New Canada Immigration and Work Rules from January 2026

Jan 2, 2026 / 3 min readIshita Soni

New Rules in Canada from January 1, 2026

On New Year’s Day, Canada introduced several new rules. These changes affect students, entrepreneurs, professionals, job seekers, and people planning to settle in rural areas.
Below is a simple breakdown of what changed and who it affects.

1. Graduate Students No Longer Need PAL/TAL for Study Permits

Who this affects:
Students planning to study master’s or PhD programs in Canada.

What changed:
From January 1, 2026, students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs at public universities no longer need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) to apply for a study permit.

Why this matters:

  • Earlier, PAL/TAL was required to confirm that a student was counted under the province’s student limit.
  • Now, graduate students are not counted under the study permit cap.

As a result:

  • Getting a study permit is faster and easier
  • PhD students may get permits in as little as two weeks
  • Students can apply even if the study permit cap is full
  • They also save money, as PAL/TAL often required paying a deposit to the university

2. Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program Closed for New Applications

Who this affects:
Foreign entrepreneurs planning to get PR through the Start-Up Visa program.

What changed:
IRCC stopped accepting new Start-Up Visa applications on December 31, 2025.

However, there is an exception:

  • If an applicant already received a commitment certificate in 2025, they can still apply
  • The deadline for these applicants is June 30, 2026

Additionally:

  • New work permit applications under this program are also stopped
  • Those who already have a Start-Up Visa work permit may be able to extend it while PR is in process

What’s next:
The government has announced that this is a transition phase, and a new pilot program for entrepreneur immigration will be launched in 2026.

3. Ontario Makes It Easier for Out-of-Province Professionals to Work

Who this affects:
Professionals certified in other Canadian provinces who want to work in Ontario.

What changed:
From January 1, 2026, Ontario introduced the “As of Right” framework.

Under this rule:

  • Professionals can start working in Ontario within 10 business days
  • This temporary permission is valid for up to 6 months
  • During this time, they can complete Ontario-specific licensing

Earlier:
This process used to take several months.

Who benefits:

  • Architects
  • Engineers
  • Electricians
  • Some healthcare professionals
  • Over 300 certifications across 50+ regulatory bodies

4. Ontario Bans “Canadian Work Experience” Requirement in Job Ads

Who this affects:
Job seekers in Ontario, especially newcomers and immigrants.

What changed:
From January 1, 2026, employers in Ontario cannot ask for “Canadian work experience” in job postings.

Why this is important:

  • Earlier, many newcomers were rejected just because they lacked Canadian experience
  • This rule removes a major barrier to employment

In addition:

  • Employers must now clearly disclose if AI is used in the hiring process

5. Alberta Tightens Rules for Its Rural Renewal Stream

Who this affects:
People planning to settle in rural Alberta with a job offer.

What changed:
Alberta made its Rural Renewal Stream rules stricter from January 1, 2026.

Key changes include:

  • Applicants must have a valid work permit (maintained status is no longer accepted)
  • Workers in TEER 4 or 5 jobs must already live in Alberta
  • Fewer endorsement spots for communities
  • Endorsement letters are now valid for only 12 months

About the program:
This stream allows rural Alberta communities to support and nominate foreign workers for PR if they have a local job offer.

Final Thoughts

Overall, these changes show that Canada is:

  • Making it easier for graduate students and skilled professionals
  • Removing job barriers for newcomers
  • At the same time, becoming more selective with entrepreneur and rural immigration programs

If you’re planning to study, work, or immigrate to Canada, staying updated with these changes is more important than ever.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding Immigration Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

Recent Blogs