This week brought developments across three different corners of the immigration system: a new Express Entry round for healthcare workers, an updated set of processing-time estimates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and a new rule from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in hearings. Here's what changed, who it affects, and what to keep in mind.
Express Entry invites 3,500 healthcare and social services candidates
On September 4, 2026, IRCC held its 53rd Express Entry round of the year, issuing 3,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score needed was 475, unchanged from the previous healthcare-specific round in June. Candidates with a score of exactly 475 needed to have submitted their profile before May 26, 2026 at 00:26:14 UTC to be included, under Express Entry's tie-breaking rule.
This was the third healthcare-focused round of 2026, following rounds in February (4,000 ITAs at CRS 467) and June (4,000 ITAs at CRS 475). At 3,500 invitations, this round issued 500 fewer than the previous two healthcare rounds, though the cut-off score held steady.
Key details
- 3,500 ITAs — issued September 4, 2026, in the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category
- CRS cut-off of 475 — unchanged from the June 2026 healthcare round
- Tie-break date of May 26, 2026, 00:26:14 UTC — for candidates scoring exactly at the cut-off
- Third healthcare round of 2026 — following 4,000 ITAs at CRS 467 in February and 4,000 ITAs at CRS 475 in June
- 60-day application window — candidates invited in this round must submit a complete permanent residence application within 60 days of the invitation date
Who this affects
Candidates in the Express Entry pool with qualifying work experience in healthcare or social services occupations, including many internationally trained nurses and allied health workers. Receiving an ITA is a separate step from provincial licensing — candidates invited through this category still need to satisfy the relevant professional regulatory body before they can practise in Canada, and that process typically runs on its own timeline.
IRCC's September processing time update: mixed movement across categories
IRCC released updated processing-time estimates on September 3, 2026, covering permanent residence and citizenship applications. The changes were modest in most categories, but a few are worth flagging:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program: rose to 7 months, up from 6, as the application inventory grew by 1,400 to 53,800
- Canadian Experience Class: held steady at 6 months, even as the inventory shrank slightly to 58,900
- Spousal sponsorship from outside Canada (outside Quebec): rose to 18 months, up from 17
- Spousal sponsorship from inside Canada (outside Quebec): improved slightly to 26 months, down from 27
- Parents and Grandparents Program (outside Quebec): improved to 28 months, down from 29
- Search of citizenship records: rose to 18 months, up from 17 — the largest single-category increase in this update
- Citizenship grants: unchanged at 12 months, with an inventory of 327,100 applications, down slightly from August
Separately, and updated on the same day, IRCC's estimate for proof of citizenship certificate applications jumped sharply — from approximately 25 months in August to approximately 33 months in September, an eight-month increase in a single monthly revision. The applicant queue for this specific document grew to roughly 136,000, up from about 121,800 the month before. This is the largest one-month jump in this category since Bill C-3 expanded citizenship-by-descent eligibility in December 2025, and it means someone applying for proof of citizenship today can reasonably expect to wait into 2029 for a decision.
It's worth remembering that these figures are estimates based on IRCC's current inventory and processing capacity, not guarantees, and they're revised monthly.
Who this affects
Anyone with a pending application in these streams, and particularly anyone planning to apply for a proof of citizenship certificate, since the current estimate is now considerably longer than it was even a month ago. IRCC does offer urgent processing for proof of citizenship applicants in narrow circumstances — for example, where a pending job offer, school placement, or family emergency depends on it — but this is an exception, not something to plan around by default.
IRB's new practice notice on AI use takes effect September 7
A new IRB Practice Notice governing the use of artificial intelligence in proceedings came into effect on September 7, 2026. Signed by IRB Chairperson Manon Brassard on July 10, 2026, it applies across all four IRB divisions: the Refugee Protection Division, the Refugee Appeal Division, the Immigration Division, and the Immigration Appeal Division.
The core rule: parties may not use AI to generate or materially change content that reflects a person's own evidence — this includes Basis of Claim narratives, affidavits, and witness statements. These documents must be based on the person's own knowledge and experience. Using AI to draft or rewrite someone's personal story, or to alter photos, videos, or other supporting evidence, is explicitly listed as prohibited.
Where AI is used to generate or materially change other kinds of submitted content, the notice requires a signed declaration confirming that any AI-generated material — including the accuracy of cited case law — has been reviewed and verified. AI-assisted translation or transcription must always be disclosed, regardless of the type of document involved. Routine tools like spellcheck, grammar correction, and formatting assistance are not affected.
Parties who don't follow the notice risk having documents refused, facing negative credibility findings, having conduct reported to their professional regulator, or being restricted from appearing before the IRB.
Who this affects
Claimants, appellants, and their representatives preparing any material for an IRB hearing — particularly refugee claimants preparing Basis of Claim narratives, where the personal, first-hand nature of the evidence is central to how a claim is assessed.
Considering your next step
Each of these developments lands differently depending on where you are in the process — whether you're weighing when to submit an Express Entry profile, tracking a pending application against a slipping timeline, or preparing evidence for an IRB hearing. If any of this affects a file you're working on, a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant can help you understand exactly how it applies to your situation and what, if anything, you should do differently.
R. Lumain Immigration Consulting offers an initial consultation to talk through what these changes mean for your file. You can learn more at https://lumainimmigration.com (opens in a new tab).
Sources
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — Express Entry rounds of invitations
- CIC News — Canada invites 3,500 Healthcare and Social Services workers to apply for permanent residence (opens in a new tab) — September 4, 2026
- CIC News — Processing times rise for permanent residence and citizenship applicants (opens in a new tab) — September 4, 2026
- Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada — Practice notice: Use of artificial intelligence in IRB proceedings — effective September 7, 2026
This post summarizes publicly available information as of September 9, 2026 and is provided for general information only. It is not immigration or legal advice, and immigration rules can change without notice. For guidance on your specific circumstances, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.