IRCC to Increase PR Fees at the End of April

Adjusted for Inflation

To finance its programs, the Government of Canada follows an approach where most of the costs are the responsibility of those who receive the services and benefit directly from them. To account for inflation, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) increased permanent residence (PR) fees in 2020 for the first time since 2002. It was announced then that most fees for permanent residence would be adjusted by the cumulative Consumer Price Index (CPI) every 2 years. The most recent increase came into effect on April 30, 2024.

As it is now required by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), fees are increasing for all permanent residence applications on April 30, 2026. This includes economic, family, permit holder, and humanitarian classes. The fees do not increase for permanent resident cards, permanent resident travel documents, and certification or replacement immigration documents.


Fee Increases

For most applicants, fees are increasing between $5 and $40. Principal applicants under business immigration streams will have to pay $85 more. The right of permanent residence fee increases by $25. This fee is required in order for permanent resident status to take effect. Therefore, it is only payable when a permanent residence application is approved and is refunded if an application is refused. The right of permanent residence fee can be paid at the time of application, or once the application for permanent residence has been approved. 

The right of permanent residence fee does not apply to:
  • dependent children of a principal applicant or sponsor,
  • sponsorship applications for adopted children,
  • sponsorship applications for an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild, or
  • protected persons, including applicants eligible on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and convention refugees.
Contact us to find the right pathway to permanent residence for you, or see below for a full table of the new PR fees. Following the regular schedule, the next fee increase for permanent residence applications is expected in April 2028.

Details

ProgramApplicantsCurrent Fee New Fee
Right of Permanent Residence Fee Principal applicant and
accompanying spouse or
common-law partner		 $ 575 $ 600
Federal High Skilled, Provincial Nominee Program and Quebec Skilled Workers,
Atlantic Immigration Class and most Economic Pilots
(Rural Communities and Francophone Communities, Agri-Food, Home Care Worker Immigration Class)		 Principal applicant $ 950 $ 990
Accompanying spouse or
common-law partner		 $ 950 $ 990
Accompanying dependent child $ 260 $ 270
Business 
(Federal and Quebec)		 Principal applicant $ 1,810 $ 1,895
Accompanying spouse or
common-law partner		 $ 950 $ 990
Accompanying dependent child $ 260 $ 270
Family Reunification 
(Spouses, Partners and Children; 
Parents and Grandparents; 
and other relatives)		 Sponsorship fee $ 85 $ 90
Sponsored principal applicant $ 545 $ 570
Sponsored dependent child $ 85 $ 90
Accompanying spouse or
common-law partner		 $ 635 $ 660
Sponsored dependent child $ 175 $ 180
Protected Persons Principal applicant $ 635 $ 660
Accompanying spouse or
common-law partner		 $ 635 $ 660
Accompanying dependent child $ 175 $ 180
Humanitarian and 
Compassionate / 
Public Policy
 Principal applicant $ 635 $ 660
Accompanying spouse or common-law partner $ 635 $ 660
Accompanying dependent child $ 175 $ 180
Permit Holders Principal applicant $ 375 $ 390


Other Fee Changes

On March 31, 2026, the Right of citizenship fee increased from $119.75 to $123.00 CAD. This means that the total amount including the processing fee and the right of citizenship fee now comes to $653 CAD. IRCC is also increasing the removal fees for people removed on or after April 1, 2025 by 1.7% on April 1, 2026. This includes escorted removal by air (except medical escort), unescorted removal from Canada, escorted removal other than by air and removal under medical escort by air.

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