Canadian immigration policy updates

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced new measures to modernize the immigration system.

On Sept. 1, Sean Fraser, Canada's Immigration Minister, unveiled changes and new online services within Canada's immigration system designed to improve customer service and reduce delays:

some applicants are exempt from medical examinations: this measure applies only to people who are already in Canada and meet certain criteria. About 180,000 newcomers are expected to be affected. The statement does not specify either the criteria or the effective date of the change;
immigration applications will go completely digital Sept. 23: Alternative formats will be available for people who need housing. The Department of Immigration has pledged to make immigration applications digital in January 2022;
more application tracking capabilities: by spring 2023, seven more permanent and temporary residency programs will have application status trackers. The citizenship application status tracker, which was launched in May 2021, will be expanded to include access to representatives in September. In addition, the ministry is improving its online processing time service to provide more accurate information. Starting in the fall, projected estimates of how long it will take to process an application will be published;
citizenship modernization: In August 2021, Canada launched a service that allows groups of adults aged 18 and older to apply for citizenship online. The ministry intends to expand this tool to offer online applications for minors under the age of 18 by the end of the year.

Recently we wrote that thanks to optimization of the IRCC, immigration decisions were twice as fast this year as they were last year. As of August 22, Canada had accepted more than 300,000 new residents, crossing that threshold earlier than in any other year. Sean Fraser is confident the 2022 immigration goals will be met, stressing that all innovations must be geared toward the convenience of applicants: