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The federal government is increasing fees for all permanent residence (PR) applications, effective April 30, 2026.

Fees will similarly go up for citizenship applications (via the right of citizenship fee) as of March 31, 2026.

Consult with a lawyer at Cohen Immigration Law

The PR fee changes affect processing fees across every PR category, including economic programs like Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), family sponsorship, protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate cases.

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) will also be increased.

If you applied online and paid the old fees before April 30 or March 31 (depending on your application), you won’t be affected by these changes.

Those who mailed a paper application before this date may need to pay the difference, since there can be a delay between when you send it and when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receives it.

Which fees are increasing?

Below is a full list of the PR fees affected by this change.

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 pilotsPrincipal applicant $950 $990 
Accompanying spouse or common-law partner $950 $990 
Accompanying dependent child $260 $270 
Business (Federal and Quebec) Principal applicant $1,810 $1,895 
Accompanying spouse or common-law partner $950 $990 
Accompanying dependent child $260 $270 
Family reunification Sponsorship fee $85 $90 
Sponsored principal applicant $545 $570 
Sponsored dependent child (under 22, not a spouse/partner) $85 $90 
Protected persons Principal applicant $635 $660 
Accompanying spouse or common-law partner $635 $660 
Accompanying dependent child $175 $180 
Humanitarian and compassionate or public policy Principal applicant $635 $660 
Accompanying spouse or common-law partner $635 $660 
Accompanying dependent child $175 $180 
Permit holders class Principal applicant $375 $390 

IRCC will also raise the right of citizenship fee:

Fee type Old fee New fee (March 31, 2026) 
Right of citizenship $119.75 $123.00 

Consult with a lawyer at Cohen Immigration Law

You can find the exact fee for your application using IRCC’s online fee tool, which walks you through the correct amount based on your program and situation.

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 the processing fee at the old rate.

The RPRF is based on the amount in effect when you pay it, not when you applied.

I paid the old fee — what should I do?

If you applied online before April 30 (for PR applications) or March 31 (for citizenship applications), 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 the relevant date.

However, if you do need to pay the difference between the old and new fees, IRCC will contact you with instructions.

To pay the difference:

Work out the gap between the old fee and the new fee 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.”
You can pay everything in one transaction or split it into several. You’ll get one receipt per payment.

Submit your receipt by following the instructions IRCC sent you.

Consult with a lawyer at Cohen Immigration Law