IRCC is raising permanent residence fees by approximately 4–5% on April 30, 2026. Skilled worker applications jump from $950 to $990 and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee rises from $575 to $600. Here is the full breakdown.
Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that permanent residence application fees will increase effective April 30, 2026. The increases are part of a biennial adjustment under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), which ties fees to Canada's Consumer Price Index (CPI). This round represents roughly a 4–5% rise across most categories.
New Fee Schedule (Effective April 30, 2026)
- Skilled workers & most PR applicants: $950 → $990 per principal applicant (+$40)
- Business immigrants: $1,810 → $1,895 (+$85)
- Family class sponsorship: $545 → $570 (+$25)
- Protected persons & convention refugees: $635 → $660 (+$25)
- Humanitarian & compassionate (H&C): $635 → $660 (+$25)
- Permit holders (in-Canada applications): $375 → $390 (+$15)
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): $575 → $600 (+$25)
Citizenship Fee Also Increased Earlier in 2026
IRCC also raised the Right of Citizenship fee from $119.75 to $123.00, effective March 31, 2026 — a separate adjustment under the same regulatory framework.
What This Means for Your Application
If you have already received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) under Express Entry and submitted your complete application before April 30, 2026, you pay the current (lower) fees. Applications submitted on or after April 30 will be charged at the new rates. For a couple (principal applicant + one spouse) applying through Express Entry, the total processing fee rises from $1,900 to $1,980 before the RPRF — adding up to $70 per couple. The Right of PR Fee ($600 each) is payable only when your application is approved, not at the time of submission.
Action Items
- If you are close to submitting an Express Entry or PNP application, confirm your submission date relative to April 30
- Ensure your payment matches the fee in effect on your submission date — IRCC will reject or flag mismatched payments
- Budget the new RPRF of $600 per person when planning your total PR cost
- Contact ITC iLand if you have questions about your specific application timeline
Fee increases are a routine, regulated part of Canada's immigration system and do not affect processing times or the number of invitations issued. Canada continues to issue over 400,000 permanent residence invitations annually. If you have questions about how these changes affect your application, book a free consultation with our licensed RCICs.
