The Canadian government will increase fees for permanent residence applications starting April 2026, citing rising costs and demand, with modest adjustments across various programmes including citizenship, as immigration files in the country continue to grow.
The Government of Canada will raise fees for permanent residence applications from 30 April 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in an updated fee schedule announced as part of its routine review. According to the announcement, the changes take effect for any application submitted on or after that date.
– Sources by paragraph: [2],[6]
The increases are modest in most cases, ranging from around CAD15 to CAD85 depending on the programme and the age of the applicant. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee for principal applicants and accompanying spouses or partners will rise to CAD600 from CAD575, while many economic-class fees move up by roughly CAD40.
– Sources by paragraph: [1],[2]
Under economic immigration streams such as the Federal Skilled Worker and Provincial Nominee Programmes the fee for a principal applicant and for an accompanying spouse will be CAD990 (previously CAD950) and the charge for each dependent child will become CAD270 (previously CAD260). Business-class principal applicants will pay CAD1,895, up from CAD1,810, with accompanying family fees adjusted accordingly. Family sponsorship fees are also increasing, with the sponsorship charge and main applicant fees both rising.
– Sources by paragraph: [1],[2],[6]
IRCC said the adjustments are part of its biennial review process and intended to cover rising operating costs and growing demand for services; as the department put it, the change is ‘necessary to keep up with rising costs and growing demand for immigration services’. Officials also calculate fee changes in line with inflation measures such as the Consumer Price Index, a mechanism noted in department publications.
– Sources by paragraph: [2],[6]
The move comes as Canada remains a leading destination for newcomers: government figures show about 393,500 people became permanent residents in 2025. At the same time Ottawa has signalled a modest shift towards slowing population growth to ease pressure on housing and public services, while more than 2 million immigration files were reported to be in progress in early 2026, contributing to longer processing times.
– Sources by paragraph: [1],[6]
Applicants should note that citizenship application charges are also being adjusted, the Right of Citizenship fee was set to rise at the end of March 2026, and that any submission received on or after the fee-change timestamp will need to include the updated amount or risk being returned as incomplete. IRCC has pointed to these timelines repeatedly in notices to prospective migrants.
– Sources by paragraph: [2],[3]
Prospective migrants and sponsors are being urged to factor the higher charges into their plans and to consult the IRCC website for the full fee table and the precise effective time on 30 April 2026 before finalising applications.
– Sources by paragraph: [2],[6]
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
– Paragraph 1: [2], [6]
– Paragraph 2: [2]
– Paragraph 3: [1], [2], [6]
– Paragraph 4: [2], [6]
– Paragraph 5: [1], [6]
– Paragraph 6: [2], [3]
– Paragraph 7: [2], [6]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/03/31/new-immigration-costs-canada-to-raise-pr-fees-in-april/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.theconclaveng.com/canada-raises-residence-citizenship-fees-for-nigerians-others-from-april/ – The Government of Canada has announced an increase in application fees for permanent residence and citizenship for Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking residency in the country. The new fees will take effect on April 30, 2026, according to an official notice published on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. IRCC said the hike is aimed at maintaining timely and reliable services and keeping pace with inflation. Starting April 30, 2026, fees for permanent resident applications will increase as part of a routine update. Applications received on or after April 30 will be subject to the new fees. The agency noted that permanent residence fees will increase by as low as $25, while the citizenship fee will rise by approximately 2.7%. The full list of updated fees for residency applicants by programme is as follows: Right of Permanent Residence Fee – increase of $25, from $575 to $600. Provincial Nominee Programme – increase of $40, from $950 to $990. Business Class – increase of $85, from $1,810 to $1,895. Family Class – increase of $25, from $545 to $570. Protected Persons – increase of $25, from $635 to $660. Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds or Public Policy Measures – increase of $25, from $635 to $660. Permit Holders – increase of $15, from $375 to $390. The Right of Citizenship Fee will increase from $119.75 to $123, effective March 31, 2026. IRCC explained that, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, permanent residence fees are adjusted every two years to offset programme costs and respond to growing demand.
- https://canadanewsmedia.ca/changes-to-canadas-permanent-residence-fees-starting-april-30-2024-canada-immigration-news/ – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, as of 9:00:00 AM Eastern Time on April 30, 2024, the department will be increasing certain permanent residence (PR) fees. IRCC notes that this fee increase is being introduced according to Canada’s Immigrant and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), calculated “in accordance with the cumulative percentage increase to the Consumer Price Index for Canada, published by Statistics Canada.” Changes to PR fees The following fee increases, which are marked as applicable to the period between April 2024 and March 2026, apply as follows:
- https://www.cicnews.com/2020/04/canadian-immigration-processing-fees-increase-april-30-0414086.html – Canada’s immigration department is increasing processing fees at the end of the month for foreign nationals who wish to become permanent residents. The fees that foreign nationals pay include operational, processing and service delivery costs related to all permanent residence immigration programs. The new regulations come into effect on April 30, at 9 a.m. EDT. Completed applications received before this time will be processed in accordance with the current fee schedule. Applications received on or after that time that do not include the correct fees will be returned to the applicant as incomplete. Permanent resident processing fees for economic class applicants are generally being increased by 50 per cent as follows: Principal applicants of the Economic business class (self-employed, start-up visa, Quebec investor, Quebec entrepreneur, and Quebec self-employed) will increase from $1,050 to $1,575; Principal applicants in the economic non-business class will go up from $550 to $825. This increase will not apply to principal applicants and their families in the Caregivers programs, which will remain unchanged; Fees for spouses or common-law partners of all economic classes will go up from $550 to $825; Fees for dependent children of all economic classes will go up from $150 to $225; The right of permanent resident fee will increase from $490 to $500, which is an increase of two per cent. Fees are expected to increase in two years based on the applicable Consumer Price Index increase rounded to the nearest $5. New fee amounts will be released in 2022. Fees for permanent resident cards, permanent resident travel documents and certification or replacement immigration documents will not increase. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says that permanent residence fees have not increased since 2002. Fees for permanent residence applications will change again in 2022 in accordance with the Consumer Price Index.
- https://auray.com/en/news/increase-permanent-residence-fees/ – On March 30, 2024, the Government of Canada announced significant changes regarding costs related to permanent residency. As shown in a notice published in the Canada Gazette (part 1, volume 158, number 13), these costs will increase at 9 a.m. (Eastern Time) on April 30, 2024. This decision will impact several programs. The comparative summary in the table below shows the differences between the current fees and the new fees. Programme | Demandeurs | Frais actuel (Avril 2022 – Mars 2024) | Nouveaux frais (Avril 2024 – Mars 2026) — | — | — | — Right of Permanent Residence Fee | Principal applicant and accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $515 | $575 Federal Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class and most economic pilots (Rural, Agri-Food) | Principal applicant | $850 | $950 Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $850 | $950 Accompanying dependent child | $230 | $260
- https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2025/ircc/Ci1-32-2025-eng.pdf – Fees Report for 2024-25 Fee grouping Permanent Residence Program Fees Fee Right of Permanent Residence Fee Fee-setting authority • Financial Administration Act, 19.1 • Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, 303(1) Year fee-setting authority was introduced 1995 Last year fee-setting authority was amended 2025 Service standard Not subject to a service standard requirement of the Service Fees Act. Performance result Not subject to a service standard requirement, pursuant to the Service Fees Act. Application of Low-Materiality Fees Regulations Not subject to SFA 2024–25 fee amount ($) 57518 2024–25 total fee revenue ($) 166,720,052 2024–25 total remissions issued for the fee ($) This fee was not subject to remissions. Fee adjustment date in 2026–27 April 30, 2026 2026–27 fee amount ($) 60019 (publications.gc.ca)
- https://oppsup.com/en/immigration/increase-in-permanent-residence-fees-in-canada-from-april-30-2024/ – Applicants for permanent residence in Canada will face an increase in the fees necessary to process their applications starting April 30, 2024. This fee revision is partly due to the current high inflation which is influencing the economy. The new fee for reviewing the main application will be 950 $ CAN, an increase from the previous 850 $ CAN. This increase also applies to the spouse or common-law partner of the principal applicant. The fees for each dependent child will also increase, from 230 $ to 260 $ CAN. Thus, a principal applicant without children will now have to pay 1,825 $ CAN in administrative costs, without counting additional costs such as medical examinations or criminal record extracts. The right to permanent residence also sees its cost increase, going from 515 $ CAN to 575 $ CAN. These changes affect all candidates, including those in specific economic immigration programs such as federal skilled workers or those selected by Quebec. Biometrics fees remain unchanged at 85 $ CAN per person and 170 $ CAN for families of two or more, covering required fingerprints and photographs. These fee changes, which occur bi-annually, are designed to help cover the increasing costs of immigration program services. For future applicants, it is essential to prepare for these new financial burdens. Here is a summary table of the new fees, for better visibility and planning: Program | Applicants | Current Fees | New fees (from April 30, 2024) — | — | — | — Right of permanent residence | Principal and spouse/common-law partner | 515 $ CAN | 575 $ CAN Provincial nominees and other federal programs | Main | 850 $ CAN | 950 $ CAN | Spouse/common-law partner | 850 $ CAN | 950 $ CAN | Dependent child | 230 $ CAN | 260 $ CAN Live-in caregivers and other pilot programs | Main | 570 $ CAN | 635 $ CAN | Spouse/common-law partner | 570 $ CAN | 635 $ CAN | Dependent child | 155 $ CAN | 175 $ CAN Business people (federal and Quebec) | Main | 1,625 $ CAN | 1,810 $ CAN | Spouse/common-law partner | 850 $ CAN | 950 $ CAN | Dependent child | 230 $ CAN | 260 $ CAN Family reunification | Sponsorship | 75 $ CAN | 85 $ CAN | Sponsored Principal Applicant | 490 $ CAN | 545 $ CAN | Accompanying spouse/common-law partner of principal applicant | 570 $ CAN | 635 $ CAN | Dependent child accompanying the principal applicant | 155 $ CAN | 175 $ CAN
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article reports on a fee increase announced by the Government of Canada, effective April 30, 2026. Similar information has been reported by other sources, including P.M. News Nigeria and The Conclave Nigeria. The earliest known publication date of similar content is March 31, 2026. The narrative appears to be original, with no significant discrepancies noted.
Quotes check
Score: 9
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), such as ‘necessary to keep up with rising costs and growing demand for immigration services.’ These quotes are consistent with official IRCC communications and have been independently verified.
Source reliability
Score: 7
Notes: The primary source of the article is P.M. News Nigeria, a news outlet based in Nigeria. While it provides a detailed account of the fee increases, the outlet’s primary focus is on Nigerian news, which may limit its reach and authority on Canadian immigration matters. The article also references The Conclave Nigeria, which is a niche publication. The use of multiple sources adds some reliability, but the primary source’s limited scope is a concern.
Plausibility check
Score: 8
Notes: The reported fee increases align with Canada’s biennial fee adjustment schedule based on the Consumer Price Index. The specific fee changes mentioned, such as the Right of Permanent Residence Fee increasing from $575 to $600, are consistent with official IRCC communications. The article also notes that the fee review aligns with provisions in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, which mandate adjustments every two years to manage programme costs and increasing demand. However, the article’s focus on Nigerian applicants may not fully capture the broader context of the fee increases.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary: The article provides a detailed account of the upcoming fee increases for Canadian permanent residence applications, with information consistent with official IRCC communications. However, the primary source’s limited scope and the reliance on sources that are not directly affiliated with the Government of Canada raise concerns about the independence and reliability of the verification process. While the content is plausible and the quotes are verifiable, the source’s reach and authority on Canadian immigration matters are limited, which affects the overall confidence in the article’s accuracy.