The TR to PR announcement is coming. Are you ready?

Hi Reader!

Hey, it's Tiffany 😊

Happy Easter long weekend! I hope you're enjoying some time with family, friends and maybe a few chocolate eggs 🐣. Despite a cold start this week, we are finally experiencing Spring like weather in Vancouver. If you love spring flowers, Cherry Blossoms are still in season and Tulips will be blooming soon.

It was a short but happening week for Canadian immigration. Three Express Entry draws in one week, four policy changes on March 31 and April 1, Ontario PNP Draw. And the TR-to-PR announcement? Still expected this month.

Grab a cup of coffee. Let's go through it together.

This Week in Canadian Immigration (30-second summary)

First Trades draw of 2026 — 3,000 ITAs at CRS 477 (Apr 2). First since September 2025.
CEC draw — 2,250 ITAs at CRS 509 (Mar 31). Invitations cut nearly in half from last round.
PNP draw — 356 ITAs at CRS 802 (Mar 30). Standard PNP round.
4 immigration changes took effect this week — Super Visa income rules, provincial PNP powers, fee increases, LMIA rules, and more.
Ontario (OINP) — 759 across 3 Employer Job Offer streams (Apr 1).
PR & citizenship fees increase April 30 — deadline approaching.

Express Entry Draws — March 30 – April 4, 2026

Draw #408 — Trades Occupations | Apr 2 ⭐

✅ ITAs: 3,000
✅ CRS: 477
✅ Tie-break: February 14, 2026, 20:53:54 UTC

📌 The headline of the week. The first Trades draw since September 2025 — and IRCC came back strong. More than double the invitations (up from 1,250) and a 28-point drop in the cutoff.

The updated 2026 category now requires 12 months of experience (up from 6), covers 25 occupations, and has removed Cooks and Chefs while adding Butchers. If you're a carpenter, plumber, electrician, welder, or in any eligible trade — this draw was designed for you.

Draw #407 — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | Mar 31

✅ ITAs: 2,250
✅ CRS: 509
✅ Tie-break: March 18, 2026, 08:27:11 UTC

📌 CRS went up 2 points (507 → 509), but only because IRCC cut invitations nearly in half — from 4,000 to 2,250. The underlying trend of declining CEC scores is still intact. If your CRS is 500+, you're in the competitive zone.

Draw #406 — Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | Mar 30

✅ ITAs: 356
✅ CRS: 802
✅ Tie-break: February 12, 2026, 03:54:03 UTC

📌 Standard PNP draw. The 802 reflects the automatic +600 CRS points — effective base score is approximately 202.

4 Immigration Changes this week And What these mean for Your PR Journey

Here are the 4 changes:

Provinces now have the final say on PNP candidates (March 30)
A valid provincial nomination is now conclusive evidence of intent to reside. IRCC officers will no longer independently assess this. This is a quiet but structural shift in how PNP works.

Super Visa income rules are now more flexible (March 31)
You can now use income from either of the last 2 tax years, and combine the host's income with the visiting parent's or grandparent's income. If you were previously ineligible due to one low-income year, this is worth revisiting.

New LMIA rules (April 1)
Low-wage LMIA advertising period doubled from 4 to 8 consecutive weeks. This affects employers directly and the length of the time required to prepare for an LMIA application package. Signals continued tightening of the Temporary Foreign Work Permit Program (TFWP).

Fee changes — what's happening and when

Effective April 1:

Passport fees increased (first time since 2013) + new 30-business-day processing guarantee with automatic refund
Right of citizenship fee: $119.75 → $123

Effective April 30:

PR fee: $575 → $600
Express Entry processing: $950 → $990
Family sponsorship: $545 → $570

📌 If your application is ready, submit before April 30. Never rush an incomplete application just to save fees.

PNP Activity — March 24 – April 4, 2026

Ontario (OINP) — Employer Job Offer Streams | April 1

✅ Total invitations: 759 across 3 Employer Job Offer streams
✅ Foreign Worker: 372 ITAs | Score: 56+
✅ International Student: 355 ITAs | Score: 85+
✅ In-Demand Skills: 32 ITAs | Score: 34+

Key occupations: Mining engineers, geological engineers, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, industrial mechanics, manufacturing managers.

📌 This is OINP's 5th draw set of 2026 (6,343 total invitations this year). But remember — all current OINP streams lose their legal basis on May 30, 2026. If you received an invitation, respond within the deadline. No exceptions, no extensions.

👉 Ontario PNP: The Biggest Immigration Overhaul in Years — 5 Things You Need to Know Before May 30, Even if You are Not in Ontario

Professional Insight

Every signal this week points in the same direction: Canada is building an immigration system that rewards people who are already here, already working, and already contributing (i.e. paying taxes).

The Trades draw is the clearest example — IRCC didn't just bring back the category, they doubled the invitations and dropped the cutoff by 28 points. CEC scores remain in the 507–509 range. Ontario is selecting by sector. Provinces now have the final say on their nominees.

This is what I've been calling the "In-Land Era" of Canadian immigration. If you're in Canada, working, and building your profile — this is your window. The question isn't whether there's a pathway. It's whether your profile is optimized for the pathways that are actually moving.

And with the TR-to-PR announcement still expected this month, that window may be about to get wider.

What You Should Do This Week

If you work in a skilled trade — check if you qualify under the updated Trades category. CRS 477 with 3,000 invitations. You need 12 months of experience in the last 3 years. You can refer to our blog and check under Trade.
If your CRS is 500+ — keep your Express Entry profile current. CEC scores are hovering around 507–509. Start document prep now with our TR to PR Blueprint.
If you have French language skills — book your TEF Canada or TCF Canada now. Wait times are at least 3 months in major cities.
If you're in the OINP EOI pool — update your contact info in the e-Filing Portal today. May 30 is approaching fast.
If your PR application is ready — submit before April 30 to avoid the fee increase.

TR to PR 2026

The TR-to-PR pathway details are expected to be announced in April. Here's how to prepare before the announcement drops.

TR to PR Live Webinar
Date: April 14, 2026 (Tues)
Time: 5:00 PM Vancouver / 8:00 PM Toronto

If your work permit expires in 2026 or 2027, this is a session you don't want to miss.

👉 Register for April 14 Webinar

Please share this registration link with family and friends whose work permits are expiring in 2026 or 2027. Many people are still unaware that preparation needs to begin before the program announcement — this webinar could make a real difference for someone you know.

Missed Our TR to PR Webinar in March?
I covered everything we currently know about TR-to-PR and answered 60+ audience questions.

👉 Watch the March Replay

Your Canadian story often begins with the next action you take.

Have an excellent week ahead! I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Tiffany Chia
Owner/Director/RCIC
1to1Immigration

[Whatsapp] | [Website] | [LinkedIn]

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