Increase in Canadian immigration processing fees

With effect from April 30, 2020, at 9 a.m. EDT, the Canadian immigration department increased the processing fees for foreign nationals who wish to become permanent residents. The fees paid by foreign national is inclusive of the operational, processing, and service delivery costs that are related to all the permanent residence programs.

All the applications received prior to April 30 will be processed in accordance with the current fee schedule. Applications received on or after that time that does 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 percent as follows:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. Fees for spouses or common-law partners of all economic classes will go up from $550 to $825;
4. Fees for dependent children of all economic classes will go up from $150 to $225;
5. The right of the permanent resident fee will increase from $490 to $500, which is an increase of two percent.

IRCC has informed that fees for permanent resident cards, permanent resident travel documents, and certification or replacement immigration documents will remain unchanged. In addition to this, the fee structure is expected to change every two years depending upon the Consumer Price Index. The new fee structure will now be released in 2022.