Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Forward regulatory plan: 2026-2028
This forward regulatory plan provides information on regulatory initiatives that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada aims to propose or finalize in the next 2 years through:
- pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I
- final publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II
The forward regulatory plan may also include regulatory initiatives that are planned to come forward over a longer time frame. Comments or enquiries can be made using the contact information included with each regulatory initiative.
Some of the initiatives in this plan may be associated with IRCC’s multi year plan to review its existing regulations (stock review plan).
Regulatory initiatives
Regulatory initiatives planned or anticipated to be proposed or finalized between 2026 and 2028
- Short duration work permit exemptions
- Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (anticipated regulatory changes to the structure of paragraph 133(1)(e) of the regulations)
- Governor in Council regulations made under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act
- Governor in Council regulations to establish a new system of administrative penalties and consequences related to the provision of immigration representation and/or advice
- Amendments to excluded relationships in s.117 (9)(d) and s.125(1)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
- Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to require submission of electronic applications for permanent residency
- Update outdated fee regulations in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
- Remove or amend the requirement to present a permanent resident visa to an officer at a port of entry or IRCC inland office for approved permanent residents residing in Canada
- Regulations repealing the definition of working days for the purpose of the automatic referral of refugee claims
- Repeal of regulations relating to the Designated Country of Origin regime
- Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Refugee Resettlement Program, Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program)
- Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) to modernize online requirements for permanent residence processes
- Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) to facilitate the issuance of permanent resident visas for foreign national physicians reimbursed through the public health care system in Canada
- Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to make the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) a permanent federal economic immigration program
- New regulations amending the Citizenship Regulations and Citizenship Regulations No. 2 to implement the systematic collection and use of biometric information for citizenship processing
- New measures in respect of certain applications and documents (strengthening control over immigration documents and in order to respond effectively to strengthen the integrity of the immigration program)
- Prescribing circumstances in which a foreign national who holds an immigration document is subject to examination provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Amending extension of authorization to remain in Canada requirements for certain temporary residents in Canada
- Regulations amending the requirement to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization for air transit in Canada
- Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to expand the collection and use of biometrics in Canada’s immigration programs
- Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (language testing requirements for certain work permit applicants under the International Mobility Program)
- Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (changing employers process under the International Mobility Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program)
- Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations – Streamlining study and work authorizations New
- Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to facilitate the transfer of International Mobility Program employer compliance inspection responsibilities to Employment and Social Development Canada New
- Amendments to the Passport and Other Travel Document Services Fees Regulations New
- Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Digital Capture) New
- Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to modernize the federal high skilled classes (Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Class) New
- Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Asylum Reform) New