Canada’s PR Fees Are Increasing April 30 — Here’s What to Do Now

The Deadline Is Five Days Away

If you are currently working toward a permanent residence application in Canada — or if you have one nearly ready to submit — there is a deadline you need to act on this week. Canada’s permanent residence fees are increasing on April 30, 2026. Any application received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on or after that date will be charged the new, higher amounts.

The increase was announced through official IRCC channels and confirmed in the federal fee schedule. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, permanent residence fees are reviewed and adjusted every two years to keep pace with program costs. This is the 2026 adjustment — and for a family applying through the Provincial Nominee Program, the combined difference adds up to $150 or more. That’s real money, and it’s avoidable if your application is ready.

Canada Permanent Residence Fees 2026: What’s Changing

Here is a breakdown of the fee changes taking effect April 30, 2026, as published by IRCC:

Source: IRCC Fees: Fee Changes

What This Means for a Typical Family

For most clients pursuing permanent residence, the Provincial Nominee Program is the primary pathway — whether through OINP in Ontario, the Atlantic Immigration Program in the Maritimes, or another provincial stream. Here’s what the April 30 increase means in dollar terms for a PNP applicant applying with their family.

Example: PNP applicant with spouse and two dependent children

• Processing fees (principal + spouse): $950 × 2 → $990 × 2 = +$80
• Processing fees (two children): $260 × 2 → $270 × 2 = +$20
• Right of Permanent Residence (principal + spouse): $575 × 2 → $600 × 2 = +$50
• Total increase: $150

Example: Sponsoring a spouse still in your home country

• Sponsorship fee: $85 → $90 = +$5
• Sponsored person processing fee: $545 → $570 = +$25
• Right of Permanent Residence (sponsored person): $575 → $600 = +$25
• Total increase: $55

These are not enormous sums — but they are entirely avoidable if your application is ready to go before April 30.

What to Do Before April 30

Here are the steps I’d recommend taking right now if you’re approaching submission:

1. Check whether your application is genuinely ready. This is the most important step. A rushed, incomplete application is never worth the fee savings. Only submit early if your documents are in order, your medical exams are current, your language test results are valid, and your biometrics are up to date.
2. Review your document validity. Police certificates, medical exams, IELTS or CELPIP results, and biometrics all have expiry windows. If any key document expires in the next six months, confirm it will still be valid when IRCC processes your file — not just when you submit.
3. Calculate the exact fees for your application type. Use the IRCC fee schedule to confirm the total for your specific situation — the amounts vary by program and by the number of family members included.
4. Prepare your payment method. IRCC collects fees electronically through the online application portal. Make sure your credit card or payment method is ready before you start your submission — once you begin a session, you typically need to complete it.
5. Submit before April 30. The new fees apply to applications received on or after April 30, 2026. An application received by IRCC before that date — even one still being actively processed for months afterward — will be charged at the current rates for the life of that application.

If Your Application Isn’t Ready Yet — Don’t Rush

I want to be direct about this: the fee increase is modest. The difference between the current and new rates — $40 per adult for a PNP application, $25 for most family stream applicants — does not justify submitting a file that isn’t ready. A complete, error-free application reviewed by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant will serve you far better than one submitted in haste to beat a $150 deadline, only to face a procedural fairness letter, a document request, or a processing delay.

If you’re unsure whether your application is ready, or whether the fee increase affects your specific pathway, that’s exactly the kind of question worth getting right before you submit.

A Note on Applications Already in Progress

If you have already submitted a PR application and it is currently being processed by IRCC, the April 30 increase does not affect you. The new fees apply only to applications received on or after April 30, 2026. Whatever rate you paid at the time of submission applies to your entire case.

The only exception would be if your application is refused and you resubmit after April 30 — in that case, the new rates would apply to the resubmission.

For a personalized review of your timeline, your costs, and the best pathway for your situation, hello@bisonimmigration.com today.