Canada to raise PR and citizenship fees in 2026
The federal government has announced higher application fees for permanent residence and citizenship, with changes taking effect in 2026. The updated pricing will apply across multiple immigration streams managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Permanent residence application fees are scheduled to increase on April 30, 2026, while the right of citizenship fee will rise earlier, on March 31, 2026. The adjustments apply to new applications submitted on or after those dates.
The revised fees affect economic programs, family sponsorship, protected persons, and other categories, reflecting a system-wide update to immigration processing costs.
- Permanent residence fees will increase effective April 30, 2026
- Citizenship fee changes take effect March 31, 2026
- All major PR categories are included, such as Express Entry and PNP streams
- The Right of Permanent Residence Fee will rise to $600
- Applicants who paid before the effective dates are not impacted
Overview of the fee increases
IRCC has confirmed that processing fees for permanent residence will increase across all admission categories. This includes federal economic programs, provincial nominee pathways, family reunification streams, and applications based on humanitarian or protected grounds.
The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), which is required for most approved applicants before finalization, will increase from $575 to $600. This fee applies to principal applicants and accompanying spouses or common-law partners.
In the citizenship stream, the right of citizenship fee will rise from $119.75 to $123 for applicants aged 18 and older. This fee is separate from the standard processing cost of a citizenship application.
Changes across economic immigration programs
Federal high-skilled immigration programs will see moderate increases. Processing fees for principal applicants under Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Atlantic Immigration Program, and similar pathways will increase from $950 to $990.
Accompanying spouses or partners in these categories will also see fees rise to $990, while dependent children fees will increase from $260 to $270. These updates apply to both federal and provincial selection streams.
Provincial programs, including those aligned with regional labour needs such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, remain subject to federal processing fees alongside provincial requirements.
Business and family sponsorship categories
Applicants under business immigration streams, including federal and Quebec programs, will face higher costs. The processing fee for principal applicants will increase from $1,810 to $1,895, while accompanying partners will be charged $990.
Family reunification fees are also adjusted. Sponsorship application fees will rise from $85 to $90, and the fee for sponsored principal applicants will increase from $545 to $570. Fees for sponsored dependent children will move to $90.
These updates apply to sponsorships for spouses, partners, children, parents, and grandparents under Canada’s family class immigration framework.
Protected persons and humanitarian applications
Refugees and protected persons applying for permanent residence will see fee increases across all family members included in an application. Processing fees for principal applicants and accompanying adults will rise from $635 to $660, while dependent children fees will increase to $180.
Similar adjustments apply to applications submitted on humanitarian and compassionate grounds or under public policy measures. These categories are typically used in cases where applicants do not meet standard program criteria but seek permanent residence based on specific circumstances.
Applicants in the permit holders class, which includes certain temporary residents seeking permanent status, will also see fees increase from $375 to $390.
Timing and application processing considerations
IRCC has indicated that applications submitted online before the implementation dates will not be subject to the new fees, as payment is processed immediately upon submission.
For paper-based applications, timing may differ depending on when IRCC receives the package. In some cases, applicants who submitted materials before the effective date could be required to pay the difference if fees changed before receipt.
The RPRF is charged based on the date it is paid rather than the application submission date. As a result, individuals who deferred this payment until after April 30, 2026, will need to pay the updated amount.
Definition of dependent children
IRCC defines a dependent child as a person under the age of 22 who does not have a spouse or common-law partner. This definition is used to determine applicable fees within family-based and economic immigration applications.
Children aged 22 or older can still qualify as dependents if they have relied on parental financial support since before the age of 22 and are unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.
Context of fee adjustments
Fee revisions are introduced periodically by the federal government and are typically aligned with administrative costs and inflation. The latest increases follow earlier adjustments implemented in previous years across temporary residence and citizenship services.
Canada’s immigration system processes applications through multiple pathways, including economic, family, and humanitarian streams, each with distinct fee structures. The 2026 changes maintain these distinctions while adjusting the cost levels across categories.
IRCC provides an online fee calculator to determine total costs for different application types, reflecting the combination of processing and rights-based fees where applicable.
Public relevance and next steps
The updated fee schedule applies to individuals planning to submit immigration or citizenship applications in 2026. The changes are part of broader administrative updates affecting federal immigration services.
Further details on application requirements, fee schedules, and processing categories continue to be published through official IRCC channels and government updates.
Readers can explore ongoing coverage of Canadian immigration policy changes and program updates to stay informed about future developments.