Canada Raises Fees for Permanent Resident Applications

Key Takeaways

• Effective April 30, 2026, processing fees for all Canadian permanent‑residence (PR) streams—Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, business, family sponsorship, protected persons, humanitarian/compassionate, and permit‑holders—have risen.
• Most fees increased by roughly 4–5 %; the family‑sponsorship fee saw the largest jump (just under 6 %). Dependent‑child and protected‑person categories rose the least (just under 4 %).
• The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) for principal applicants and accompanying spouses/common‑law partners went from $575 to $600. This fee is payable at the time of payment, not at the time of application, so deferred RPRF payments must now be made at the new amount.
• Applicants who submitted PR applications before April 30, 2026 need not take any action if the application was already processed online; only paper‑based submissions that IRCC flags for a shortfall will require a supplemental payment.
• To pay any fee difference, use IRCC’s online payment tool, select “Make an additional payment or pay other fees,” enter the total shortfall, and submit the receipt as instructed. IRCC’s fee calculator can confirm the exact amount owed for each applicant type.

Overview of the Fee Adjustment
As of April 30, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a across‑the‑board increase in processing fees for every permanent‑residence pathway. The adjustment touches Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class, most economic pilot programs, business immigration, family reunification, protected persons, humanitarian and compassionate or public‑policy streams, and the permit‑holders class. The changes reflect periodic updates to align fees with inflation and administrative costs, and they apply uniformly to principal applicants, accompanying spouses or common‑law partners, and dependent children where relevant.

Details of the New Fee Structure
The table below summarises the old and new fees for each applicant category:

• Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) – principal applicant and accompanying spouse/common‑law partner: $575 → $600.
• Federal High Skilled (Express Entry, PNP, Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class, most economic pilots) – principal applicant: $950 → $990; accompanying spouse/common‑law partner: $950 → $990; accompanying dependent child: $260 → $270.
• Business (Federal and Quebec) – principal applicant: $1,810 → $1,895; accompanying spouse/common‑law partner: $950 → $990; accompanying dependent child: $260 → $270.
• Family Reunification – sponsorship fee: $85 → $90; sponsored principal applicant: $545 → $570; sponsored dependent child: $85 → $90.
• Protected Persons – principal applicant: $635 → $660; accompanying spouse/common‑law partner: $635 → $660; accompanying dependent child: $175 → $180.
• Humanitarian and Compassionate or Public Policy – principal applicant: $635 → $660; accompanying spouse/common‑law partner: $635 → $660; accompanying dependent child: $175 → $180.
• Permit‑holders Class – principal applicant: $375 → $390.

Across the board, the increase ranges from just under 4 % (dependent‑child and protected‑person fees) to just under 6 % (family‑sponsorship sponsorship fee).

Implications for Deferred RPRF Payments
A notable nuance concerns the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). Applicants who elected to defer this fee when they first submitted their PR application must now pay the updated amount of $600, regardless of what they paid earlier for the processing fee. IRCC bases the RPRF on the rate in effect at the moment of payment, not the date of application. Consequently, anyone who submitted an application before April 30, 2026 but chose to delay the RPRF payment must settle the difference—$25 per principal applicant or accompanying spouse/common‑law partner—before the PR can be finalised.

What Happens if You Already Applied?
If you filed your PR application online before the fee change, IRCC processed it immediately with the fees you submitted, and no further action is required. For paper‑based applications mailed prior to April 30, 2026, IRCC generally will not reject the submission as long as it was complete and sent before the deadline. Should IRCC determine that a fee shortfall exists, the department will contact the applicant with explicit instructions on how to remit the outstanding amount.

How to Pay Any Fee Difference
To settle a shortfall:

1. Calculate the gap – subtract the old fee from the new fee for each person included in the application (principal applicant, spouse/common‑law partner, each dependent child).
2. Access IRCC’s online payment portal – navigate to the “Make an additional payment or pay other fees” option.
3. Enter the total difference – input the summed shortfall under the “Quantity” field.
4. Submit and retain the receipt – follow any additional instructions IRCC may have emailed you, and keep the payment confirmation for your records.

Applicants uncertain about the exact amount owed can use IRCC’s fee calculator, which prompts for applicant type and number of dependents to output the precise total.

Why the Fee Increase Matters
While the percentage changes are modest, they can add up for larger families or business applicants. For example, a family of four (principal applicant, spouse, two children) applying under the Federal High Skilled stream will see their total processing fee rise from $950 + $950 + $2×$260 = $2,420 to $990 + $990 + $2×$270 = $2,520—an increase of $100. Business applicants experience a more pronounced shift: a principal applicant plus spouse and one child moves from $1,810 + $950 + $260 = $3,020 to $1,895 + $990 + $270 = $3,155, a $135 increment. These adjustments affect budgeting for immigration consultants, settlement agencies, and applicants themselves, particularly when multiple applications are filed simultaneously.

Practical Tips for Prospective Applicants

• Check the fee table early – before gathering documents, consult the latest fee schedule to avoid surprises.
• Budget for the RPRF – if you plan to defer this fee, remember that the amount payable will be the rate at the time you ultimately settle it.
• Keep proof of payment – retain receipts for both the initial processing fee and any supplemental payments; IRCC may request them during processing.
• Monitor IRCC communications – especially if you submitted a paper application close to the deadline, watch for emails or portal messages requesting additional fees.
• Utilize the online fee tool – it provides an instant, authoritative calculation and can be used to verify that any extra payment you make matches the official increase.

Conclusion
The April 30, 2026 fee revision marks a routine yet important update to Canada’s permanent‑residence cost structure. Across all streams—Express Entry, PNPs, business, family sponsorship, protected persons, humanitarian/compassionate, and permit‑holders—fees have risen modestly, with the family‑sponsorship sponsorship fee experiencing the steepest relative increase. Applicants who have already submitted their applications generally need take no further action, except those who deferred the RPRF or mailed paper submissions that IRCC flags for a shortfall. By calculating the difference, using IRCC’s online payment system, and retaining proper documentation, applicants can ensure their PR process continues smoothly despite the adjusted costs. Keeping abreast of these changes helps prospective immigrants budget accurately and avoid unexpected delays in their journey to Canadian permanent residency.