Canada Immigration Updates 2026 | Express Entry Draws & Bill C-12 Changes

• Category:Immigration News
• Country:Canada
• View Counts:405
• Published on:07-Apr-2026

Canada Immigration Update – March Highlights & Key Policy Changes

March has been an active month for Canadian immigration, bringing multiple Express Entry draws, important legislative changes, and new opportunities for prospective applicants.

Increased Express Entry Activity

March saw a strong wave of Express Entry draws, including:

• Three Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws
• Two large French-language draws
• A new category draw for senior managers with Canadian work experience

This continued activity is a positive sign for candidates already in the Express Entry pool and those planning to apply.

Major Update: Bill C-12 Comes into Force

On March 26, the Canadian government implemented Bill C-12 – Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act.

This new legislation introduces significant changes to how immigration applications may be managed.

Key Highlights:

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) now has the authority to:
  • Cancel, suspend, or modify large groups of immigration documents
  • Pause new application intake
  • Suspend or cancel processing of applications
• These actions can be taken when deemed in the “public interest”, including:
  • Fraud concerns
  • Administrative errors
  • Public health or safety risks
  • National security issues

Important Safeguard:

All such decisions must be approved by the Governor in Council, ensuring oversight and accountability.

What This Means:

While the intent is to allow flexibility during extraordinary situations (such as a global pandemic), the broad definition of “public interest” has raised concerns—particularly given existing application backlogs.

New Asylum Eligibility Rules

Bill C-12 also introduces stricter requirements for asylum seekers:

• Claims made more than one year after first entry into Canada (after June 24, 2020) will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
• Individuals entering between official border points (Canada–US land border) must apply within 14 days, or their claim will not be referred to the IRB

These changes aim to streamline the asylum process and manage system capacity.

Citizenship Opportunity Through Family Ties

There is also positive news for individuals with Canadian ancestry.

Under Bill C-3, the first-generation limit to citizenship by descent has been removed. This means:

• If you have a parent, grandparent, or even great-grandparent who was a Canadian citizen,
• You may now be eligible to claim Canadian citizenship, regardless of where you were born

This change has already led to a significant increase in applications, particularly among individuals whose families emigrated from Canada after World War II.

Looking Ahead

One thing remains clear—Canada’s immigration landscape continues to evolve rapidly. Staying informed and prepared is essential for anyone considering studying, working, or settling in Canada.

Need Guidance?

If you would like to explore your eligibility for Canadian immigration or citizenship, our team is here to help. Contact us today for personalized advice and support.