When you apply for immigration to IRCC, you usually have to pay an application fee for yourself, and any dependents coming with you to Canada such as your spouse or common-law partner, and your children. You also have to pay a right of permanent residence fee for yourself and your partner. Dependent children are exempt from this fee.
Fees for Canadian immigration are going up this year for applications of most economic, family, and humanitarian classes. In 2020, IRCC increased permanent residence fees to account for inflation for the first time since 2002. At that time, IRCC announced it would increase fees every two years to adjust for inflation, meaning this year fees are now due to go up. The next increase is expected to happen in 2024.
Starting April 30, the fees for the following immigration programs will go up about $40 more than the current cost of $1,325. Principal applicants and accompanying spouses will each have to pay $1,365 (all amounts are in CAD) plus any biometrics fees to apply:
- Express Entry-managed programs
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Worker
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Other economic pilots (Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and Agri-food Immigration Pilot)
Biometrics fees run about $85 per person, or $175 for a family of two or more.Each dependent child will cost $230.The application fees are different depending on the immigration program, but the right of permanent residence fee is always the same. Here is the list of fees for federal immigration programs in 2022.
| Program | Applicants | Current fee | New fee April 30, 2022 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | Principal applicant and accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $500 | $515 |
| Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program and Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class and most Economic Pilots (Rural, Agri-Food) | Principal applicant | $825 | $850 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $825 | $850 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | $225 | $230 | |
| Live-in Caregiver Program and Caregivers Pilots (Home Child Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot) | Principal applicant | $550 | $570 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $550 | $570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | $150 | $155 | |
| Business (Federal and Quebec) | Principal applicant | $1,575 | $1,625 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $825 | $850 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | $225 | $230 | |
| Family Reunification (Spouses, Partners and Children; Parents and Grandparents; and other relatives) | Sponsorship fee | $75 | $75 |
| Sponsored principal applicant | $475 | $490 | |
| Sponsored dependent child | $75 | $75 | |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $550 | $570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | $150 | $155 | |
| Protected Persons | Principal applicant | $550 | $570 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $550 | $570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | $150 | $155 | |
| Humanitarian and Compassionate / Public Policy | Principal applicant | $550 | $570 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $550 | $570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | $150 | $155 | |
| Permit Holders | Principal applicant | $325 | $335 |
Costs to apply for PNPs and Quebec immigration
On top of the fees required to apply for immigration to the federal government, PNP and Quebec candidates oftentimes have to pay application fees to their desired province. For example, a single person wanting to immigrate to Ontario would pay $2,925 through a PNP, but about $1,450 through Express Entry.
There are now four PNPs that do not charge fees to apply for provincial nominations: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. Newfoundland and Labrador recently removed its fees in an effort to encourage newcomers to apply for immigration to the province.
Skilled workers applying to other provinces can expect to pay between $250 and $1,500.
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) + Quebec | Application fee for principal applicant |
| Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) | $500 |
| British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) | $1,150 |
| Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) | $500 |
| New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NB PNP) | $250 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Nominee Program (NLPNP) | $0 |
| Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) | $0 |
| Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) | $0 |
| Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) | $1,500 |
| Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) | $300 |
| Quebec | $844 |
| Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) | $350 |
| Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) | $0 |
