IRCC has begun a variety of changes that will affect all newcomers. Here’s what to expect from Canadian immigration in 2024. As declared in the Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026, Canada aims to welcome over 485,000 permanent residents in the next year. Alongside this increased immigration level, Canada is also expected to launch updates across various programs & leverage AI to streamline the client experience.
Updates To The Express Entry System
Last year, IRCC began conducting category-based Express Entry draws. These draws were implemented to help Canada find foreign nationals best suited to address the nation’s most pressing labor gaps & demographic needs.
In the primary year of category-based draws, IRCC chose to prioritize the following categories of immigration applicants:
- Those with French language proficiency
- Those with recent work experience in any of the five industries, i.e., STEM professions, healthcare, trades, transport, agriculture/ agri-food
In 2024, IRCC is expected to continue with category-based draws. Moreover, the department has made it clear that they will reassess the focus categories selected for 2023. This implies that new sectors, as well as proficiencies, might be chosen as areas of focus by IRCC. As a result, this will enable new groups of newcomers to be eligible for category-based Express Entry draws in 2024.
New Guidelines For Provincial Nominee Programs
PNPs are immigration pathways that enable local governments to hand-select applicants, which will help them address labor market gaps. According to IRCC’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, PNPs are projected to make up the nation’s biggest immigration pathways in 2024.
Moreover, IRCC is also introducing new multi-year plans for the Provincial Nominee Programs beginning in 2024. This will enable provinces as well as territories to plan for their immigration strategies, as they will know their 2025 allocation a year in advance.
These new PNP developments imply that prospective newcomers pursuing these immigration pathways should have a clear picture of their alternatives to immigration to the territory/ province of choice due to better planning by each regional government.
More Parents & Grandparents Program Admissions Spaces
What to expect from Canadian immigration in 2024? Well, in 2023, Canada aimed to welcome over 285,000 immigrants via the PGP.
However, in the next year, the Immigration Levels Plan indicates that PGP targets will increase to 32,000. As a result, more PGP applicants will be able to come to Canada in 2024.
Enhancements To Canada’s International Student Program
To strengthen the integrity of the International Student Program across Canada & better protect incoming foreign nationals, IRCC has launched a reformed Letter of Acceptance verification system, which will continue to impact all study permit applications.
Beginning on December 1 this year, DLIs across Canada are now required to confirm every applicant’s LOA directly with IRCC. The department asserts that this new, enhanced verification process aims to protect prospective applicants from fraud while ensuring that study permits are issued based solely on genuine LOAs.
IRCC also declared in November that in 2024, the department will be conducting a review of its PGWP program. Many international students who intend to apply for PR benefit from PGWP, as the CRS score treats Canadian work experience favorably.
This review is expected to result in IRCC introducing reforms that calibrate the program as per the nation’s labor market needs, along with regional & Francophone immigration goals.
More Changes Are Coming To Canadian Immigration Next Year
IRCC has committed to numerous other changes intended to improve the experience as well as the lives of Canadian newcomers making their way through the immigration process.
Increasing The Use Of AI & Technology
In an effort to out-compete other nations for talent, IRCC has committed to use technology & AI in the immigration space in 2024. This initiative aims to reduce processing times, improve tools for IRCC officers, help Canada meet the nation’s immigration, & diversity priorities.
Notably, this digital transformation will improve the client experience for immigration applicants in numerous ways, such as:
- Improving service standards
- Strengthening partnerships with employers & institutions that rely on immigration while addressing fraud & strengthening student & worker protections
- Making applications more user-friendly using virtual & digital technologies
New IRCC Advisory Board
In addition to what to expect from Canadian immigration in 2024, IRCC will develop a new advisory board to focus on matters associated with immigration policy & service delivery. This board will include people with lived experience in immigration, thus enabling immigrants to Canada to have more say in programs & processes affecting them. This new advisory board hopes to strengthen policy & program development with a human-centric approach.
Introduction Of The Chief International Talent Officer
Lastly, Canada’s immigration department will introduce a brand-new role called the CITO, i.e., Chief International Talent Officer. Their primary responsibility is to improve the alignment between the nation’s immigration system & its national labor market & sectoral strategies.
According to IRCC, an individual’s responsibility entails the ability to affect a huge amount of change in Canada’s annual immigration. Prospective immigrants to this nation in the next year & beyond should pay attention to developments once someone is appointed.