IRCC Fee Increase 2026: What Changed

IRCC raised application fees on two dates in 2026. On March 31, the right of citizenship fee rose to $123, bringing adult citizenship to $653. On April 30, the Express Entry and other economic principal-applicant fee rose to $990 and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee to $600. For permanent residence, the date IRCC receives your application sets your fee.

Check IRCC’s fee list

Last verified: November 2026

$990
Express Entry principal-applicant processing fee
$600
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)
$653
Adult citizenship, processing plus right of citizenship
$85
Biometrics, per person

IRCC sets these fees, and the canada.ca fee list is the authoritative source. The Fee Calculator adds up the new fees for your family.

What changed in 2026, and when?

There were two effective dates. The Right of Citizenship Fee rose from $119.75 to $123 on March 31, 2026, so the adult grant of citizenship now totals $653: the $530 processing fee, unchanged, plus the $123 Right of Citizenship Fee.

Permanent residence fees changed on April 30, 2026 and apply to applications IRCC received on or after that date. They rose to keep pace with inflation, and IRCC says the Regulations adjust permanent residence fees every two years.

For permanent residence, the principal-applicant processing fee in economic categories (including Express Entry) rose to $990 from $950. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) rose to $600 from $575, the accompanying spouse or partner processing fee also rose to $990, and the dependent-child fee rose to $270 from $260. The increases were applied across permanent resident categories, not only economic ones.

Which date sets the fee you pay?

The amount that applies generally tracks the date IRCC receives the application or fee. IRCC publishes a consolidated fee schedule, and individual program pages also state the relevant fees. Check the official fee list on canada.ca on the day you plan to pay.

If you pay less than the full citizenship fee, IRCC returns the application. For a permanent residence application mailed before a fee change, IRCC in most cases asks you to pay the difference.

The rule

The fee that applies depends on the date IRCC receives your application, the date you pay a deferred RPRF or, for a mailed citizenship application, the date you sign it.

IRCC, canada.caVerify on ircc.canada.ca

What do permanent residence fees cost now?

Common permanent residence fees, as published for 2026
Fee	Amount	Who pays it
Economic principal applicant processing	$990	Express Entry, Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee applicants
Accompanying spouse or partner	$990	Each accompanying spouse or partner
Accompanying dependent child	$270	Each accompanying dependent child
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)	$600	The principal applicant and an accompanying spouse or partner. It is paid before you become a permanent resident.
Sponsoring a spouse or partner: sponsorship and processing	$660	The sponsor
Sponsoring a spouse or partner, with the RPRF	$1,260	The total government fee

The biometrics fee is separate and is paid when you apply. A dependent child being sponsored generally does not pay the RPRF, so a child-only sponsorship costs less.

Treat this table as a snapshot. The exact figure for your situation can differ depending on the program, whether children are accompanying, and the date IRCC receives your application.

Did temporary resident and citizenship fees change?

Many temporary resident fees were unchanged going into 2026. Biometrics are a separate fee from the application fee.

Temporary resident and other common fees, as published for 2026
Fee	Amount
Study permit	$150
Work permit	$155
Visitor visa (temporary resident visa), per person	$100
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)	$7
Permanent resident card	$50
Biometrics, per person	$85
Biometrics, family maximum	$170
Adult grant of citizenship	$653

The biometrics family maximum applies to two or more family members applying at the same time, and a separate group cap applies to some performing-artist groups. Biometrics are collected at a designated collection point and, once given, are generally valid for a set period for certain temporary resident applications.

IRCC refunds the Right of Citizenship Fee if it does not approve an adult application. Once processing has started, it does not refund the processing fee.

Which costs are not IRCC fees?

A few things are not government application fees and are budgeted separately:

Medical exams.
Police certificates.
Language tests.
Certified translations.
Any fee charged by a representative you choose to hire.

Only an authorized representative (a lawyer, a Quebec notary, another member in good standing of a provincial or territorial law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, such as a paralegal, or a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants) may charge a fee to advise or represent you on an IRCC application.

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What do people ask?

How much did IRCC fees increase in 2026?

IRCC raised permanent residence fees on April 30, 2026 to keep pace with inflation. It says the Regulations adjust them every two years. The economic principal-applicant fee, including Express Entry, rose to $990 from $950. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee rose to $600 from $575, and the dependent-child fee to $270 from $260. On March 31, 2026, the Right of Citizenship Fee rose to $123 from $119.75. Our IRCC fee calculator adds up the new fees for your family.

When did the 2026 IRCC fees change?

The 2026 IRCC application fees changed on two dates. The right of citizenship fee rose on March 31, 2026, and permanent residence fees rose on April 30, 2026. The permanent residence amounts apply to applications IRCC received on or after April 30, 2026, and if you applied without paying the RPRF, you pay the new amount. Our IRCC fee calculator uses the current rates from the official fee list.

How much is the Express Entry application fee in 2026?

The Express Entry principal-applicant processing fee is $990 since April 30, 2026. An accompanying spouse or partner pays $990, and each dependent child $270. The principal applicant and an accompanying spouse or partner also pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee of $600 before becoming permanent residents, and biometrics cost $85 per person. Our Express Entry guide explains the full application and when each fee is due.

What is the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) in 2026?

The RPRF is $600 for the principal applicant and an accompanying spouse or partner since April 30, 2026, up from $575. You pay it before you become a permanent resident, and a sponsored dependent child generally does not pay it. If you applied without paying it, you pay the new amount, even on an application sent before April 30. Our IRCC fee calculator adds the RPRF to your total for each person who owes it.

How much does it cost to sponsor a spouse in 2026?

Sponsoring a spouse or partner costs $1,260 in government fees: $660 for sponsorship and processing plus the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee. The $85 biometrics fee is separate and is paid when you apply. The amount depends on the date IRCC receives the application. Our spousal sponsorship guide covers the rest of the process, from eligibility to the documents IRCC asks for.

How much is the adult citizenship fee in 2026?

The adult citizenship fee is $653 since the Right of Citizenship Fee rose to $123 on March 31, 2026: the $530 processing fee, unchanged, plus the $123 Right of Citizenship Fee. IRCC refunds the Right of Citizenship Fee if it does not approve an adult application. Once processing has started, it does not refund the processing fee. A minor under 18 pays a separate, lower fee. Our physical presence calculator checks the 1,095-day rule before you pay.

Did study, work, visitor and eTA fees change in 2026?

No, most temporary resident fees did not change in 2026. As published for 2026, a study permit is $150, a work permit is $155, a visitor visa is $100 per person, an eTA is $7, and a PR card is $50. IRCC can still change them, so check the fee list on the day you pay. Our currency converter shows each fee in your own currency.

How much is the biometrics fee?

The biometrics fee is $85 per person, with a family maximum of $170 for two or more family members who apply at the same time. It is separate from the application fee and is paid when you submit. A separate cap applies to some groups of performing artists. Our biometrics guide explains who must give fingerprints and a photo, and where to go.

Part of:Immigrating permanently

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.

IRCC: Citizenship and immigration application fees (fee list)