Canada to Update Immigration Fees for 2022
The Canadian government recently announced that they will be updating immigration fees to account for inflation on April 30, 2022.
Individuals that apply to immigrate to Canada must pay both an application processing fee and a right of permanent residence fee.
The Government of Canada last increased immigration processing fees in 2020. Prior to 2020, the fees hadn’t been raised in 18 years. At the time of the previous increase, Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that they would be raising fees every two years to adjust for inflation. Canada implemented the 2020 increase in response to growing program and service delivery costs.
Immigration fees as of April 30, 2022
| Program | Applicants | Current Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | Principal applicant and accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 500 | 515 |
| Federal High Skilled, Provincial Nominee Program and Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class and most Economic Pilots (Rural, Agri-Food) | Principal applicant | 825 | 850 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 825 | 850 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | 225 | 230 | |
| Live-in Caregiver Program and Caregivers Pilots (Home Child Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot) | Principal applicant | 550 | 570 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 550 | 570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | 150 | 155 | |
| Business (Federal and Quebec) | Principal applicant | 1575 | 1625 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 825 | 850 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | 225 | 230 | |
| Family Reunification (Spouses, Partners and Children; Parents and Grandparents; and other relatives) | Sponsorship fee | 75 | 75 |
| Sponsored principal applicant | 475 | 490 | |
| Sponsored dependent child | 75 | 75 | |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 550 | 570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | 150 | 155 | |
| Protected Persons | Principal applicant | 550 | 570 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 550 | 570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | 150 | 155 | |
| Humanitarian and Compassionate / Public Policy | Principal applicant | 550 | 570 |
| Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | 550 | 570 | |
| Accompanying dependent child | 150 | 155 | |
| Permit Holders | Principal applicant | 325 | 335 |
The fees associated with permanent resident cards, and permanent resident travel documents will not increase.
Government revenues from immigration fees
The Canadian government uses a ‘cost-effective’ approach to financing immigration programs, where the individuals receiving the services are responsible for the associated costs. In 2019-2020, the Canadian government collected over $1.3 billion from over 70 user fees. Permanent residence fees represented 23% of total IRCC fee revenue.
Altogether, the fees collected by IRCC represent about half of all fee revenue collected by the Canadian government. The costs associated with service delivery include program processing and management, internal services, and delivery partner costs.
Despite the recent increase, Canada’s fees remain competitive when compared to other countries like the USA, England, New Zealand, and Australia. In fact, many of these countries charge much higher fees. Australia, for example, can charge up to $7,500 CAD for immigration processes.
Can IRCC waive an applicant’s immigration fees?
The Canadian immigration minister has the authority to waive immigration fees via public policy. This has occurred during extenuating circumstances such as during the BC wildfires, or for certain Hong Kong residents.
The next immigration fee increase is expected in 2024.
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