Canada hikes permanent resident fees
As of April 30, 2026, Canada's permanent residence (PR) processing fees have increased across all streams and programs—including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and family sponsorship.
Here's what you need to know, whether you have a PR application in progress — or plan to submit one soon.
See how competitive your Express Entry profile is
The change affects processing fees across every PR category, and (where relevant) applies to principal applicants, spouses / common-law partners, and dependant children.
The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), which applies to most kinds of PR applications and can be deferred when an applicant initially submits their PR application, will also go up.
The fees increased by approximately 4–5% across most categories, with the family sponsorship fee seeing the steepest jump at just under 6%, and fees for dependent children and protected persons on the lower end, having crept up just under 4%.
Which PR fees are increasing?
| Program | Applicant type | Old fee | New fee (April 30, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | Principal applicant, accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $575 | $600 |
| Federal High Skilled (Express Entry, PNP, Quebec Skilled Workers Atlantic Immigration Class, most economic pilots) | Principal applicant | $950 | $990 |
| Federal High Skilled | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $950 | $990 |
| Federal High Skilled | Accompanying dependent child | $260 | $270 |
| Business (Federal and Quebec) | Principal applicant | $1,810 | $1,895 |
| Business | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $950 | $990 |
| Business | Accompanying dependent child | $260 | $270 |
| Family reunification | Sponsorship fee | $85 | $90 |
| Family reunification | Sponsored principal applicant | $545 | $570 |
| Family reunification | Sponsored dependent child | $85 | $90 |
| Protected persons | Principal applicant | $635 | $660 |
| Protected persons | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $635 | $660 |
| Protected persons | Accompanying dependent child | $175 | $180 |
| Humanitarian and compassionate or public policy | Principal applicant | $635 | $660 |
| Humanitarian and compassionate or public policy | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $635 | $660 |
| Humanitarian and compassionate or public policy | Accompanying dependent child | $175 | $180 |
| Permit holders class | Principal applicant | $375 | $390 |
Important: if you deferred your RPRF payment
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 your processing fee at the old rate.
The RPRF is based on the amount in effect when you pay it, not when you applied.
Already applied with the old fees? Here's what to do
If you applied online before April 30, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received your application and fees right away. You don't need to do anything.
If you mailed a paper application before the fee change, IRCC generally won't reject it as long as it was complete and sent before April 30. If you do need to pay the difference, IRCC will contact you with instructions.
To pay the difference:
- Work out the gap between the old and new fees for each applicant in your application.
- Go to IRCC's online payment tool and select "Make an additional payment or pay other fees."
- Enter the total difference under "Quantity."
- Submit your receipt following the instructions IRCC sent you.
- You can confirm the exact fee for your application using IRCC's online fee tool.
- Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
- Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
