Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented changes to specific permanent residence (PR) application fees effective April 30, 2024.
These changes align with Canada’s Immigrant and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and reflect current inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Canada. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPR), applicable to both the principal applicant and their accompanying spouse or common-law partner, has increased to $575 from the previous amount of $515. Furthermore, fees for several economic-class immigration programs have been revised. This includes the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Provincial Nominee Programs, Quebec Skilled Worker Program, Atlantic Immigration Class, and most rural and agricultural economic pilots.
Under these programs, the principal applicant fee will now be $950, up from $850. Accompanying spouses or common-law partners and dependent children will also see an increase, with their fees rising to $950 and $260 respectively (previously $850 and $230). Changes have also been made to the sponsorship application fees for various categories. The base sponsorship fee has gone up from $75 to $85. Fees for sponsored children under 22 without a spouse or partner, accompanying spouses or common-law partners, and accompanying dependent children have been adjusted to $85, $635, and $175 respectively.
Similar fee increases apply to applications from protected persons and individuals under humanitarian and compassionate considerations or public policy. The fees for the principal applicant, accompanying spouse or common-law partner, and accompanying dependent child are now $635 and $175 for each category. It’s important to note that permit holders seeking permanent residence cannot include accompanying family members on their application. Each eligible individual must submit a separate application as a principal applicant.
Finally, IRCC clarifies that specific groups remain exempt from the Right of Permanent Residence Fee. This includes sponsored children under 22 without a spouse or partner, and principal applicants under humanitarian and compassionate considerations or public policy programs, subject to certain conditions. For a comprehensive overview of the updated fee structure and potential exemptions, we recommend consulting the official IRCC website. It is important for individuals who are considering applying for permanent residence in Canada to stay up-to-date with the upcoming changes in fees. It is recommended that they regularly check the official sources of information from the Canadian government for more information and any updates.
