Immigration and citizenship fee increases

by Michael Scott

Did you say that the more things change the more the price goes up? If you thought about the price of gas at the pump, then the most likely answer was, yes. But the world is more than gas prices or even the wider question of affordability. My purpose in writing is not to add more to economic indicators but to limit my discussion to Canadian immigration. You may not have noticed but the fees for a number of immigration application and processing fees have increased recently. The federal government increased all permanent residence (PR) applications, effective April 30, 2026. The right of citizenship fee also increased but back on March 31, 2026.

The PR fee changes are applied across all PR categories, including Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), family sponsorship, protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate cases. The Right of Permanent Residence Fees (RPRF) will also be increased. If you applied online and paid the old fees before April 30 or March 31 you may have escaped the fee increase but this would not apply to paper application submissions. You may need to pay the difference between the former fee and the increased fee because there is a difference between the date you mailed the application and the date IRCC accepted it as complete.

The immigration fees that are increasing are listed below:

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) was increased to $600 per person. It covers most permanent residence applicants and is paid by principal applicants and accompanying spouses or common-law partners. The RPRF fee is applicable in the Federal High Skilled category for the Express Entry, PNP, Quebec Skilled Worker, Atlantic Immigration Class and most economic pilots as well as Business Federal and Quebec, Family reunification and Protected Classes, Humanitarian and Compassionate as well as Permit holder’s class. If applicants withdraw their application, they can apply for and receive a refund of the RPRF as opposed to the processing fees that are non-refundable once the submission is accepted as complete.

IRCC already raised the Right of citizenship fee on March 31, 2026. The new fee of $123 replaces the old fee of $119.26.

If you applied for PR before April 30 but chose to pay the RPRF later, you must pay the new amount of $600 even if you already paid the processing fee at the old rate. It is important to realize that the RPRF is based on the amount in effect when you pay it, not when you applied.

If you applied online before April 30 for the PR application, or March 31 for the citizenship application, IRCC has already received your application and fees, therefore you do not need to do anything further.

However, if you submitted a paper application before the fee change, IRCC normally would not reject it if it was complete and sent before the change of rate date. However, you may have to pay the difference between the old and new rates.

IRCC will contact you with instructions if the fees you paid are no longer correct. If you prefer, determine the difference between the fees you paid (old) and the fees owing and go to the online payment tool under “Make an additional payment or pay other fees.” You can pay the total difference or “Quantity” in one transaction or split it into several. You receive one receipt per payment. You will receive instructions from IRCC on providing them with receipt of payment for the differential owed. The actual response is something you will respond to in the future.

Michael Scott is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, R525678) who has 30 years of experience with Immigration Canada and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. He currently works as a licensed consultant with Immigration Connexion International Ltd. Contact him at 204-691-1166 or 204-227-0292. E-mail: mscott.ici@gmail.com.