IRCC is raising fees on permanent residence and citizenship applications, and the changes take effect within weeks. Citizenship fees went up on March 31, 2026. PR application fees increase on April 30, 2026. If you are preparing an application for yourself and your family, the total cost difference is real money — and you still have time to submit at the current rates.

Here is exactly what is changing, what your family will pay, and what you need to do before the deadlines.

PR Application Fee Changes (Effective April 30, 2026)

The government processing fee for permanent residence applications is going up for principal applicants, spouses, and dependent children. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) — the landing fee you pay before your PR is finalized — is also increasing.

Fee Type	Current Fee	New Fee (April 30)	Change
PR processing fee (principal applicant)	$950	$990	+$40
PR processing fee (spouse/partner)	$950	$990	+$40
PR processing fee (dependent child)	$260	$270	+$10
RPRF (principal applicant)	$575	$600	+$25
RPRF (spouse/partner)	$575	$600	+$25

For a family of three — one principal applicant, one spouse, and one child — the total PR cost at current rates is $3,310. After April 30, that same family pays $3,450. That is $140 more for the exact same application.

For a family of four with two children, the difference is $150.

Family Sponsorship Fee Changes (Effective April 30, 2026)

If you are sponsoring a spouse, parent, grandparent, or child for permanent residence, the sponsorship fees are also increasing.

Fee Type	Current Fee	New Fee (April 30)	Change
Sponsorship fee	$85	$90	+$5
Principal applicant (sponsored person)	$545	$570	+$25
Dependent child (included in sponsorship)	$85	$90	+$5

For a spousal sponsorship with one dependent child, you currently pay $715 in sponsorship and processing fees. After April 30, that goes to $750 — a $35 increase. Add the RPRF on top and the total difference grows.

Citizenship Fee Changes (Effective March 31, 2026)

This one has already taken effect. The citizenship application fee increased from $119.75 to $123 as of March 31, 2026. The increase is small on its own, but for families applying together, it adds up. If four family members are applying for citizenship, that is an extra $13 in total.

Note that minors under 18 have a separate, lower citizenship fee. The Right of Citizenship Fee ($100) remains unchanged for now.

What This Means for You

If you are a worker in Canada preparing a PR application through a Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, Express Entry, or family sponsorship, these fee increases affect your budget directly.

A typical family PR application already costs thousands of dollars when you factor in government fees, biometrics, medical exams, police certificates, and professional help. An extra $140 to $150 on top of that is not a deal breaker, but it is money you could put toward something else — and there is no reason to pay more if your application is ready to go.

Here is the good news: applications submitted online before the effective date are charged at the old rates. If you pay your fees and submit through the IRCC portal before April 30, you lock in the current pricing. It does not matter how long IRCC takes to process your application after that.

If you are submitting a paper application, be more careful. IRCC has indicated that paper applications received after the effective date may need to include the difference in fees, even if you mailed them earlier. Online submission gives you a clear timestamp and avoids this issue entirely.

How to Make Sure You Submit in Time

April 30 is roughly four weeks away. That sounds like a lot of time, but PR applications have a lot of moving parts — documents, translations, forms, medical exams, police certificates. If any one piece is not ready, you cannot submit.

Here is what I recommend:

• Get your documents together now. Do not wait until the last week of April to start gathering police certificates or booking medical exams. These take time.
• Review your forms carefully. Incomplete applications get returned, and if you have to resubmit after April 30, you will pay the new fees.
• Submit online. Paper applications carry the risk of arriving after the deadline. Online submission locks in your fee immediately.
• If you are close but not ready, do not rush a bad application. A $140 savings is not worth a refusal. If your application is not complete, it is better to pay the higher fee and submit something solid than to rush and get rejected.

Book a Consultation

If you are preparing a PR application, book a consultation to make sure your documents are ready before the deadline. I can review your file, confirm which fees apply to your specific case, and help you submit a complete application before April 30.

You can reach me at info@bisonimmigration.com or book directly through my website.

Sources

• IRCC Fee Changes Announcement — Canada.ca
• IRCC Fee Schedule — Canada.ca
• IRCC Fee Increases Coming April 2026 — CIC News