Canada’s immigration system went through major changes in 2025. Several permanent residence (PR) programs, pilot projects, and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams were closed or paused for an unknown period. These decisions affected thousands of foreign nationals who were planning to apply for PR through these pathways.
Even with these closures, many strong alternatives still exist. Some options remain open today, while others are expected to launch soon. These alternatives can help eligible candidates continue their journey toward Canadian permanent residence.
This article explains which PR pathways are paused or closed in 2025 and outlines the best alternatives for people affected by these changes.
Provincial Nominee Program Streams
Throughout 2025, several provinces closed or paused specific PNP streams. These decisions were often linked to lower nomination allocations, concerns about program integrity, or shifting labour priorities.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
On November 14, 2025, Ontario closed its Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream. The province stated that the closure was due to concerns about “systemic misrepresentation and/or fraud.” As a result, no new applications were accepted, and applications already submitted were returned.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP): Entrepreneur And Farm Pathways
On March 27, 2025, Saskatchewan announced that it would permanently stop accepting applications under the following streams:
- The Entrepreneur category
- The International Graduate Entrepreneur category
- The Farm Owner/Operator category
The province also confirmed that it would no longer accept new expressions of interest or issue invitations for these streams, with no plans to reopen them.
New Brunswick Nominee Program (NBNP): NB Student Connection Pathway
In early February 2025, New Brunswick ended the Express Entry Stream – NB Student Connection Pathway. The province stated that this pathway would not return in 2025. It remains unclear whether it will reopen in 2026.
This pathway was designed for international graduates from New Brunswick’s designated learning institutions.
New Brunswick also stopped accepting new expressions of interest for its Skilled Worker – Priority Occupations pathway in March 2025, without providing further updates.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP): Student Streams
British Columbia closed its International Post-Graduate (IPG) Stream on January 7, 2025. The province later announced plans to launch three new student streams:
- Bachelor’s Stream
- Master’s Stream
- Doctorate Stream
These were expected to open in January 2025. However, this did not happen. On April 14, 2025, British Columbia confirmed that all new student streams were suspended indefinitely due to reduced nomination allocations.
Yukon Nominee Program: Yukon Community Program Pilot
The Yukon Community Program pilot officially ended on June 30, 2025, after five years of operation. This pilot allowed participants to receive two-year open work permits to gain local work experience and later qualify for PR.
Alternative Pathways Still Available
Despite some PR pathways being paused or closed in 2025, several strong options remain for PR candidates.
Express Entry
Candidates who qualify under one of Express Entry’s programs and work in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation can still submit a profile. Invitations may be issued through:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws
- PNP-linked draws for nominated candidates
- Category-based draws based on occupation or language skills
Category-based draws often have lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores than CEC draws. In many cases, only six months of full-time work experience is required.
For example, candidates affected by the closure of Ontario’s Skilled Trades Stream may still qualify under federal Trades category draws. The most recent Trades draw had a CRS cut-off score of 505.
Other PNP Options
Candidates impacted by stream closures may still qualify under other PNP pathways, either in the same province or another one.
For example, New Brunswick confirmed that graduates with eligible employment may still apply through the NB Employment pathway under the NB Express Entry Stream.
Many PNPs prioritize candidates with provincial connections, such as work experience or job offers, though some streams do not require these ties.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program remains an option for candidates interested in settling in Atlantic Canada. Applicants must have:
- A job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province
- Provincial endorsement of the job offer
Applicants should note that current processing times for AIP applications are about 37 months.
Immigration Pilots
Candidates with job offers from designated employers may qualify through:
- The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (14 participating communities); or
- The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (six participating communities).
The Francophone pilot requires a minimum NCLC level 5 in all language skills.
Quebec Immigration Programs
Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
On November 19, 2025, Quebec officially ended the Quebec Experience Program. This program included:
- The Quebec Graduates Stream
- The Temporary Foreign Workers Stream
The PEQ had been paused since October 31, 2024, before being permanently closed.
Quebec Immigration Pilots
On November 6, 2025, Quebec confirmed that the following pilot programs would end on January 1, 2026:
- Pilot program for workers in food processing
- Pilot program for orderlies
- Pilot program for workers in artificial intelligence, information technologies, and visual effects
As of November 6, application caps were reached for all pilots except the Francophone profile under the technology pilot, which remained open until December 31, 2025.
Quebec Alternatives
The Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) is now the main pathway for skilled workers seeking PR in Quebec. This program replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program and resumed in July 2025.
Applicants must submit a declaration of interest through the Arrima system to be considered.
Agri-Food Pilot
The Agri-Food Pilot closed on February 13, 2025, about three months earlier than planned due to high demand. The pilot was launched in 2020 and extended in 2023, with an original end date of May 14, 2025.
Eligible sectors included:
- Meat product manufacturing
- Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production (including mushrooms)
- Animal production
Alternatives For Agri-Food Workers
Express Entry:
Two occupations previously eligible under the pilot remain eligible for Express Entry:
- Butchers – retail and wholesale (NOC 63201)
- Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030)
NOC 63201 is also eligible for category-based selection under agriculture and agri-food.
PNPs:
If eligibility requirements are met, permanent residence may still be possible through a Provincial Nominee Program, especially for those with ties to a specific province.
Some provinces offer general streams or streams that target the same jobs as the Agri-Food Pilot. One example is Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Talent Pathway, which focuses on five of the eight occupations that were eligible under the Agri-Food Pilot.
AIP:
Some Atlantic provinces prioritized agriculture in 2025, including Newfoundland and Labrador.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot:
The RCIP offers a path to permanent residence for people who have a job offer from a local employer in one of the 14 participating regions. The job offer must be approved by the region’s economic development organization. Each community also lists its priority industries and jobs.
In 2025, several communities focused on agriculture and food processing jobs. One example is Claresholm, Alberta, which targeted three of the same jobs covered by the Agri-Food Pilot. These communities are likely to keep looking for agriculture and food processing workers in 2026 to fill labour shortages.
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
On December 19, 2025, the federal government announced a long-term pause for:
- Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care (HCWP: CC)
- Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support (HCWP: HS)
Both pilots reached their caps within hours of opening. While they were expected to reopen in spring 2026, IRCC later confirmed that new applications would not be accepted until March 30, 2030.
These pilots offered PR pathways for workers with job offers in child care and home support roles.
The eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for each include:
| Pilot | Eligible NOCs |
| HCWP: CC | – Home child care providers (NOC 44100)
– Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) |
| HCWP: HS | – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101)
– Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102) |
Alternatives For Care Workers
Express Entry:
Two occupations listed above, i.e., NOC 42202 and NOC 33102, qualify as skilled work and are eligible for Express Entry. They also qualify for category-based draws under education and healthcare categories.
PNPs:
Many provinces prioritized education, caregiving, and healthcare roles in 2025. Manitoba frequently invited candidates under NOC 44101, while Ontario targeted NOCs 33102 and 42202.
AIP:
If a foreign national has a job offer from an approved employer in an Atlantic province and meets the other requirements, they can apply for permanent residence through IRCC.
In 2025, all Atlantic provinces focused on healthcare jobs. New Brunswick also gave priority to education jobs but stopped taking new applications in April 2025. Looking ahead, at least one province, Nova Scotia, is expected to continue prioritizing healthcare and social assistance jobs.
RCIP:
Several RCIP communities, including Timmins (Ontario) and West Kootenay (British Columbia), targeted the same occupations covered by the Home Care Worker pilots.
Start-Up Visa Program
Another one of the PR pathways paused or closed in 2025 includes the Start-Up Visa Program.
On December 31, 2025, IRCC stopped accepting new applications under this program. An exception was made for candidates who secured a valid commitment from a designated organization in 2025 but had not yet applied.
The program officially closed on January 1, 2026. It allowed entrepreneurs to obtain PR by starting a business in Canada outside Quebec.
The closure is linked to very high application volumes and processing times that exceeded 10 years.
At the same time, IRCC extended the pause on the Self-Employed Persons Program until further notice.
Alternatives For Entrepreneurs
The government said that more details about a new pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs will be shared in 2026. This new program is expected to help reduce the large number of pending business immigration applications.
Until then, the best option for foreign entrepreneurs is to apply through a provincial nominee program that focuses on business owners and entrepreneurs. Below are some examples of PNP streams designed for entrepreneurs:
- British Columbia: Base Stream or Regional Stream
- Alberta: Rural Entrepreneur Stream, Farm Stream, Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Manitoba: Business Investor Stream-Entrepreneur Pathway and Farm Investor Pathway
- Nova Scotia: Entrepreneur Stream and International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Newfoundland And Labrador: International Entrepreneur Stream and International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)
The EMPP stopped accepting applications in July 2025 and officially ended on December 31, 2025. The program connected skilled refugees and displaced persons with Canadian employers.
EMPP Alternatives
In June 2025, the federal government announced plans to create a permanent program based on the EMPP’s success. While this program did not launch before the EMPP ended, IRCC confirmed that development is ongoing.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan also included a one-time initiative to transition about 115,000 protected persons to permanent residence. More details are expected in 2026.
Eligible individuals may also consider refugee protection claims or Humanitarian and Compassionate applications in exceptional cases.
Despite many closures in 2025, Canada continues to offer multiple paths to permanent residence. With careful planning and the right alternative, many affected candidates can still move forward toward Canadian PR.
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