Canada’s Immigration Landscape After 2025: Closed PR Pathways and the Best Routes Forward
Canada’s immigration framework underwent major restructuring in 2025. Several permanent residence (PR) pathways—ranging from Provincial Nominee Program streams to federal and Quebec-specific pilots—were either permanently shut down or placed under long-term suspension.
While these closures created uncertainty for many applicants, Canada continues to offer multiple alternative routes to permanent residence. In some cases, new or restructured programs are expected to launch in 2026 to replace discontinued options.
This news outlines the key PR pathways that ended or paused in 2025 and explains the most practical alternatives available today.
Provincial Nominee Program Streams That Closed or Paused in 2025
Ontario: Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream Shut Down
Ontario permanently closed its Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream in November 2025 after identifying serious concerns related to misrepresentation and fraud. All pending applications were returned, and no new submissions are being accepted.
Saskatchewan Ends Entrepreneur and Farm Pathways
Saskatchewan stopped accepting applications under all its Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur, and Farm Owner/Operator streams in March 2025. The province confirmed these pathways will not reopen.
New Brunswick Halts Student and Priority Occupation Streams
New Brunswick discontinued its Express Entry Student Connection Pathway early in 2025, removing a popular PR option for international graduates. The province also stopped accepting new expressions of interest under its Skilled Worker Priority Occupations stream.
British Columbia Suspends All Student PR Streams
British Columbia closed its International Post-Graduate stream in early 2025 and later suspended all planned student-focused PR streams indefinitely due to limited nomination allocations.
Yukon Community Program Pilot Ends
The Yukon Community Program pilot concluded as scheduled on June 30, 2025, after five years. The pilot had offered open work permits leading to PR through community-based employment.
Best Alternatives to Closed Provincial Streams
Applicants affected by these closures can still pursue permanent residence through several viable options:
Express Entry System
Candidates with skilled work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations can enter Express Entry and be considered under Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee-linked draws, or category-based selections. Occupational category draws often have lower CRS cut-offs than general draws.
Other Provincial Nominee Streams
Many provinces continue to run active PNP streams, especially for candidates with job offers or local connections. Some PNPs also target international graduates and in-demand occupations.
Atlantic Immigration Program
Those with job offers from designated employers in Atlantic Canada can apply for PR through this employer-driven pathway, though processing times remain lengthy.
Community-Based Immigration Pilots
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot remain open for candidates with job offers in participating regions.
Quebec Immigration Programs: Major Changes in 2025
Quebec Experience Program Discontinued
Quebec officially ended its Quebec Experience Program in November 2025. This program had previously provided PR options for Quebec graduates and temporary foreign workers.
Quebec Pilot Programs Conclude
Three Quebec pilot programs targeting food processing workers, orderlies, and AI/IT professionals ended as scheduled on January 1, 2026.
Current Quebec Alternative
The Skilled Worker Selection Program is now the primary PR pathway for skilled workers in Quebec. Candidates must submit a declaration of interest and be selected through Quebec’s points-based system.
Federal PR Pilots That Ended in 2025
Agri-Food Pilot Closed Early
The Agri-Food Pilot closed in February 2025 due to overwhelming demand. It had provided PR opportunities to workers in specific agricultural and food-processing occupations.
Alternatives include Express Entry for eligible skilled occupations, agriculture-focused provincial nominee streams, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and rural community pilots.
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots Paused Until 2030
Canada paused both Home Care Worker pilots after they filled within hours of opening. These pilots will not reopen until at least March 2030.
Alternatives include Express Entry category-based draws for eligible healthcare and education occupations, provincial nominee programs, Atlantic Immigration pathways, and rural community programs.
Business Immigration: Start-Up Visa Program Closed
The federal Start-Up Visa Program officially closed on January 1, 2026, after IRCC stopped accepting new applications at the end of 2025. The closure was largely attributed to excessive backlogs and long processing times.
The Self-Employed Persons Program also remains paused indefinitely.
Alternatives for entrepreneurs currently include entrepreneur-focused provincial nominee programs across provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. A new federal entrepreneur pilot is expected to be announced in 2026.
Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Concludes
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot ended on December 31, 2025. It had linked skilled refugees with Canadian employers for permanent residence.
The federal government has confirmed plans to launch a new permanent program inspired by this pilot. Additionally, a one-time initiative announced in Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan aims to transition a large number of protected persons to permanent residence in 2026.
Looking Ahead: PR Opportunities Still Exist
Although 2025 brought significant closures across Canada’s immigration system, permanent residence opportunities remain available for skilled workers, graduates, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and community-based applicants.
Careful pathway selection, early preparation, and professional guidance will be critical as Canada transitions into new immigration priorities in 2026.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
