, there are three Express Entry programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Each program has different requirements, and each program has its own draws from the Express Entry pool. The proposed changes would eliminate these three programs and replace them with one program. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has laid out the minimum education, language skills, and work experience requirements for an applicant to be eligible for the new Express Entry program. 

Applicants to the new Express Entry program must have at least a Canadian high school education or the equivalent, intermediate language skills (CLB or NCLC level 6 or higher), and one year of skilled work experience in Canada or elsewhere in the past three years.

These changes would make Express Entry applications more uniform and eliminate the need for a potential applicant to choose between two programs.

Introduction of a High-Wage Occupation Factor to CRS

Another change under consideration is assigning comprehensive ranking system (“CRS”) points to Express Entry candidates with Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation. The CRS is used to assess and score the applicants in the Express Entry pool. Some current CRS factors include age, level of education, language skills, and skilled work experience.

Previously, Canadian job offers provided CRS points, but this criterion was removed in March 2025. Now, it is being reintroduced, albeit to a more restricted class of applicants. The rationale for the re-addition of this factor is that evidence suggests that candidates in high-wage occupations have stronger economic outcomes in Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has indicated that the high-wage occupations will be those with median wages higher than the median wage of all Canadians. Importantly, it was specified that everyone with work experience in the same occupation would be treated the same, regardless of pay differences due to location, gender, or other factors. This means that differently situated applicants can receive the same number of CRS points based solely on their qualifying job offer or Canadian work experience.

However, not every job will be eligible for the same number of CRS points under the proposed changes. Three tiers have been proposed. The tiers will give different amounts of CRS points based on how much an occupation earns above the median wage. The occupations that qualify as part of the high-wage factor, and which occupation fits into each tier, have not been announced yet.

Implementation of These Changes

It is unclear when these planned changes will take place, and they may be implemented in phases. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will provide notice of any changes they intend to implement so that potential applicants can adapt their applications accordingly.

Immigration Application Fee Increases

When applicants apply for immigration status and programs in Canada, they usually must pay a fee to the Government of Canada to accompany their application. These fees are subject to change, and they are updated each year for most immigration programs.

On March 27, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that the permanent residence application fee would increase on April 30, 2026. The right of citizenship fee increased earlier on March 31, 2026. It is important to be aware of the fee changes, as application processing only happens after the full fee is paid. 

Considerations for Recently Submitted Applications

The fee to be paid is based on the date the application is signed, so if an application was signed and submitted by mail before April 30 and received after April 30, the prior, lower fee should be sufficient for the application to be processed for citizenship. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has indicated that, for permanent residence applications, the application will not be rejected in most cases if the old fee was paid, the application was complete, and it was mailed before the fee change. However, applicants may receive instructions on how to pay the difference between the new and old fee if there is a discrepancy. 

Those who submitted an application and are waiting to pay the right of permanent residence fee will have to pay the new amount. The new fee applies even if the applicant paid the processing fee before the fee change.

New Fees

The fee hikes were enacted across the board, affecting a wide range of Canadian immigration applications. Some of the impacted programs include:

• Right of permanent residence fee 
• Provincial Nominee Program 
• Business 
• Family class 
• Protected persons 
• Humanitarian and compassionate grounds or public policy measures
• Permit holders 

The fee increase for each application varies, with business applications receiving an $85 increase, and most permanent residency applications receiving a $25 increase. Further, there is a difference in some applications between the fee increase for the principal applicant and their spouse or partner, and that for an accompanying dependent child.

The fee hikes are currently in effect, and new applications must pay the updated fees or risk being returned. If you are worried about an ongoing application or planning to make a new application, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact Garson Immigration Law in Toronto for Assistance With Immigration to Canada

At Garson Immigration Law, we are exclusively dedicated to the practice of Canadian immigration law. We understand that waiting for your immigration application to be processed can be stressful. Our immigration lawyers can successfully guide you through the immigration process and find solutions for your individual needs.

We work to find effective solutions for our clients in all kinds of immigration matters, including permanent residence, inadmissibility, and US/cross-border immigration. If you have any questions about an immigration application, do not hesitate to reach out to us online or by calling us at 416-321-2860.