Canada Immigration Policy Update: Major Changes in June 2026 You Need to Know

Key points in this article

Ontario has permanently closed all 8 OINP streams and launched the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream (June 26, 2026)
The work permit study exemption expired today — June 27, 2026 — affecting thousands of temporary foreign workers
Canada has proposed new asylum regulations under Bill C-12, with a 30-day public consultation now open
Permanent resident admissions are stabilised at 380,000 for 2026 under the new Levels Plan
IRCC processing times are split: inland work permits and visitor visas improving; citizenship certificates and visitor record extensions worsening

Canada’s immigration landscape has shifted significantly this month. From the collapse of Ontario’s long-standing nominee program structure to tighter asylum rules and a federal work permit study exemption that expires today, June 2026 is one of the most consequential months for immigration policy in recent years. If you are a temporary foreign worker, international student, asylum claimant, or PR applicant, at least one of the changes below directly affects your status or timeline. Here is a complete breakdown of every major development.

Ontario Overhauls Its Immigrant Nominee Program — All 8 Streams Permanently Closed

The single biggest immigration story of the month is Ontario’s. Effective June 26, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has undergone the largest structural overhaul in its history. The province’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development amended Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 — eliminating all eight existing OINP streams and replacing them with a single new framework: the Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream.

The eight streams now permanently closed are the three Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills), the Master’s Graduate stream, the PhD Graduate stream, the French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, the Human Capital Priorities stream, and the Skilled Trades stream. No further invitations will be issued under any of them. Candidates who had active EOI profiles that had not received an Invitation to Apply will have those profiles automatically withdrawn over the coming weeks — no action is required on their part, but the OINP will send a direct notice.

The Three New OWP Pathways

TEER 0–3 (Skilled Workers): Designed for workers with a full-time, permanent job offer in a higher-skilled National Occupational Classification occupation. This covers management, professional, technical, and skilled trades roles that typically require post-secondary education, apprenticeship training, or significant experience. Language benchmarks are generally Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6, with CLB 5 accepted in certain occupations. Employers in the GTA must demonstrate at least $1,000,000 in gross annual revenue. Those outside the GTA or in rural communities — defined as census divisions with a population under 150,000 — qualify at $500,000.

TEER 4–5 (Essential Workers): This is a new and significant addition. It creates a formal provincial nomination route for workers in sectors such as healthcare support, transportation, agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing — occupations that previously had limited access to Ontario nominations. Language requirements are generally CLB 4. The same employer revenue thresholds apply. Applicants should not assume every TEER 4 or 5 job qualifies; the NOC code, wage, work history, and employer all factor into eligibility.

Self-Employed Physicians: The only pathway that does not require a traditional employer job offer. Physicians must hold a valid certificate of registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in the independent, academic, or provisional class, and must be eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). This pathway reflects ongoing physician shortages across the province and mirrors the federal government’s dedicated Express Entry physician draws that launched earlier this year.

What Happens to Pending Applications and Active EOIs?

Applications already submitted following an Invitation to Apply under a former stream will continue to be assessed under the eligibility rules in effect at the time of submission — a grandfathering clause Ontario confirmed explicitly in its March 2026 regulatory update and reaffirmed on June 26. Your file will not be re-scored, re-judged, or re-routed under the new criteria.

The OINP’s Expression of Interest system is currently closed to new registrations. Ontario has indicated it will reopen “later in the summer of 2026,” with August the earliest realistic window and September a more likely launch month given the platform updates required. Watch the official OINP updates page for a confirmed reopening date. Employers already registered in the OINP Employer Portal do not need to create a new account, but will need to submit a new job offer and a fresh application for approval of an employment position under the new stream structure.

This is described as Phase 1 of a two-phase redesign. Phase 2 — expected to include a redesigned Entrepreneur stream and potentially additional pathways — has not received a confirmed launch date from the province.

Work Permit Study Exemption Expires Today — June 27, 2026

Today marks the end of a temporary public policy that IRCC introduced exactly three years ago, on June 27, 2023. Under that policy, certain temporary foreign workers holding a valid work permit could enrol at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and study full-time without holding a separate study permit. IRCC introduced the exemption to give workers flexibility to upgrade credentials, complete licensing requirements, or pursue further education while maintaining their employment. The policy was never extended beyond its three-year term, and it expires as of today.

Who Is Affected and What Must You Do Now?

If you have been studying on the strength of your work permit alone — without a separate study permit on file — your ability to continue those studies in compliance with Canadian immigration law ends today. You have two options: apply for a study permit before resuming your program, or return to work-only status and stop attending classes. Continuing to study without a study permit after June 27, 2026 puts you out of status, which can jeopardise your work permit renewal, your future PR applications, and your eligibility for other programs.

There is also a critical downstream consequence that many workers are overlooking: time spent studying under this exemption does not count toward Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. A PGWP requires a valid study permit throughout your studies, from enrolment to graduation. Workers who have been studying without one have not been accumulating PGWP-eligible study time, regardless of how long they have been enrolled. Similarly, that study time does not generate Canadian work experience points for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry, and it does not add to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Short-term training programs lasting less than six months remain accessible under general work permit regulations, provided they are directly related to your primary work authorisation. For longer programs, a study permit is now required.

If your immigration plan depends on transitioning from student to post-graduate worker — through the PGWP pathway to Express Entry or a PNP — and you have been studying under the work permit exemption, you need a study permit in place before you can continue, and you should seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant about how the elapsed study time affects your PGWP eligibility.

Related:Top 5 Easiest PR Pathways in Canada (2026 Update) — including the Student → PGWP → PR route explained in full.

New Asylum Regulations Proposed Under Bill C-12

On June 19, 2026, the Government of Canada published proposed regulations to implement reforms introduced through Bill C-12 — the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act — which received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026. A 30-day public consultation period is now open, with implementation anticipated later in 2026.

What Bill C-12 Already Changed

Bill C-12 introduced two hard statutory deadlines for asylum eligibility, already in effect for claims made on or after June 3, 2025. You can read the full legislative breakdown on Canada.ca. The two core changes are:

The one-year bar: Asylum claims made more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada (counting any entry after June 24, 2020) will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) for a hearing, regardless of whether the person has since left and re-entered Canada.

The 14-day border rule: People who entered Canada between official ports of entry along the Canada-U.S. land border and waited more than 14 days to file a claim are also ineligible for an IRB hearing.

Those barred from the IRB are not automatically facing removal. They may still access a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) — a paper-based review conducted by CBSA — but approval rates through the PRRA are substantially lower than outcomes at a full IRB hearing. Unaccompanied minors are exempt from both rules. The government’s own figures suggest that around 37% of claims filed between June and October 2025 would have been disqualified under the one-year bar alone.

The early volume data is significant: from January to April 2026, asylum claim volumes dropped 42% compared to the same period in 2025, and 63% compared to the same period in 2024. Critics, including the Canadian Council for Refugees, have argued that many of those displaced claims belong to people who entered Canada disoriented, traumatised, or without legal support — not people gaming the system. The government’s position is that the rules are necessary to protect a system that was operating well beyond sustainable capacity.

What the Proposed Regulations Would Add

The proposed regulatory changes now out for public consultation would: simplify the online asylum application process by reducing duplicate questions and forms; require that only complete, “schedule-ready” claims be forwarded to the IRB; ensure IRB hearings only proceed while the claimant is physically present in Canada (voluntary return to a country of alleged persecution before a decision would constitute an abandoned claim); streamline removal orders so they take effect on the same day a claim is withdrawn; and assign representatives to assist vulnerable applicants — including unaccompanied minors and those unfamiliar with the process — during IRCC and CBSA proceedings. The consultation period closes in mid-July 2026.

Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The Big Picture

The policy changes above all sit inside the framework set by Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which establishes the government’s overall direction for permanent and temporary resident admissions over the next three years. The plan signals a clear shift away from the record-high immigration targets of 2022–2024 and toward a more controlled, economically aligned intake.

Category	2026 Target	2027 Target	2028 Target
Permanent residents (total)	380,000	~365,000	~350,000
Provincial nominees (PNP)	91,500	TBD Nov. 2026	TBD Nov. 2027
New temporary residents (workers + students)	385,000	370,000	370,000
Francophone admissions outside Quebec	9%	9.5%	10.5%
Temporary population target (% of total)	Below 5% by end of 2027

Two features of the plan stand out for applicants. First, the 91,500 provincial nominee target for 2026 gives provinces like Ontario a larger allocation to work with under their revamped programs — the OINP’s new Workforce Priority stream will draw from this expanded pool. Second, Express Entry category-based selection continues in 2026 with an increased minimum work experience requirement of one year (up from six months) for candidates applying under targeted occupation categories, such as healthcare, skilled trades, STEM, and transport. This change is designed to improve long-term retention and workforce integration among selected candidates.

IRCC Processing Times: June 2026 Update

IRCC published updated processing time data as of June 24, 2026. The picture is genuinely split — several categories have improved substantially this year, while others are sitting at worrying highs.

Application type	Current time	Trend vs. January 2026
Work permits (inland)	144 days	↓ Sustained improvement
Indian visitor visas	22 days	↓ 60 days below Jan. baseline
Visitor visas (inside Canada)	42 days	→ Stable
Visitor record extensions	288 days	↑ 127 days above Jan. baseline
CEC / FSWP Express Entry	7 months	→ Flat
PNP (Express Entry-linked)	6 months	↓ Improved by 1 month
Atlantic Immigration Program	26 months	↓ Dropped 12 months
Spousal sponsorship (outland)	~24 months	↑ Creeping upward
Citizenship certificates	15 months	↑↑ Spiked — 11,600+ added in one cycle

The most notable positive movement is in the Atlantic Immigration Program, which shed 12 months in a single update cycle — a dramatic improvement for a program that had been running at 38+ months as recently as early 2026. The most concerning number remains visitor record extensions at 288 days, which is 127 days above the January baseline and remains deeply problematic for anyone trying to maintain maintained status while waiting on a longer-term application. Applicants in all categories should file early, submit complete documentation on the first attempt, and monitor their IRCC portal regularly for additional document requests.

What to Watch This Summer

Several developments are expected in the months ahead that could materially affect immigration plans across multiple categories.

Ontario Workforce Priority EOI reopening: The OINP has stated that the new Expression of Interest system will open “later in the summer of 2026.” Most observers expect August at the earliest, with September a more realistic date given the platform upgrades required. The official OINP updates page is where the confirmed date will appear first.

Bill C-12 asylum regulations finalised: The 30-day consultation period on the proposed regulatory changes closes in mid-July. Once the feedback period ends, IRCC will review submissions and publish the finalised regulations. Implementation is expected before the end of 2026.

2027–2029 Levels Plan announcement: IRCC ran public consultations on the next immigration levels cycle earlier this year, with the survey closing on June 14. The results will shape the next three-year levels announcement, which the government is required to table by November 1, 2026. The IRCC newsroom is the best place to track that announcement when it lands.

Phase 2 OINP redesign: Ontario has signalled a second phase of its program redesign, which is expected to include a rebuilt Entrepreneur stream and potentially further pathways. No dates have been confirmed. Candidates interested in business immigration to Ontario should monitor the official OINP page closely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program in June 2026?

All eight existing OINP streams were permanently closed on June 26, 2026, and replaced with the new Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream. The new stream has three pathways: TEER 0–3 for skilled workers with a job offer, TEER 4–5 for essential workers with a job offer, and a self-employed physician pathway. The EOI system is currently closed and expected to reopen in summer 2026.

Can I still study in Canada on a work permit after June 27, 2026?

No. The temporary exemption that allowed certain work permit holders to study without a separate study permit expired on June 27, 2026. If you want to continue studying, you must apply for a study permit. Continuing without one puts you out of compliance with Canadian immigration law. Also note that study time under the old exemption does not count toward PGWP eligibility.

What are the new asylum rules under Bill C-12?

Bill C-12 introduced two key restrictions effective for claims made on or after June 3, 2025: asylum claims made more than one year after first entry into Canada will not be referred to the IRB; and claims filed more than 14 days after irregular entry along the Canada-U.S. land border are also ineligible for an IRB hearing. Affected claimants may still access a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). Unaccompanied minors are exempt from both rules.

How many permanent residents is Canada admitting in 2026?

Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets permanent resident admissions at 380,000 for 2026, with provincial nominee targets at 91,500. New temporary resident arrivals (workers and students) are capped at 385,000 in 2026, dropping to 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028. The government’s goal is to reduce the temporary resident population to below 5% of Canada’s total population by end of 2027.

What are the current IRCC processing times as of June 2026?

As of June 24, 2026: inland work permits are at 144 days (improving), Indian visitor visas at 22 days (60 days below January), Atlantic Immigration Program at 26 months (down 12 months), CEC and FSWP Express Entry at 7 months (stable), citizenship certificates at 15 months (spiked sharply), and visitor record extensions at 288 days (127 days above the January baseline and still very high).

Will my pending OINP application be affected by the June 26 changes?

If you already submitted an application following an Invitation to Apply under a former OINP stream, your file will be assessed under the rules in effect when you submitted it. The grandfathering clause Ontario confirmed protects these applications. However, if you had an active EOI profile that had not yet received an invitation, that profile will be automatically withdrawn. You will need to register a new profile under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream once the EOI system reopens.

Canada Immigration Policy Update: Major Changes in June 2026 You Need to Know | CanadianUpdates.ca