Immigrating to Canada through Express Entry involves a range of mandatory fees and potential additional expenses.
Understanding the full breakdown is essential for budgeting and avoiding unexpected financial hurdles.
This article will delve into all potential costs associated with obtaining Canadian permanent residence (PR) through the Express Entry system—including PR application fees, language testing, biometrics, and third-party fees.
All expenses listed are in Canadian dollars.
Get a Free Express Entry Assessment
Mandatory PR application fees
The table below outlines the total cost of submitting an application for PR under Express Entry, both as a sole applicant and as an applicant including their spouse or common-law partner.
| Fee type | Fee amount - sole applicant | Fee amount - with spouse or common law partner |
| Application processing fee | $950 | $1,900 |
| Right of permanent residence fee | $575 | $1,150 |
| Biometrics fee* | $85 | $170 |
| Total amount | $1,610 | $3,220 |
| Including a dependent child | $260 (per child) | $260 (per child) |
| Total minimum amount | $1,870 | $3,480 |
*The biometrics fee is $85 per individual, or $170 maximum per family of two or more. Minors under 14 and adults over 79 years of age are not required to give their biometrics.
You must, at the very least, pay the application processing fee(s) when submitting your application—but paying your right of permanent residence fee and biometrics fee upfront can help you avoid processing delays.
If your application is unsuccessful, your right of permanent residence fee will be refunded.
Third-party fees
Language tests: To submit an Express Entry profile, you must complete a language test from an approved test provider.
The following language tests are approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
| Language | Language test provider | Test type |
|---|---|---|
| English | International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | IELTS General Training test |
| Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) | CELPIP-General test | |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) | PTE Core test | |
| French | TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français | N/A |
| TCF Canada : Test de connaissance du français | N/A |
Language test fees range from $290 + tax to $450 + tax. Prices may vary depending on which location you are testing in.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEL), administered by the Education Testing Service, will also be accepted by IRCC in the future, though it is unclear at this time when this will be.
You need the following Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) to qualify for each federal Express Entry program:
| Program | CLB/NCLC level |
|---|---|
| CEC | TEER 0 or 1: CLB/NCLC 7, all abilities TEER 2 or 3: CLB/NCLC 5, all abilities |
| FSWP | CLB/NCLC 7, all abilities |
| FSTP | Speaking and listening: CLB/NCLC 5 Reading and writing: CLB/NCLC 4 |
Educational credential assessments (ECAs): If you completed your education outside Canada and wish to submit a profile in the Express Entry pool under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and/or earn Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for your foreign education (all programs), you must acquire an ECA.
You do not need an ECA to be considered under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The cost to get an ECA ranges from $200–$310 + tax and delivery costs, depending on the Designated Organization doing the credential assessment.
Any documents not in English or French must also be translated by a certified translator.
Board-certified document translations: Any foreign-language document submitted to the immigration department must be accompanied by the original with an official English or French translation, or a certified copy of the original document in English or French.
Certified translations usually cost between $25 and $70 per document, depending on the translator, required turnaround time, and the document’s complexity or length.
Immigration medical exam (IME): As of 21 August, 2025, all Express Entry applicants (and their family members) are required to get an upfront IME which must be uploaded when submitting a PR application. Only IRCC-approved panel physicians are authorized to conduct IMEs.
Medical exams are needed to ensure you are not medically inadmissible to Canada, and typically range from $140–$280 per person.
Police clearance certificates: You and each family member aged 18 and up must provide a police certificate for every country where you have lived for at least six continuous months in the past 10 years when submitting a PR application. This is done to check whether you have a criminal record and are admissible to Canada—that is, not criminally inadmissible.
There is no need to provide police certificates for any locations lived in before age 18 or for time spent in Canada.
The cost of a police certificate is country-dependent. To gain a general sense of how much they may cost, let’s look at the top five source countries for Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) documents issued in the first quarter of 2025.
| Country | Number of COPRs issued | Police certificate cost | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 34,245 | $8–$38 | Exact cost may depend on external factors and speed with which one requires these documents. |
| Philippines | 7,460 | $4–$39 | N/A |
| China | 5,815 | $40–$120 | Difficult to obtain overseas. Third-party agency intervention might be required, which will result in higher costs. |
| Cameroon | 4,960 | $3–$207 | N/A |
| Nigeria | 4,525 | $5–$180 | Varies depending on location and exchange rate fluctuations. |
Get a Free Express Entry Assessment
Other miscellaneous fees
In addition to the expenses outlined in this article, there may be other miscellaneous costs to account for when immigrating through Express Entry.
These include, but are not limited to
- Renewing your passport;
- Notarization fees;
- Courier fees;
- Document scanning and printing fees;
- Fees to upgrade or obtaining additional ECA reports;
- Fees for retaking language tests;
- Travel to and from your biometrics or medical exam appointment(s);
- Fees for gathering supporting documentation; and
- Airfare costs, particularly if you are immigrating from outside Canada.
If you are able to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and complete your first landing, your first PR card is free if you provide your mailing address and photo as required within 180 days of immigrating. But if you fail to do so, you will need to pay $50 to apply for a PR card.
Immigration lawyer (optional): Many candidates choose to hire an immigration lawyer for expert guidance. Legal fees can vary widely depending on the law firm and the complexity of your case. Legal fees typically range from $2,000–$5,000 depending on the law firm and the scope of services.
Some individuals seek limited support, such as help with submitting an Express Entry profile or gathering supporting documents. Others may want end-to-end assistance, including preparing and submitting the PR application after receiving an ITA.
The benefits of using an experienced immigration lawyer include:
- Optimizing your CRS score to improve your chances of receiving an ITA;
- Navigating complex cases, which may include complicated work history, family relationships, prior removals from Canada, inadmissibility concerns, and more.
- Comprehensive document preparation to ensure all supporting documentation is included where necessary and meets IRCC standards.
- Avoiding unnecessary and costly mistakes which help minimize delays, prevent a refusal, and prevent misrepresentation—which can lead to fines, charges, and even a five-year ban from Canada.
- Personalized legal advice and risk mitigation to ensure you are set up for success, from start to finish.
- Peace of mind in knowing your case is being handled by an experienced professional can reduce stress and uncertainty during a high-stakes process.
Settlement funds: While this is not a fee you must pay, you must be able to show you have enough money to settle in Canada and support yourself and your family, unless you are applying through CEC or have a valid job offer.
The amount of money needed for settlement funds is dependent on the size of your family; for a family of one, you must show you have at least $15,263 in available funds (if applicable) when submitting a PR application and upon the issuance of your PR visa.
About the Express Entry system
Express Entry is an online system used by Canada to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.
To be eligible for Express Entry, you must qualify under one of the following three federal economic immigration programs:
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC);
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP); and
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Once you have established eligibility, fill out and submit an Express Entry profile to be entered into the Express Entry candidate pool. There is no fee to do so.
The CRS scores your profile based on factors such as age, language skills, education, and work experience, giving you a CRS score between 0 to 1,200.
Periodically, the federal government holds an Express Entry draw, in which top-ranking candidates receive an ITA for PR.
You must meet or exceed a draw’s CRS cut-off score to get invited.
To apply for PR through Express Entry, you must fill out the application form via your IRCC secure account, upload the necessary documentation in your autogenerated personalized document checklist, pay the application fees, and submit your profile.
Get a Free Express Entry Assessment