December 24, 2025 Edition
Today’s newsletter is brought to you by our trusted partner, Wise
✨🎄This is our final News. For Newcomers email of 2025 🎄✨
Thank you for reading, sharing, and being part of our community this year.
We’ll be back on January 6, 2026 and can’t wait to continue sharing important immigration and settlement resources with you next year.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a great start to the new year!
From Rebecca and Steph
Your Immigration Update
Canada’s provincial and territorial nominee programs saw more action than we initially expected in 2025. While many of the programs have more hopeful candidates sitting in the pools at the end of 2025 than the provinces have nominations in 2026, there are key lessons from this year’s data you can use to shape your strategy for next year.
Some key insights include:
Many of the provinces and territories exhausted their nomination allocations in 2026. This means timing and maximizing your PNP scores play important roles in your PNP strategy.
Most provinces targeted specific regions and/or occupations in their draws throughout 2025. Based on announcements we’ve seen so far, it looks likely the targeted approach will continue next year.
While BC deprioritized international student graduates in 2025, there were other provinces that specifically targeted graduate students through the PNP draws.
Saskatchewan has shared its SINP nomination number for 2026, and some big changes are coming. The province will have 4,761 nomination spots, which is the same number it finished 2025 with.
But the way Saskatchewan will use those spots is changing.
A lot of nominations will go to priority jobs, like healthcare, trades, agriculture, tech, and energy. Saskatchewan is also saving 750 spots for people who graduated from a Saskatchewan school and are working in one of those priority areas.
Some jobs will face tighter limits. Retail, trucking, and food service will be capped, and applications will only be accepted during six planned intake windows in 2026.
The big takeaway is that SINP is still a strong pathway, but it will be more controlled next year. If Saskatchewan is part of your plan, it’s a good time to get ready and watch the rules closely.
Rebecca and Steph recently recorded a video discussing the major confirmed changes coming to Canadian Immigration in 2026. Check it out for a detailed overview of the changes we know are coming next year, summarized in just over 13 minutes.
Immigration In The Media
Not immigration-related, but NAV CANADA has cleared Santa for take off after an initial error in his paperwork – caused by AI. It’s a good reminder for all of us to be extremely careful when relying on AI to complete tasks for us (especially for important things like flight plans and immigration applications).
On the issue, Santa was quoted as saying “It seems that my elves would also benefit from making a list and checking it – and my flight plans – twice.”
Did Someone Say Draw
As promised, here’s our analysis of the unexpected PEI draw that took place yesterday (December 23).
This newsletter is sponsored by our partner, Wise, a game-changing platform for international money transfers. It has over 13 million global users, a user-friendly app, and it supports over 50 currencies. It makes sending money to and from Canada fast, transparent, and affordable.
Money Matters: Is It Time To Start an Emergency Fund?
When you’re new to Canada, it’s easy to hear “you need 3–6 months of savings” and feel like you’re already behind. The truth is, most newcomers can’t build that overnight – and financial experts say you don’t have to. A small starter fund of even $500–$2,000 can cover the kinds of surprises that tend to hit early on, like a dental bill, a phone repair, or a transit pass you suddenly need. Building this small buffer first keeps emergencies from turning into high-interest debt, which can derail newcomers in their first year.
Once you’ve built that mini safety net, you can slowly work toward a bigger fund at your own pace. Automate small transfers, add windfalls when they show up, and keep the money in a separate savings account so it’s easy to track. If you want a simple walkthrough on how to build your emergency fund as a newcomer, the Moving2Canada guide breaks it down clearly and realistically: How to Build an Emergency Fund as a Newcomer to Canada.
Career Moves: Do You Need Your Full Address on a Canadian Resume?
If you’re applying for jobs in Canada, you might be unsure what to do with your address. In most cases, you don’t need a full street address on a Canadian resume. The standard option is to list your city and province (like Calgary, AB).
And if you haven’t arrived in Canada yet, you can still keep it simple. Instead of your home address, you can list the Canadian city or town you’re moving to soon. That helps employers understand your plan without sharing extra personal details.
A few other quick contact tips: use a professional email (ideally your first and last name), include a phone number (Canadian if you have one), and add your LinkedIn link if it’s up to date.
Want the full Canadian format (and what to avoid)? Read our guide on How To Format Your Resume in Canada
Today's Tip: Celebrate Christmas in Canada
As a newcomer this may be your first, or one of your first few, Christmas holidays in Canada. Whatever you celebrate personally, Christmas in Canada can be a beautiful and festive time of year.
One interesting thing to note is that Christmas traditions and celebrations look different across Canada. While some cities and towns, like Vancouver, Quebec City, and Banff, have famous Christmas markets, others focus on lights shows or Christmas parades.
Though, there may be one thing that’s universal — the Canadian love for butter tarts. If you’re keen to find an easy recipe for this Canadian Christmas classic, check out our guide.
