CANADA TO RAISE CITIZENSHIP AND PERMANENT RESIDENCE FEES STARTING MARCH 31 AND APRIL 30
Canada Implements Two-Phase Fee Increase for 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed that application fees for both Citizenship and Permanent Residence (PR) will rise this spring. These adjustments are part of a biennial cost-recovery strategy to keep pace with inflation and cover the rising costs of program delivery. The increases will occur in two distinct stages: the first affecting citizenship on March 31, 2026, and the second affecting all PR categories on April 30, 2026.
Citizenship Fee Adjustments (Effective March 31, 2026)
Starting at the end of March, adult applicants for Canadian citizenship saw an increase in the secondary portion of their application costs:
Right of Citizenship Fee: Increased from $119.75 to $123.00.
Grant of Citizenship Processing Fee: Remains unchanged at $530.00.
Total Adult Application Cost: The new combined total is $653.00.
Note: Applicants who submitted their complete application and paid in full before March 31 were not affected by this change.
Permanent Residence Fee Hikes (Effective April 30, 2026)
A broader and more significant set of increases will take effect at the end of April, impacting principal applicants, spouses, and dependents across nearly all economic and social streams.
Updated Fee Schedule for Principal Applicants:
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): Increasing from $575 to $600
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Increasing from $950 to $990
Federal High Skilled Programs (Express Entry): Increasing from $950 to $990
Business Immigration Programs: Increasing from $1,810 to $1,895
Family Class (Sponsorship): Increasing from $545 to $570
Protected Persons / Humanitarian Cases: Increasing from $635 to $660
Permit Holders Class: Increasing from $375 to $390
The Cost of Deferring Payment
The 2026 fee structure highlights a critical technicality regarding the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). Many applicants choose to defer this payment until after their initial application is submitted. However, the RPRF is based on the rate in effect at the time of payment, not the time of application.
For candidates currently in the pool or awaiting approval, paying the RPRF before the April 30th deadline could save hundreds of dollars for a family. For corporate mobility managers, these increases represent a necessary budget adjustment for the 2026-27 fiscal year, as the cumulative cost for large groups of rotational assignees or domestic transitions will rise significantly.
Final Call for 2025 Rates
As Canada aligns its fees with other major global destinations, the era of lower-cost processing is ending. Precision and timing are now financial assets for any migration strategy.
Do you have an open application and haven't paid your RPRF yet? At Global Opportunities, we are helping our clients "lock in" the 2025 rates by auditing their current status and facilitating immediate payments before the deadlines. Don't pay more for the same service. Contact our team today to ensure your fees are settled before the April 30th hike!