Posted by: Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308 | VG Immigration Services Canada
Published: April 30, 2026
Canada PR Fees Increase April 30, 2026: What Changed and How to Plan
Starting April 30, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) increased fees for permanent residence applications across multiple programs. If you are preparing an Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), family sponsorship, or another PR application, the update affects what you must pay (and when you must pay it) to avoid delays.
Below is a practical breakdown of what changed, who is affected, and how to plan your budget and submission strategy so you can move forward confidently.
Key Highlights
- Effective date: New permanent residence fees apply to applications received on or after April 30, 2026.
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): Increased from $575 to $600 for a principal applicant and for an accompanying spouse/common-law partner (when applicable).
- Economic PR processing fee (principal applicant): Increased from $950 to $990 for Federal High Skilled programs and related economic pathways (including Express Entry-aligned programs).
- Economic PR processing fee (accompanying spouse/partner): Increased from $950 to $990.
- Economic PR processing fee (dependent child): Increased from $260 to $270.
- Family sponsorship: Sponsorship fee increased from $85 to $90, and the sponsored principal applicant fee increased from $545 to $570.
What Exactly Changed on April 30, 2026?
IRCC adjusts certain immigration fees periodically. This time, the changes focus on permanent residence fees, including the Right of Permanent Residence Fee and core processing fees for several PR streams. The practical impact is straightforward: if you submit on or after the effective date, your payment must match the new amounts shown in IRCC’s fee tables, or IRCC can request additional payment and your file can lose time.
Many applicants only discover fee changes at the payment stage. However, because PR applications often involve multiple family members and multiple types of fees, even “small” increases can add up. For example, a couple applying together under an economic program may pay increased amounts for both the processing fee and the RPRF.
Updated PR Fees: Quick Reference Table (Common Scenarios)
Here are the most common PR fee categories affected by the April 30, 2026 update. (These are government fees only; professional fees and third-party costs such as language tests, ECA, and police certificates are separate.)
1) Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)
- Principal applicant (and accompanying spouse/common-law partner, if applicable): $600 (up from $575)
2) Economic PR processing fees (Express Entry-aligned programs and other economic pathways)
- Principal applicant: $990 (up from $950)
- Accompanying spouse/common-law partner: $990 (up from $950)
- Accompanying dependent child: $270 (up from $260)
3) Family sponsorship fees (selected items)
- Sponsorship fee: $90 (up from $85)
- Sponsored principal applicant fee: $570 (up from $545)
Important: Fee structures differ by program and applicant type. Always confirm your exact fee list before you pay and submit.
Who Is Affected?
If you are applying for PR (or planning to apply soon), you may be affected in any of these common pathways:
- Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades, and category-based selection pathways)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications that proceed to PR
- Atlantic Immigration Program and many economic pilots
- Family sponsorship (spouse/partner, dependent child, parents and grandparents, and certain other relatives)
Even if your application is well-prepared, fee mismatches can cause delays because IRCC must reconcile payment before finalizing certain steps.
Does This Affect Express Entry Specifically?
Express Entry itself is a selection system, not the final application. But once you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and move into the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) stage, you must pay the applicable PR processing fees and (in most cases) the Right of Permanent Residence Fee.
If you are close to receiving an ITA, the timing matters. A fee update can land right in the middle of your 60-day ITA deadline window. If you delay submission and cross into the new fee period, your budget must reflect the updated amounts.
Budgeting Tip: Estimate the Total Government Fees Early
A common planning mistake is budgeting only for the principal applicant. In reality, most PR applications involve multiple line items:
- Processing fee (principal applicant)
- Processing fee (spouse/partner, if accompanying)
- Processing fee (each dependent child, if accompanying)
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (often for the principal applicant and spouse/partner)
Even before you receive an ITA or nomination, it is smart to map your likely family composition and calculate a fee estimate so you are not forced to delay submission due to payment readiness.
What Happens If You Pay the Wrong Amount?
If you pay less than required after a fee change, IRCC may request the difference. This can create avoidable back-and-forth and slow down processing—especially if the request arrives while you are already dealing with medicals, biometrics, or document updates.
The safest approach is to confirm the fee amounts on the day you are paying, and to ensure the payment receipt matches the exact program and applicant types included in your application.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Timeline
If you are applying around the effective date of a fee change, these steps help reduce risk:
- Confirm your program and family members (who is accompanying vs. non-accompanying) before you generate a payment plan.
- Check the latest fee tables on IRCC’s fee pages before payment and submission.
- Save receipts immediately and keep them with your final submission package.
- Avoid last-day submissions whenever possible. Small issues (upload errors, payment holds, document formatting) often happen at the worst time.
What This Means for You
If you are preparing a PR application, the April 30, 2026 fee increase is not a reason to panic—but it is a reason to plan. Treat the fee update as part of your overall readiness strategy: documents, eligibility, proof of funds (if required), and payment should be aligned so you can submit without hesitation when the time comes.
If you are in the Express Entry pool, consider keeping a “submission-ready” checklist and a fee budget reserved. If you are being considered for a PNP stream or employer-supported pathway, fee readiness helps you act quickly when you receive a nomination or ITA.
For families, the increase can be more noticeable because multiple applicants are included. A structured submission plan can help you avoid delays and protect your long-term immigration strategy.
Related Reading from VG Immigration
- Latest updates and practical guides in our blog
- Book a Consultation if you want a licensed professional to review your strategy and documents
How VG Immigration Can Help
Navigating Canada’s immigration system requires expert guidance. Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB (R708308), Commissioner of Oaths, at VG Immigration Services can help you understand your options and build the strongest possible application.
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