The old adage that the only constant is change certainly rings true when applied to Canada’s immigration landscape. Already in early 2025, changes across Canada’s immigration system have been made that will impact a large swath of potential immigrants. While most of these changes are not massive immigration system-defining changes, they are still noteworthy for those who want to come to Canada to live, work, or study.

New Rural and Francophone Immigration Pilots

On January 30, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the launch of the Rural and Francophone Community Immigration pilot programs. The Government of Canada committed to instituting pilot programs for rural and francophone minority communities early in 2024, and now the launch of the new pilot programs will fulfill that promise.

Canada’s Pilot Immigration Programs

Pilot programs are temporary programs instituted by the Canadian government to target specific regional or labour needs throughout the country. The pilot programs provide their participants a pathway to permanent residency while allowing the Canadian government to develop and test out new immigration pathways without changing immigration laws. Some pilots can even be developed into permanent immigration programs, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program. The previous Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot welcomed 8,580 new permanent residents to Canada.

Features of the Rural and Francophone Immigration Pilots

According to the announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the new pilot programs will apply to 18 communities across Canada, and provide them with permanent residence pathways to attract and retain newcomers to fill key jobs in these areas. Accordingly, although permanent residents generally have freedom of movement within Canada, these pilot programs work to retain candidates in the communities that they initially settle in, as the previous Rural Northern Immigration Pilot attained a retention rate of just under 90%.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot will include 14 communities from across Canada. This pilot includes four communities in Ontario: North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, and Sault Ste. Marie. Communities in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia will also be included.

Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

Six communities are set to participate in the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. This pilot includes three communities from Ontario: Sudbury, Timmins, and Superior East Region. Also included are the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick, St. Pierre Jolys in Manitoba, and Kelowna in British Columbia.

Applying to the Pilot Programs

As of the announcement date, it is unclear what newcomers will be targeted to participate in the pilots. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has indicated that it will work with local economic development organizations in each city to identify labour gaps, designate trustworthy employers, and recommend suitable candidates for permanent residence as part of the pilots.

The details and timelines regarding the specifics of each program are set to be released later, so if these pilots may apply to you, make sure to keep checking the news for details, and consider consulting an experienced immigration lawyer. Applications are open, but there are application fees of around $1,500, so for some candidates, it may be worth waiting until more information is made available before making an application. More details and criteria for application to the pilots can be found on the pilot website.

Super Visa Changes

On January 28, 2025, the Canadian Government announced a change to the Super Visa requirements that should make it easier for applicants to apply under the program.

The Super Visa program allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to come to Canada for up to two years at a time. For those who want to come to Canada for a long period of time as a visitor, the Super Visa can be far more effective than a standard visitor visa, as a standard visitor visa only allows the holder to remain in Canada for six months at a time. The Super Visa also provides for multiple entry into Canada and the option to extend the stay is provided for.

Super Visa Eligibility

To be eligible for a Super Visa, the applicant must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The child or grandchild of the applicant must provide a letter that promises they have adequate financial resources to support the Appellant for their entire visit, a list of people in the household of the person providing the letter, and a copy of their Canadian citizenship or permanent residence document.

Formerly, the applicant was also required to have a fully paid and approved insurance policy from a Canadian insurance company. With the recent announcement, the requirement that the applicant have a Canadian insurance policy has changed. Now, applicants can purchase private health insurance companies from outside of Canada, subject to some restrictions.

Health Insurance Policy External to Canada

If one chooses to have a health insurance policy from a company outside of Canada, the health insurance will qualify as valid if:

• It is issued by a foreign insurance company authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to provide accident and sickness insurance
• The company appears on the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions list of federally regulated financial institutions
• The policy is issued under the company’s insurance business in Canada

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions website has a list of qualified insurance companies. The health insurance obtained must be valid for a minimum of one year from the date of entry, paid in full or in installments with a deposit, cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation, and provide a minimum coverage of $100,000.

Overall, this change will make it easier for Super Visa applicants to apply and come to Canada, as they are no longer restricted to finding health insurance through Canadian companies. More insurance options should also make it easier for applicants to meet the requirements to be able to apply for a Super Visa.

Contact Garson Immigration Law for help with Canadian Immigration Applications.

Garson Immigration Law is a Toronto-based law firm that helps people find solutions for their immigration needs, such as obtaining permanent residence in Canada and overcoming inadmissibility. Our focus on immigration allows us to understand the unique concerns and obstacles faced by our clients. Our skilled immigration lawyers have extensive expertise in all immigration matters, including work permits, student visas, and US immigration from Canada. If you have any questions about an immigration matter, do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 416-321-2860.