NKIC • CANADIAN IMMIGRATION DAILY UPDATE • 28 OCTOBER 2026
This Week in Canadian Immigration
Express Entry draws, CRS reform, Ontario and British Columbia PNP updates, Quebec’s deadline and work-permit developments.
1. Express Entry: 5,000 French-language invitations
On October 27, IRCC issued 5,000 invitations through its French-language proficiency category, with a minimum CRS of 407, 28 points below the prior French-language round’s cutoff. Eligible candidates generally need at least NCLC 7 in all four French skills and must qualify for an Express Entry immigration program.
NKIC tip: Review French test validity, your Express Entry eligibility and possible additional language points.
2. Provincial nominees: 792 invitations
On October 26, IRCC invited 792 provincial nominees, with a minimum CRS of 761. An accepted Express Entry-linked provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Provincial nominations have distinct eligibility and residence-intention requirements.
NKIC tip: Compare provincial streams with your occupation, job history, language skills and intended province.
3. Express Entry scoring reforms begin November 3
The upcoming Labour Market Integration scoring changes may award 20, 40 or 70 additional CRS points for eligible Canadian experience in designated high-wage occupations, or 50, 70 or 100 points for a qualifying high-wage job offer. The candidate receives the higher applicable option, not both. The occupation’s national median wage—not simply personal annual earnings—determines the wage category.
A qualifying job offer can earn new Express Entry points without an LMIA, although LMIA requirements for the underlying work permit are separate. IRCC expects a temporary pause of invitation rounds during recalculation.
Action: Review qualifying job-offer details and Express Entry profiles before November 3.
4. Ontario OINP: REDI and earnings-history points
Ontario’s REDI initiative is running through the end of 2027 with designated nomination allocations for Greater Sudbury, Kenora, Nipissing, Rainy River, Renfrew County and Thunder Bay. Applicants use an applicable OINP stream; there is no separate REDI form.
Effective October 5, an eligible Ontario Workforce Priority Stream expression of interest may receive 10 EOI points for qualifying Canadian earnings of CAD $80,000 or more in a single year within five years, supported by a CRA Notice of Assessment. Existing EOIs are automatically recalculated. These are Ontario EOI points, not federal CRS points; investment returns should not be assumed to qualify.
5. British Columbia: workers and entrepreneur invitations
BC issued 16 targeted invitations on October 15 through its rural/remote health support initiative (minimum score 54). On October 20, its Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream issued 10 invitations and the Regional Stream fewer than five, both with minimum scores of 118. Eligibility depends on the particular stream.
6. Quebec PEQ: October 31 deadline
The current Quebec Experience Program reception period for certain eligible graduates and temporary foreign workers ends October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Montreal time. Applicants must meet the applicable historical and current eligibility requirements. A complete application should not be left to the last minute.
7. Significant Benefit work permits (C10): IRCC clarification
On October 20, IRCC removed an outdated Start-Up Visa processing notice from the IRPR R205(a) / C10 work-permit instructions. C10 remains a case-specific LMIA-exempt employer-specific work-permit category when significant economic, social or cultural benefit can be demonstrated. No new program or broader eligibility was announced.
NKIC Iranian Community Support Promotion
For Iranian students, graduates and eligible work-permit holders in Canada:
- CAD $500 professional fee — eligible Iran Special Measures work-permit renewals
- CAD $250 professional fee — qualifying in-Canada TRV assistance
- FREE 20-minute initial consultation — for students, graduates and work-permit holders
Government and third-party fees extra. Iran Special Measures require a qualifying valid work permit issued on or before February 28, 2025, plus other conditions, with applications under the current measures accepted until March 31, 2027. Study permit or visitor status alone is not sufficient.
Complete your assessment: NKIC online intake and assessment
WhatsApp: +41 76 818 00 66
Email: info@nkic.info
Read the full newsletter, supporting sources and further analysis: October 28, 2026 Weekly Edition →
Nader Kazerouni | Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant | RCIC R413047
General information only; eligibility and policies may change. No outcome guaranteed.