Canada Raises PR and Citizenship Fees Starting April 30
Recent hikes to permanent residence (PR) and citizenship fees were highlighted in updates around this period (with some deadlines tied to late March/early April 2026 changes taking effect or being noted). Express Entry and PNP principal applicants face increases (e.g., from $950 to $990 in some categories), with the Right of Permanent Residence Fee rising to $600. Deferred payments may incur the new rate.
Canada Raises PR and Citizenship Fees Starting April 30
Canada's permanent residence and citizenship fees went up in early 2026, quietly but meaningfully, for anyone mid-application or planning to apply. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee climbed from $575 to $600, Express Entry and PNP principal applicants now pay $990 instead of $950 and business class applicants take the biggest hit at $1,895 up from $1,810. The Right of Citizenship Fee for adults ticked up to $123, effective March 31, 2026. Small increases, honestly, until you're paying them for a family of four.
These are immigration processing fees, not income taxes, so they don't touch your salary or foreign income , but they do hit the transition from temporary resident to permanent one. Tourists, eTA holders and people on study or work permits aren't affected right now, the increases are PR- and citizenship-specific, full stop. Expats moving through Express Entry or a PNP stream face roughly 2,5% higher costs per applicant, which turns out adds up fast if you're sponsoring a spouse and dependents simultaneously.
The critical deadline is April 30, 2026 , applications submitted before that date use the old fee schedule. There's a catch, though: if you defer the Right of PR Fee until approval (which IRCC allows), the new rate applies regardless of when you originally applied. Submit early and pay upfront if you want to lock the lower amount.
A few things worth knowing before you file:
- Pay through the IRCC online portal; incomplete or underpaid submissions get returned
- Mailed applications near the deadline trigger a notification to pay the difference via portal
- The RPRF is refunded if your application is refused, so it's not a total loss on a denial
The increases stem from a biennial review tied to CPI inflation and rising administrative costs, they aren't a policy shift, just math. Still frustrating if you're already stretching to meet income thresholds and language requirements.
Check the Canada guide for full PR stream breakdowns and current processing times and follow our nomad news feed for further updates as the April 30 deadline approaches.