Canada Keeps Shifting the Rules on French Entry, Visitor Stays and Fees

Canada’s immigration policy is still moving. The biggest change right now is the April 15 Express Entry draw for French-language candidates, which sent 4,000 ITAs to people with a CRS of 419 or higher and that keeps francophone selection squarely in focus, honestly, even as Ottawa tries to keep overall arrivals more controlled.

The Super Visa also got easier for families. Sponsors can now use income from either of the past two tax years or combine it with the visitor’s income, which is a real relief for parents and grandparents trying to qualify, because the old proof rules were tighter and, frankly, more annoying than they needed to be.

Who it affects

This matters most for skilled workers, especially French speakers in the Express Entry pool. It also hits families, tourists and some digital nomads who enter as visitors and stay longer, since Canada can now allow eligible travelers to remain for up to 1 year at border officer discretion, which, weirdly, makes the “temporary” part feel a lot less temporary.

What to do now

If you’re in the Express Entry pool, check your CRS score, update your French results and make sure your profile is current before the next category draw. If you’re sponsoring under the Super Visa, gather T4s, recent tax docs and proof of medical insurance, because the paperwork still matters.

• Visitor entries: expect up to 1 year only if the officer approves it.
• Fees: permanent residence and passport costs rise on April 30 and April 1 respectively.
• Digital nomads: Canada still doesn’t have a dedicated nomad visa, so remote workers usually enter as visitors and need to prove they’ll leave.

Read our full Canada guide for the complete picture and check visa updates for the latest policy shifts.