Canada Tightens Immigration Rules with September 2026 Changes
Canada's immigration authority, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has announced several regulatory changes set to take effect in September 2026. These changes aim to improve study permit compliance checks, proof of funds requirements, and provincial immigration rules.
The new regulations will affect international students outside Quebec, who will need to demonstrate higher proof of funds, equivalent to Canadian dollars 23,448 (KSh 2.2 million), before their applications are approved. IRCC has also increased enforcement action targeting higher-risk study permit holders and institutions suspected of Letter of Acceptance fraud.
Additionally, Hong Kong residents who had been eligible for dedicated Canadian permanent residence pathways will no longer be able to submit new applications after August 31, 2026. Several Canadian provinces have introduced their own September 2026 deadlines, including Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, which require employers hiring temporary foreign workers to complete a mandatory registration form.
IRCC has also confirmed that immigration and travel restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak will be extended until September 28, 2026. The restrictions apply to affected foreign nationals, residents, and travelers with ties to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.