Canada Express Entry is used to manage immigration applications for skilled workers. Each year, about 11,000 skilled workers who are immigrants get permanent residency in Canada through the Canada Express Entry.
If Canada is your dream country, where you’ll want to move to and start a new life. The fastest route to realize that dream may well be getting permanent residency through this system
In this article, we’ll tell you how much Canada Express Entry costs as well as the different elements that make up the cost. By the end of this article, you’ll have the information that’ll help you to make plans to begin a new life in your dream country. Let’s get started!
Cost of Canada Express Entry
Immigrating to Canada through Express Entry will cost you $2,300 (CAD) if you are a single applicant, $4,600 if you are applying as a couple, and $5,465 if you are applying as a couple with one dependent child.
What makes up the cost of Canada Express Entry?
The cost elements of the Canada Express Entry are:
- Application Processing fee
- Right of Permanent Residence fee
- Biometric fee
- Educational Credential Assessment fee
- Language test fees
- Medical fees
- Miscellaneous fees
Application Processing Fee
This is the fee you pay to the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) so that they’ll process your application. You will be refunded this fee if your application is not complete, but there’ll be no refunds once your application is already being processed.
The application processing fee is $825 per person. But for dependent children, it is $225 per child.
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)
This is the second of the three fees that you’ll pay to the IRCC. The RPRF is a fee that you must pay before you can become a permanent resident.
Interestingly, this means that if you withdraw your application or your application is refused, Immigration Canada will refund you the RPRF.
The Right of Permanent Residence Fee is $500 per person. But this fee does not apply to dependent children.
Biometrics
The third fee that you pay directly to the IRCC is the biometrics fee. This is to cover:
- Collecting fingerprints and a digital photo
- Moving your documents between where you gave the biometrics and the visa office
The biometrics fee is $85 per person. But for a family (2 or more people) applying at the same time and place, it is $170.
Educational Credential Assessment
One of the requirements of Express Entry is having completed a diploma, degree, or trade or apprenticeship credential. If your credential was obtained outside Canada, then you’ll have to have it assessed to determine that it is equal to a completed certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian institution.
There are particular organizations designated by Immigration Canada to provide “educational credential assessment”. As you’ll expect, they charge service fees. On average, the educational credential assessment fee is $200.
Language Test
Another requirement of Express Canada is proficiency in English or French. So, you must take and get a certain minimum score in English or French language tests approved by Immigration Canada. Taking the language test costs $300.
Medical Fee
You are also required to complete an immigration medical exam (IME) as part of your Express Entry application. This is because permanent residency is not given to persons whose health:
- will be a danger to the health or safety of Canadians
- will cause too much demand on the health/social services in Canada
The cost of the medical exam can vary, but on average it’s about $300.
Miscellaneous
This covers a variety of small costs that appear as you pursue your Canada permanent residency through Express Entry. These will include such fees as:
- Courier
- Notary fee
- Cost of translating document
- Cost of police clearance certificates
Miscellaneous fees vary widely depending on the country, but a good estimate will be $140 per person.
Canada Express Entry Fee breakdown table
Below is a summary of the different elements that make up the Canada Express Entry fee.
It shows in detail how your Canada Express Entry fee is computed if you are applying as:
- A single adult
- A couple with no dependent child (that is, two adults)
- A couple with one dependent child (that is, two adults and a child)
Note that all costs are stated in Canadian dollars (CAD).
| Single | Couple | Couple + one child | |
| Application Processing Fee | $825 | $1,650 | $1,875 |
| Right of Permanent Residence fee | $500 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Biometrics | $85 | $170 | $170 |
| Educational Credential Assessment | $200 | $400 | $400 |
| Language test fee | $300 | $600 | $600 |
| Medical Fee | $250 | $500 | $900 |
| Miscellaneous | $140 | $280 | $420 |
| Total | $2,300 | $4,600 | $5,365 |
Other Costs to Consider When Applying for Canada Express Entry
Two other cost elements that you need to consider when applying for Canada Express Entry are:
- Provincial Nomination
- Proof of Settlement Funds
Provincial Nomination
The Canada Express Entry fee calculated above assumes that you do not go through a provincial nomination. However, there are various reasons why you may want to use a provincial nomination.
Submitting your profile for Express Entry does not mean you’ll receive an ITA (invitation to apply). Strong candidates with very high CRS points will be selected over candidates simply meeting minimum requirements.
A provincial nomination will give you an additional 600 points. This’ll boost your profile, and turn you into the golden fish in the pool.
However, using the provincial nominee program comes at a cost. This ranges from $250 to $1,500, depending on the province you choose.
Disclaimer: All prices listed in the table below are gathered from sources and are subject to change.
| Provincial Nominee Program | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) | $1,500-$2,000 |
| British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) | $1,150 |
| Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) | $500 |
| Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) | $500 |
| Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) | $350 |
| Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEIPNP) | $300 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) | $250 |
| New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) | $250 |
Canada Proof of Fund
As part of your Express Entry application, you need to show “proof of funds”. This means that you need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family.
The only exceptions are:
- Your application is under the Canada Experience class
- You already have a valid job offer in Canada, and you are authorized to work in the country
Technically, this is not a fee because you’re not paying out the money to anyone. However, the funds must be readily available to you. How much money you’ll need to make available for Canada “proof of funds” depends on the size of your family as follows:
| Number of family members | Funds required (CAD) |
| 1 | $13,213 |
| 2 | $16,449 |
| 3 | $20,222 |
| 4 | $24,553 |
| 5 | $27,847 |
| 6 | $31,407 |
| 7 | $34,967 |
| For each additional family member | $3,560 |
Final Thoughts
Immigrating to Canada via Express Entry is not cost-prohibitive. If you apply smartly, you can boost your CRS points and be a strong candidate in the pool. That way, you’ll not need a provincial nomination which jacks up Express Entry fees. You’ll need just about $2,300 to make your Canadian dream come true.
