Canada's immigration minister has ended a permanent residency exemption for refugees with family members not listed. The exemption had let refugees seek permanent status even when family members were not listed in their initial application.
The change cuts off that application method. It applies to refugees who did not declare family members . This policy was implemented straight away .
Separately, family sponsorship rules are changing in September 2026 . The new rules will take effect at that time .
Meanwhile, proof-of-citizenship applications have surged . Estimated wait times for those applications are about three years long. Processing delays are becoming more severe for applicants seeking Canadian citizenship.