Canada Raises Permanent Residence and Citizenship Fees

Canada's federal government has announced a fee increase for all permanent residence (PR) and citizenship applications, with changes taking effect April 30 and March 31, 2026, respectively.

The hike affects every PR category from Express Entry Program and the Provincial Nominee Program to family sponsorship, protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate cases. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) and the Right of Citizenship Fee are also going up.

Applicants who complete and pay online before the respective deadlines will be shielded from the new rates. However, those submitting paper applications must act carefully, as postal delays could expose them to higher charges.

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How Much Are the Fees Going Up?

The increases are modest but apply across the board. For most economic immigration programs, including Express Entry and PNP, the processing fee for a principal applicant rises from $950 to $990.

The RPRF climbs from $575 to $600 per person. Business immigration applicants face a steeper jump, with principal applicant fees going from $1,810 to $1,895.

Family sponsorship fees increase slightly, with the sponsorship fee moving from $85 to $90 and the sponsored principal applicant fee rising from $545 to $570. On the citizenship side, the Right of Citizenship Fee increases from $119.75 to $123.00, effective March 31, 2026.

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Who Is Affected and Who Is Safe?

If you applied online and paid before the deadlines, April 30 for PR, March 31 for citizenship, you are not affected and don't need to take any action. 

Paper application filers, however, face a grey zone: IRCC generally won't reject a complete application mailed before the cutoff, but if your payment arrives after the deadline, you may need to cover the difference. 

There is also a critical note for applicants who deferred their RPRF payment: even if you paid the old processing fee, you must pay the new $600 RPRF rate when you eventually submit that payment, since the fee is based on when it is paid, not when the application was submitted.

How to Pay the Fee Difference

If IRCC determines you owe the difference between the old and new fees, the department will contact you with instructions. To pay, calculate the gap for each applicant in your application, then visit IRCC's online payment tool and select "Make an additional payment or pay other fees."

Enter the total difference under "Quantity." You can split the payment across multiple transactions, and you will receive a separate receipt for each. Once payment is made, follow the instructions IRCC provides to submit your receipt. 

It is advisable to monitor your IRCC account and correspondence closely in the weeks following your application.

What Are These Fees Actually For?

Many applicants are confused about the various fee types. The RPRF is a separate charge on top of the processing fee that most PR applicants must pay, covering both the principal applicant and accompanying spouse or common-law partner. 

The Right of Citizenship Fee functions similarly for citizenship applicants aged 18 and older. Processing fees vary by Canada immigration program: economic applicants pay one rate, business immigration applicants pay another, and family sponsorship involves separate fees for both the sponsor and the person being sponsored.

Refugees and protected persons, as well as those applying on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, pay their own distinct rates. Applicants unsure of their exact fee can use IRCC's official online fee tool to calculate the correct amount for their specific program and situation.

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Source: canada.ca

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