Curated updates from official Australian and Canadian immigration sources for 2025.
Key 2025 news and policy changes from the Australian Department of Home Affairs / Immigration and Citizenship.
Date: April–June 2025
Registrations opened for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for the 2025–26 program year for China, India and Vietnam, and new postcodes were added to eligible bushfire and natural disaster recovery areas that count towards second and third WHM visas.
Date: 7 August 2025 (updated 24 September 2025)
The Department updated the list of English language tests accepted for visa purposes and clarified which results remain valid for applications submitted after 7 August 2025, along with new legislative instruments for English evidence.
Date: 2–4 September 2025
The Australian Government confirmed the permanent Migration Program planning levels for 2025–26, outlining places across skilled, family and special eligibility streams and the policy settings guiding the intake.
Date: October 2025
The 15th edition of the Administration Paper was released, summarising how Australia manages its immigration and citizenship programs, with links to live visa statistics and data on program composition and performance.
Date: 4 November 2025
The global visa processing times guide was updated, providing an indicative timeframe for visa decisions based on recently finalised applications via an interactive tool on the Home Affairs website.
Selected recent 2025 stories from CIC News on Canadian immigration, Express Entry and study/work pathways.
Date: 1 December 2025
CIC News highlights options for Haitian nationals in the U.S. facing potential deportation in early 2026, including using Canada’s Express Entry system and Francophone-focused categories to obtain permanent residence.
Date: 30 November 2025
Accompanying spouses, partners and dependent children can obtain open study permits that are exempt from Provincial Attestation Letters and not tied to a single institution, easing access to education across Canada.
Date: 28 November 2025
In a French-language Express Entry draw, IRCC issued 6,000 invitations with a CRS cut-off of 408, one of the lowest in 2025, continuing a strong focus on Francophone immigration.
Date: 28 November 2025
Ontario announced plans for a new talent stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, creating future pathways for candidates in research, culinary arts, entrepreneurship and more.
Date: 26 November 2025
A practical guide to improving CRS scores through language, education, work experience, and skill transferability—especially important given the high score requirements seen in 2025.