
Canada immigration news: IRCC recently announced that, as of April 30, Canada visa fees are set to increase slightly.
This will apply to all those applying for permanent residency in Canada. On average, permanent residency visa fees are set to increase no more than between $5 and $50, however, the only fee that won’t increase is the family sponsorship fee.
Visa fees are set to increase every two years, which means that the next increase is set for 2024, making this year the perfect time to immigrate to Canada.
Despite the increase, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have still managed to keep visa application fees competitive compared to other first world countries, particularly the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand.
This is due to the fact that the Canadian government recognizes that immigration is an important part of tackling labour shortages and helping to drive the economy.
In an announcement on March 31, 2022, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that the IRCC had not only surpassed but doubled its expectations of the number of invitations to apply for permanent residency.
In the first quarter of 2022 alone, IRCC finalised 108,000 permanent residence applications.
Below is a comparison of the current and new Canadian visa fees for 2022.
Canada Visa Fees for 2022 | ||
---|---|---|
Program | Current Fee | New Fee as of April 2022 |
Right of Permanent Residence Fee | $500 | $515 |
Federal High Skilled, Provincial Nominee Program and Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class and most Economic Pilots (Rural, Agri-Food) - Principal Applicant/spouse/common law partner Dependent child | $825 $225 | $850 $230 |
Live-in Caregiver Program and Caregivers Pilots (Home Child Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot) - Principal Applicant/spouse/common law partner Dependent child | $550 $225 | $570$230 |
Business (Federal and Quebec) - Principal Applicant Accompanying spouse/common law partner Dependent child | $1,575 $825 $225 | $1,625 $850 $225 |
Family Reunification (Spouses, Partners and Children; Parents and Grandparents; and other relatives) - Sponsorship fee Principal Applicant Sponsored dependent child Accompanying spouse/common law partner Dependent child | $75 $475 $75 $550 $150 | $75 $490 $75 $570 $155 |
Protected Persons - Principal Applicant/spouse/common law partner Dependent child | $550 $150 | $570 $155 |
Humanitarian and Compassionate / Public Policy - Principal Applicant/spouse/common law partner Dependent child | $550 $150 | $570 $155 |
Permit Holders - Principal Applicant | $325 | $335 |
Applicants have the option to pay for the right of permanent residency fees either at the time of applying for Permanent Residency (PR) in Canada or once the application has been approved.
If your application is denied, the PR fees will be refunded, but it's important to note that your PR status will only be activated once your right of permanent residency fees has been paid. These fees only apply to the principal applicant and accompanying spouse or common-law partner applying for permanent residency in Canada.
The following fees have not increased:
- PR cards;
- PR travel documents; and
- immigration documents that need to be certified or replaced.
For more information about the upcoming Canada visa fees increase for 2022, visit the IRCC website here, or subscribe to our mailing list to keep up-to-date on the latest Canada immigration news.