This article was originally posted on the website of Corporate Immigration Law Firm.
Despite the arrival of warm weather and the prospect of summer vacation around the corner, there is no time to rest. The changes keep rolling out. We are pleased to summarize some key developments.
PGWP Language Test Upload Slot Added to the Portal
Since November 2024 there has been significant confusion with respect to the new requirement to include proof of language assessment with a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application. Specifically, where and how to upload the language test results in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) application portal. This resulted in many students having their PGWP refused and having to seek reconsideration and/or restoration of status. IRCC have now introduced a dedicated upload slot. Applicants must select the slot “Proof of Language Proficiency” so that they can upload their language test results. Previously, applicants had to upload this in one of the other slots such as the “Client Information” slot. Many applicants did not know about the new requirement or didn’t know how to utilize the other slot or just forgot to include it because there wasn’t a dedicated port.
Graduates of a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree, or any program from a university must achieve CLB 7 for English or NCLC 7 for French in all four language abilities: speaking, listening, reading, writing. Graduates of a college, polytechnic, or non-university program must achieve CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all four language abilities.
Temporary Travel Measures in Response to the Ebola Outbreak in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
The government announced that beginning May 27, 2026, it has suspended immigration documents for people residing in countries that have a high or very high risk of outbreak of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus for 90 days, or until August 25, 2026. As of June 1, 2026, these countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan. This means that those with a valid temporary resident visa (TRV), electronic travel authorization (eTA), or permanent resident visa who reside in these countries will not be allowed to travel to Canada during this period. It is unclear if those already issued a permanent resident visa and now unable to proceed to Canada to be landed, will need to ask IRCC to extend the validity and submit new medical examinations for this purpose.
On May 30, 2026, until August 29, 2026, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, and foreign nationals who have been in these areas within the previous 21 days and do not show symptoms of the Ebola disease will have to quarantine for 21 days upon entering Canada.
As the Ebola Bundibugyo virus continues to spread in the eastern DRC, this announcement comes a few weeks before hundreds of thousands of international visitors will visit Canada as Vancouver and Toronto are set to host games of the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is to be hosted in cities across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Express Entry Reforms Consultations
IRCC is seeking consultations as it contemplates updating program requirements for the Express Entry and Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points used to invite Economic Class candidates for permanent residence. IRCC has proposed simplifying Express Entry by merging the three Express Entry classes, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), into one program.
It has proposed that the minimum requirements for this program are to have:
• A minimum education of high school or equivalent;
• Take a language test and achieve at least CLB 6 for English or NCLC 6 for French; and
• Skilled work experience of a minimum of 1 year in the past 3 years in TEER 0-3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), which equates to managerial occupations (TEER 0) to those usually requiring university (TEER 1) or college education (TEER 2-3).
IRCC has also proposed adding a high-wage occupation factor for CRS points in which occupations where the median wage throughout Canada is higher than the median wage of all Canadians would provide further points. This factor would be dependent on an applicant’s work experience in the occupation with a higher median wage rather than the applicant’s wage being high.
OINP Changes to Come
As of May 30, 2026, the Ontario government’s amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act to allow it to more easily make changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) have come into force. Actual changes to the OINP have not yet been finalized but the Ontario government has announced that it is redesigning the OINP. We will continue monitoring this to see what this entails once concrete details are announced.
