A big week in Canadian immigration: Bill C-12, Super Visa changes, fee increases, and more

Hey, it's Tiffany! 😊

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Metro Vancouver. Some of my favourite spots are David Lam Park, Larry Berg Flight Path Park and Garry Point.

This week in Canadian immigration felt a bit like that too. Everything blooming at once.

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

This Week in Canadian Immigration (30-Second Summary)

Bill C-12 received Royal Assent on March 26. This is one of the biggest immigration law changes in decades.
Super Visa income rules are changing on March 31, with two more flexible ways to qualify.
Passport fees increase on March 31, and a new 30-business-day processing guarantee starts April 1.
PR and citizenship fees increase on April 30.
Ontario issued 1,112 invitations across 5 regional draws on March 25.
Alberta increased Worker stream application fees and now accepts PTE Core.
No Express Entry draws this week (March 23–27)

🚨 Bill C-12 is now law

This is the biggest headline.

Bill C-12 gives IRCC stronger powers over immigration documents, expands information sharing, and changes parts of the asylum system.

What Bill C-12 does (4 key areas):

1. Executive powers over immigration documents
IRCC can cancel, suspend, or change groups of documents (visas, work permits, study permits) in the public interest — including fraud, administrative errors, public health, safety, or national security.
These actions require Cabinet approval.

2. Changes to the asylum system
Asylum claims filed more than one year after a person’s first entry into Canada, retroactive to June 24, 2020, will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board for a full hearing.

A separate 14-day rule applies to irregular land border crossings from the U.S.

Affected claimants may still have access to a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, but they lose the full IRB hearing process.

3. Expanded information sharing
IRCC can share immigration data with federal and provincial partners through formal agreements.

4. Modernized asylum processing
More changes are expected to streamline applications and reduce backlogs.

What this does NOT mean

It does NOT affect valid work or study permits automatically
It does NOT change Express Entry or PNP pathways
It does NOT allow random or immediate cancellations
It does NOT affect refugee protection itself

📌 If your documents are legitimate and your status is maintained, your day-to-day situation does not change.

What it does reinforce:
👉 Clean, well-documented applications matter more than ever.

📋 IRCC Updates

🚨 Super Visa income rules — effective March 31, 2026

This is huge news for families. IRCC is introducing two new flexible ways to meet the Super Visa income requirement:

Two important changes:

1. Two-year income window
You can now use income from either of the last 2 tax years.

2. Visitor income can count
Parents’ recurring income (pensions, rental, investments) may help meet requirements — once IRCC confirms the minimum threshold.

Key details:

Applies to both new and in-process applications
Previously eligible families remain eligible
Exact threshold for Option 2 is not yet released
Savings alone likely will not qualify

📌 If you were previously ineligible due to one low-income year, this is worth revisiting.

What I would not do:
Do not assume you qualify yet — wait for full IRCC details.

🚨 Passport Fees Increase — March 31, 2026

For the first time since 2013, Canadian passport fees are going up:

Here are the new fees:

10-year adult passport (in Canada): $160 to $163.50
5-year adult passport (in Canada): $120 to $122.50
Child passport (in Canada): $57 to $58.50
Urgent pickup: $110 to $125.75

Starting April 1, 2026:
👉 Applications processed within 30 business days — or free

This is actually a meaningful service improvement.

🚨 PR & Citizenship Fees Increasing — April 30, 2026

The federal government also announced fee increases for permanent residence applications effective April 30, 2026.

Here are some of the changes:

Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $575 to $600
Express Entry / PNP processing fee: $950 to $990
Family sponsorship (sponsored person): $545 to $570
Sponsorship fee: $85 to $90
Dependent child: $260 to $270
Right of citizenship fee on March 31: $119.75 to $123

📌 If your application is ready, submitting before April 30 saves money.

What I would not do:
Do not rush an incomplete application just to save fees. Saving a few dollars is never worth creating a refusal risk.

Provincial updates: Ontario & Alberta

Ontario issued 1,112 invitations

Streams: Foreign Worker, International Student, In-Demand Skills

Score ranges:

GTA: 61–90 (more competitive)
Southwestern: 53–81
Central (excl. GTA): 32–82 (lowest)
Eastern: 34–83
Northern: 54–80

Key occupations:
Software Engineers, Nurses, Home Support Workers, Construction Helpers

📌Ontario is clearly pushing candidates outside the GTA. That’s where the real opportunity is.

Alberta (AAIP)

Worker stream fee increased: $840 → $1,500
PTE Core now accepted

📌 Higher fees = tighter control.
PTE adds flexibility for applicants who struggle with IELTS or CELPIP.

Is your immigration strategy keeping pace with recent and expected changes?

This week alone included Bill C-12, Super Visa updates, provincial draws, and fee changes, — alongside expected TR to PR updates in April and the upcoming OINP overhaul on May 30.

Most updates don’t require immediate action.
But the right ones do.

The difference comes down to your profile, your NOC, and your timeline.

If you want clear, situation-specific answers, you can book a 30-minute Zoom consultation with me:

👉 Book your 30-Min Personal Zoom Consultation — $150 + 5% GST

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

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