Canada to hike fees of some permanent residency programs, starting April 30

Getting permanent residency in Canada is about to get more expensive from next month for some applicants.

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an increase in certain permanent residence (PR) fees, effective as of 9am Eastern Time on April 30, 2024. This fee adjustment is in accordance with Canada’s Immigrant and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), based on the cumulative percentage increase to the Consumer Price Index for Canada, published by Statistics Canada.

Here are the details of the fee changes applicable for the period between April 2024 and March 2026:


Right of Permanent Residence Fee:

• Principal applicant and accompanying spouse or common-law partner: $575 (previously $515)

Federal Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class, and most economic pilots (Rural, Agri-Food):

• Principal applicant: $950 (previously $850)
• Accompanying spouse or common-law partner: $950 (previously $850)
• Accompanying dependent child: $260 (previously $230)

Live-in Caregiver Program and caregivers pilots (Home Child Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot):

• Principal applicant: $635 (previously $570)
• Accompanying spouse or common-law partner: $635 (previously $570)
• Accompanying dependent child: $175 (previously $155)

Business (federal and Quebec):

• Principal applicant: $1,810 (previously $1,625)
• Accompanying spouse or common-law partner: $950 (previously $850)
• Accompanying dependent child: $260 (previously $230)

Family reunification (spouses, partners and children; parents and grandparents; and other relatives):

• Sponsorship fee: $85 (previously $75)
• Sponsored principal applicant: $545 (previously $490)
• Sponsored child (principal applicant under 22 years old and not a spouse/partner): $85 (previously $75)
• Accompanying spouse or common-law partner: $635 (previously $570)
• Accompanying dependent child: $175 (previously $155)

Protected persons:

• Principal applicant: $635 (previously $570)
• Accompanying spouse or common-law partner: $635 (previously $570)
• Accompanying dependent child: $175 (previously $155)

Humanitarian and compassionate consideration / Public policy:

• Principal applicant: $635 (previously $570)
• Accompanying spouse or common-law partner: $635 (previously $570)
• Accompanying dependent child: $175 (previously $155)

Permit holders:

• Principal applicant: $375 (previously $335)

The IRCC said that the new rate has been determined based on the cumulative percentage increase to the Consumer Price Index for Canada, as published by Statistics Canada, for the two previous years (2022 and 2023), rounded to the nearest five dollars.

Applicants falling under certain categories are exempt from paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, which is typically required from all permanent resident applicants except dependent children and protected persons. However, principal applicants in the "Humanitarian and compassionate" and "Public policy" categories are exempt from paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee only under specific circumstances.

Additionally, members of the "Permit holder" class are not permitted to include accompanying family members in their applications for permanent residence. Instead, individuals within this category must submit their own applications as principal applicants.