There are different routes to legally immigrate to Canada. In addition to filling out the application forms, some fees are required. These fees are paid to the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada).
In this article, we’ll examine the different Canadian immigration programs, as well as applicable fees (in Canadian Dollars).
The different options when seeking Canadian immigration are:
- Permanent Residence
- Temporary Residence
- Family Sponsorship
- Citizenship
- Other applications and services
1. Permanent Residence
A permanent resident is someone who can reside in Canada permanently but who is not a citizen of the country. There are different paths to gaining Canadian permanent residency. Below, we’ll discuss the different programs and the applicable fees.
Business Immigration
This program is designed for entrepreneurs and investors seeking opportunities in Canada.
The applicable fees are:
| Application processing fee (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $2,075 |
| Spouse/ partner (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $1,375 |
| Dependent child | $225 |
Economic immigration
These programs are for workers who can contribute to Canada’s economy with their skills and abilities. The programs include Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee, Agri-food pilot, and more.
Applicable fees are:
| Application processing fee (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $1,325 |
| Spouse/ partner (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $1,325 |
| Dependent child | $225 |
Caregiver Programs
These are three programs that open the way to permanent residency to persons who have experience working as caregivers. These programs are Live-in Caregiver Program, Home Child Care Provider, and Home Support Worker.
The applicable fees include:
| Application processing fee (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $1,050 |
| Spouse/ partner (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $1,050 |
| Dependent child | $550 |
Humanitarian and Compassionate
Known as H&C, this program opens the door to permanent residency to people who are already in Canada, and have resided in the country for a number of years but do not have legal status.
The applicable fees are:
| Application processing fee (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $1,050 |
| Spouse/ partner (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $1,050 |
| Dependent child | $150 |
Permit Holders Class
This program opens the door to permanent residency to persons who were considered inadmissible to Canada (for permanent residency) but have held Temporary Resident Permits for a number of years.
The fees that apply to the program are:
| Application processing fee (plus $500 Right of Permanent Residence fee) | $825 |
Protected Person
If the IRCC or IRB (Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada) decide that you are in need of protection, you can apply for permanent residency under this program.
The applicable fees are:
| Application processing fee | $550 |
| Spouse/ partner | $550 |
| Dependent child | $150 |
2. Temporary Residence
A Canadian temporary resident is a foreign national who is legally authorized to enter Canada for temporary purposes. There are different programs that grant persons temporary residency.
These programs and applicable fees are:
International Experience Canada (IEC)
These are programs that allow young people from participating countries to apply for a work permit in Canada that’ll allow them to live and work in the country temporarily.
The applicable fee is:
| International Experience Canada participation fee | $156 |
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
The eTA is something that visa-exempt foreign nationals are required to obtain before traveling to Canada by air.
| Electronic Travel Authorization fee | $7 |
Study Permits
This is issued to foreign nationals, allowing them to study at designated learning institutions in Canada. The study permit will most likely be valid for the entirety of your studies, with an additional 90 days. This is to allow you to leave the country or apply for an extension.
The applicable fees are:
| Study permit per person | $150 |
| Restore your student status ($200 to restore status plus $150 for new study permit) | $350 |
Temporary Resident Permits (TRP)
This is different from a Temporary Resident Visa. The TRP is issued to persons who are considered inadmissible, but whose need to enter or stay in Canada outweigh the health or safety risks to Canada.
| The temporary resident permit fee per person | $200 |
Work Permits
If you are to enter Canada to work, you’ll need a work permit regardless of the job.
The applicable fees for work permits are:
| Work permit per person | $155 |
| Work permits per group (3 or more performing artists) | $465 |
| Open work permit (a work permit that is not job-specific) | $100 |
| Restore worker status ($200 to restore status and $155 to get new work permit) | $355 |
Visitor Visa
This is an official document stuck to your passport to show that you meet the requirements to either enter Canada or transit through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.
The applicable fees are:
| Visitor visa per person | $100 |
| Visitor visa per family (5 or more people) | $500 |
| Extend your stay as a visitor (per person) | $100 |
| Restore your visitor visa | $200 |
3. Family Sponsorship
You can sponsor certain relatives to Canada if you’re 18 years old and a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
The fees depend on who you are sponsoring as follows:
Spouse, Partner, or Children
The applicable fees are:
| Spouse or partner – $75 sponsorship fee + $475 principal applicant processing fee + $500 right of permanent residence fee | $1,050 |
| Dependent child (per child) | $150 |
Adopted Children and Other Relatives
Applicable fees are as follows:
| Relative (22 years or older) – $75 sponsorship fee + $475 principal applicant processing fee + $500 right of permanent residence fee | $1,050 |
| Relative (under 22 years and not your dependent child) – $75 sponsorship fee + $75 processing fee + $500 right of permanent residence fee | $650 |
| Dependent, adopted child, or orphaned relative – $75 sponsorship fee + $75 processing fee (per child) | $150 |
| Spouse or partner of relative | $550 |
Parents and Grandparents
The applicable fees are:
| Parent or grandparent – $75 sponsorship fee + $475 principal applicant processing fee + $500 right of permanent residence fee | $1,050 |
| Spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent – $550 processing fee + $500 right of permanent residence fee $500 | $1,050 |
| Dependent, adopted child, or orphaned relative – $75 sponsorship fee + $75 processing fee (per child) | $150 |
| Dependent child of your parent or grandparent | $150 |
4. Citizenship
Gaining Canadian citizenship is becoming a Canadian, and this is the ultimate step of your Canadian immigration.
For this final step, fees that apply include:
Citizen application fees
| Adults (18 and over) – $530 processing fee + $100 right of citizenship fee | $630 |
| Stateless adult born to Canadian parent | $100 |
| Mino | $100 |
Other citizenship fees and services
| Citizenship certificate | $75 |
| Search for record of citizenship | $75 |
| Resume citizenship (under 18) | $100 |
| Resume citizenship (18 and over) | $530 |
| Renounce citizenship | $100 |
5. Other Applications and Services
In pursuant of your Canadian immigration dream through any of the above-mentioned pathways, there would be other fees. These include:
Biometrics
Biometric fees follow virtually every Canada immigration application. The fee is to cover the cost of taking and processing your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph).
The biometric fee is:
| Per person | $85 |
| Per family (2 or more people) | $170 |
| Per group (3 or more performing artists) | $255 |
Verify Status or Replace an Immigration Document
You can verify your immigration or citizenship status at any time. If you lose an immigration document (like a temporary resident document), you can also get a replacement.
| The fee for either of these services | $30 |
