Canada PR Fees Go Up April 30 — Here's How Much More You'll Pay

Update — April 30, 2026: The new fees take effect at 9:00 AM ET this morning. If your PR application hits IRCC's portal before that timestamp, you pay the old rates. After 9:00 AM ET, the new rates below apply automatically — no exceptions, no grace period for in-flight ITAs.

If you have a PR application in progress — or you're planning to submit one soon — mark April 30 on your calendar. That's when IRCC's new permanent residence fees take effect, and every major fee category is going up.

What's changing

Starting at 9:00 AM ET on April 30, 2026, IRCC will apply higher fees to all permanent residence applications received after that timestamp. The increases average about 2.7–4% and are indexed to inflation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, which require fee adjustments every two years.

Here's the full breakdown:

Economic class applicants

For a single Express Entry applicant, the total goes from $1,525 (processing + RPRF) to $1,590 — a $65 increase. For a family of four (two adults, two children), the combined fees rise by roughly $190.

Family class applicants

Business class applicants

These are just the government fees

Worth remembering: these fees are only what you pay directly to IRCC. The total cost of immigrating to Canada includes a lot more. Language tests run $300–400, credential assessments (WES/IQAS) cost $200–350, medical exams are $200–400, and police certificates vary by country. Our WES ECA guide and IELTS guide have the full cost breakdowns for those steps.

All in, a single applicant going through Express Entry can expect to spend $3,000–$4,500 on the full process. These fee increases add a modest amount to that total, but every dollar counts when you're self-funding your immigration.

What to do before April 30

If you've received an ITA: Submit your complete PR application before April 30 at 9:00 AM ET. As long as IRCC receives your application and payment before the cutoff, you pay the current rates. Don't cut it close — submit at least a few days early in case of technical issues with the portal.

If you're about to receive an ITA: The next Express Entry draws are expected around April 14. If you get invited, you'll have about two weeks to submit before the fee increase. It's tight but doable if your documents are ready. Use our PR application document checklist to make sure you're not missing anything.

If you're still in the pool: You can't control when you receive an ITA, so focus on what you can control — making sure your profile is accurate and your documents are current. The fee increase is relatively small in the context of the full immigration cost, so don't rush a weak application just to save $65.

Why fees keep going up

IRCC adjusts fees every two years to match inflation, as required by regulation. The agency estimates the 2026 increases will generate an additional $34 million annually across all PR streams. That revenue funds processing capacity, fraud detection, and system improvements.

For context, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee was $490 in 2015 when it was reintroduced. It's now $600 — a 22% increase over 11 years. The increases have been gradual and inflation-linked, not punitive.

The bigger cost picture

If you're early in your immigration journey, the fee increase is one of many costs to plan for. Here's a rough total budget for a single Express Entry applicant:

This doesn't include legal fees (if you use a consultant), translation costs, or travel expenses. Plan your budget with our CRS Calculator to first confirm you're competitive, then work through the document and cost preparation.