IRCC has confirmed that application fees for every permanent-residence class will rise on 30 April 2026, while the Right of Citizenship fee will increase slightly sooner—on 31 March 2026. The adjustments, announced via a regulatory notice on the department’s website and echoed in international media, are tied to biennial inflation indexing required under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Key changes include a CA $25 jump in the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (to $600) and similar $25 increases for family-class and protected-person applicants. Business-class applicants face the largest absolute hike: $85, bringing the total to $1,895. Provincial Nominee Program fees climb $40 to $990. The citizenship fee rises a modest 2.7 percent, from $119.75 to $123. IRCC estimates the increases will generate roughly $34 million annually, funds earmarked for modernising online portals and reducing processing backlogs that swelled during 2025. Critics argue that higher costs could deter lower-income applicants, particularly international students transitioning to permanent residence. Employers sponsoring workers through economic programs should ensure HR budgets reflect the new fee table and communicate changes to candidates already preparing applications. Where corporate policies reimburse immigration costs, finance teams may wish to pre-pay before the 30 April deadline to lock in current rates. Legal advisers also remind applicants that credit-card authorisations submitted before 30 April but processed afterward will be charged the new amounts, so early filing must be accompanied by same-day payment confirmation.
Source: CKN News
