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Hey New Locals,
It’s been a pretty busy week.
IRCC just nudged some immigration fees up. Provinces keep running targeted PNP draws. Vancouver looks nice on Instagram, but rent numbers feel high. And then there is real-life stuff like bank accounts, loans, and credit scores.
So today we are doing something simple. We walk through four big questions we know are on a lot of minds:
Did the new fees just mess up my application?
Should I move to another province to boost my PR chances?
Is Vancouver actually a good idea once you see the numbers?
How much borrowing is ok in your first years in Canada?
IRCC fee increases: what changed and what you should do
From December 1 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada increased a set of immigration and citizenship related fees. These changes hit inadmissibility applications and International Experience Canada, plus the right of permanent residence fee if you have not paid it yet.
The changes are small in dollar terms, but they matter if you are tight on budget or filed right around the deadline. Most fees went up by a few dollars. For example:
Authorization to return to Canada now 492.50 CAD
Many restoration and inadmissibility fees now 246.25 CAD
International Experience Canada participation now 184.75 CAD
So what if you paid the old fee
Online applications
If you submitted after December 1, you should have paid the new amount
If you somehow used the old fee, expect IRCC to ask for the difference or to refuse to finalize
Mailed applications
IRCC usually uses the date you mailed the package
If you sent a complete application before December 1 and paid the old fee, they will normally accept it and then ask you to pay the difference
Do not resend a full application just because the fee changed
Right of permanent residence fee (RPRF)
If you delayed paying RPRF, you now pay the new amount
This applies even if your processing fee was paid before the increase
Practical steps this week
Pull up your payment receipt and match it against the new fee list
If you mailed your file before December 1, wait for IRCC instructions, then pay only the difference through the online payment tool under “Make an additional payment or pay other fees”
Keep each payment receipt organized by family member and application number
Build a small buffer in your budget for future fee adjustments, since IRCC revisits these from time to time
You do not need to panic or restart your process. You just need to check, pay any gap fast, and keep proof ready.
👉 Get the full breakdown here:
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Can moving to another province really help your PR chances?
Sometimes yes. But it’s not for everyone.
This piece goes through current PNP streams that accept people from outside the province, how they work with Express Entry, and what “intent to reside” really means in practice. If you are thinking Alberta vs BC vs Ontario vs Manitoba vs PEI, start here.
👉 See the full list of active PNP options and details:
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Vancouver reality check: nice life, high cost
Vancouver looks great in photos. Ocean, mountains, skylines, cherry trees in spring. For newcomers, the real question is simpler: can you build a stable life there.
Vancouver looks great on camera. For newcomers, the question is simpler. Can you build a stable life there.
Here is the short version.
Why people love it
Strong mix of jobs in tech, film, green economy, health care and education
Very diverse city, with more than 190 languages spoken
Ranked near the top globally for livability
Easy access to parks, beaches and mountains
Why people hesitate
One of the most expensive housing markets in Canada
Recent average rents
Around 2,400 CAD for a one bedroom
Around 3,350 CAD for a two bedroom
Buying is far out of reach for many newcomers
Long rainy season and heavy traffic on main routes
Good fit if
You work in a local growth sector
You use transit or accept longer commutes from suburbs like Surrey or Coquitlam
You are ok with a high housing budget and a smaller place at first
👉 Read the full city guide here:
Borrowing basics for newcomers: how to use debt without letting it run you
Newcomers often meet high costs at once. First rent, deposits, furniture, maybe tuition. Credit can help, but only if you control it.
This explainer from TD Canada Trust breaks it into a few simple steps. It covers what to think about before you borrow, the difference between loans and lines of credit, how to plan for emergencies, and what actually builds your credit history in Canada.
👉 Read the full borrowing primer here:
Quick favour: help WorkHerHolic rebuild on Instagram
Our sister newsletter WorkHerHolic had their Instagram account removed without warning. They are starting over and could really use support from the New Local community.
If you care about ambitious women, career stories, honest talk about work and money in Canada (and everywhere else), go give them a follow. It takes a few seconds and helps a lot.
👉 Follow the new account here
Share it with a friend who would like that kind of content.
✉️ BEFORE YOU GO
You do not need to handle every decision today. Just pick the next one.
Fees stressing you out
Click the IRCC fee explainer
City choice on your mind
Open the Vancouver guide
PR strategy feels stuck
Read the province move breakdown
Money feels tight
Go through the borrowing basics piece
See you next issue,
Dami from New Local.
You can always reach us at [email protected].
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