There is no single flat rate for Canadian permanent residency. The total cost depends on the immigration program you are applying for, such as Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, or Family Sponsorship. For most economic applicants, the baseline cost is around CAD 1,590 per adult and CAD 270 per dependent child.
Core government fees
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) charges two main types of fees: the application processing fee and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). The processing fee covers the administrative work of reviewing your file, while the RPRF is a mandatory payment required before your status is granted. Dependent children are exempt from the RPRF.
Express Entry and economic classes
Most skilled workers applying through Express Entry, including the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class streams, fall under a unified fee structure. The costs are as follows:
- Principal Applicant: CAD 990 processing fee + CAD 600 RPRF = CAD 1,590.
- Accompanying Spouse/Partner: CAD 990 processing fee + CAD 600 RPRF = CAD 1,590.
- Accompanying Dependent Child: CAD 270 processing fee (no RPRF).
For a family of four (two adults and two children), the total federal fee is CAD 3,720. You can pay the RPRF upfront with the application or defer it until later in the process, though paying early is often recommended to avoid delays.
Provincial Nominee program fees
If you are nominated by a province, you must pay a separate nomination fee to that province in addition to the federal IRCC fees. These provincial fees vary significantly and are generally non-refundable. Examples of current provincial nomination fees include:
- Ontario: CAD 1,500 (outside GTA) to CAD 2,000 (inside GTA).
- British Columbia: CAD 1,750.
- Alberta: CAD 1,500.
- Nova Scotia: CAD 1,000.
- Saskatchewan: CAD 500.
Family sponsorship costs
Sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child involves different fees than economic immigration. For a spouse or partner, the total includes a sponsorship fee of CAD 90, a processing fee of CAD 570, and the CAD 600 RPRF, totaling CAD 1,260. Sponsoring an independent dependent child costs CAD 180 per child.
Biometrics and third-party expenses
Government fees are only part of the total budget. You must also pay for biometrics, which is CAD 85 per individual or CAD 170 if two or more family members apply together. Beyond this, you will encounter mandatory third-party costs that are not paid to the government directly. These include language tests (like IELTS or CELPIP), which range from CAD 300 to CAD 400, Educational Credential Assessments (ECA) for foreign degrees, and immigration medical exams conducted by panel physicians. Police clearance certificates from previous countries of residence also incur varying fees.
Business immigration
Business streams, such as the Start-Up Visa or investor programs, carry higher processing fees due to the extensive due diligence required. The principal applicant fee is CAD 1,895, plus the CAD 600 RPRF, totaling CAD 2,495. Accompanying family members are charged the same rates as in the economic class.