Canada's immigration minister has removed a permanent residency exemption for refugees with undeclared family members . The exemption had let refugees seek permanent status even when family members were omitted in their initial application.
The change eliminates that pathway to residency . It applies to applicants who omitted family details . This policy was implemented straight away .
Separately, family sponsorship rules are set to be updated in late 2026 . The new rules will take effect on that date.
Meanwhile, proof-of-citizenship applications have risen sharply. Estimated wait times for those applications are nearly three years . Processing delays are becoming more severe for applicants seeking Canadian citizenship.