Canada's immigration minister has ended a permanent residency exemption for refugees with undeclared family members . The exemption had let refugees seek permanent status even when family members were not listed in their initial application.
The change eliminates that pathway to residency . It applies to applicants who omitted family details . This policy is now in force.
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 about three years long. Processing delays remain a major challenge for applicants seeking Canadian citizenship.