Canada’s immigration fee changes apply only to applications submitted on or after July 2. Applicants who submitted before July 2 should follow the fee rules that applied at the time of submission. The most important point is timing: paying an old amount for an application filed on or after July 2 may create underpayment issues, even when the difference is small.
This update affects permanent residence, family sponsorship, citizenship, protected persons, permit holders, and certain removal expense repayments. The increases are generally modest, but families and applicants with dependants may see several fee changes added together.
Who is affected on and after July 2
The new fees affect applicants and sponsors who submit applications on or after July 2 under several categories, including Permanent Resident for Business immigration, economic immigration, Express Entry-related programs, caregiver pathways, humanitarian and compassionate applications, family sponsorship, citizenship, protected person applications, and the Permit Holders Class.
Applicants should review the new fee if they are applying under:
- Permanent Resident for Business immigration, including Quebec business immigration, self-employed people, and the Start-up Visa
- Economic immigration, including Agri-Food Pilot, Atlantic immigration, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, Provincial Nominee, rural or francophone community pilots, and Quebec-selected skilled workers
- Home care worker programs, including 2025 child care and home support pilots, as well as older caregiver pathways
- Humanitarian and compassionate or public policy permanent residence pathways
- Family sponsorship, including spouse, partner, children, parents, grandparents, adopted children, orphaned relatives, and other eligible relatives
- Citizenship applications, protected person applications, and Permit Holders Class applications
Fee comparison table for July 2 changes
| Category | Fee item | Before July 2 | On or after July 2 | Increase | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Resident for Business immigration | Principal applicant with right of permanent residence fee | $2,385 | $2,495 | $110 | 4.6% |
| Principal applicant without right of permanent residence fee | $1,810 | $1,895 | $85 | 4.7% | |
| Spouse or partner with right of permanent residence fee | $1,525 | $1,590 | $65 | 4.3% | |
| Spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee | $950 | $990 | $40 | 4.2% | |
| Dependent child, per child | $260 | $270 | $10 | 3.8% | |
| Economic immigration, Express Entry-related programs, and 2025 home care worker pilots | Principal applicant or spouse or partner with right of permanent residence fee | $1,525 | $1,590 | $65 | 4.3% |
| Principal applicant or spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee | $950 | $990 | $40 | 4.2% | |
| Dependent child, per child | $260 | $270 | $10 | 3.8% | |
| Older caregiver programs, humanitarian and compassionate, and public policy pathways | Principal applicant or spouse or partner with right of permanent residence fee | $1,210 | $1,260 | $50 | 4.1% |
| Principal applicant or spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee | $635 | $660 | $25 | 3.9% | |
| Dependent child, per child | $175 | $180 | $5 | 2.9% | |
| Permit Holders Class | Principal applicant with right of permanent residence fee | $950 | $990 | $40 | 4.2% |
| Principal applicant without right of permanent residence fee | $375 | $390 | $15 | 4.0% | |
| Protected person | Principal applicant or spouse or partner | $635 | $660 | $25 | 3.9% |
| Dependent child, per child | $175 | $180 | $5 | 2.9% | |
| Right of permanent residence fee | Main fee amount | $575 | $600 | $25 | 4.3% |
| Family sponsorship | Sponsor adult relative, parent, grandparent, spouse or partner with right of permanent residence fee | $1,205 | $1,260 | $55 | 4.6% |
| Sponsor adult relative, parent, grandparent, spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee | $630 | $660 | $30 | 4.8% | |
| Sponsor only dependent child, adopted child, orphaned relative, or relative under 22 without right of permanent residence fee | $170 | $180 | $10 | 5.9% | |
| Include dependent child, adopted child, or orphaned relative | $175 | $180 | $5 | 2.9% | |
| Sponsor relative under 22, not a dependent child, with right of permanent residence fee | $745 | $780 | $35 | 4.7% | |
| Include spouse or partner of a relative, parent, or grandparent with right of permanent residence fee | $1,210 | $1,260 | $50 | 4.1% | |
| Include spouse or partner of a relative, parent, or grandparent without right of permanent residence fee | $635 | $660 | $25 | 3.9% | |
| Citizenship | Adult 18 and over | $649.75 | $653 | $3.25 | 0.5% |
| Stateless adult born to Canadian parent and Right of Citizenship | $119.75 | $123 | $3.25 | 2.7% | |
| Removal expense repayment, removals on or after April 1, 2025 | Escorted removal by air, except medical escort | $12,880 | $13,098.96 | $218.96 | 1.7% |
| Unescorted removal from Canada | $3,840 | $3,905.28 | $65.28 | 1.7% |
Fees that should still be checked carefully
Several listed fees remain unchanged in the provided schedule. These include the permanent resident card at $50, permanent resident travel document at $50, minor citizenship application at $100, citizenship certificate at $75, search of citizenship record at $75, resuming citizenship for adults at $530, resuming citizenship for minors at $100, renouncing citizenship at $100, authorization to return to Canada at $492.50, criminality rehabilitation at $246.25, and serious criminality rehabilitation at $1,231.
Removal expense repayment before April 1, 2025 remains listed at $899 for one specified region and $1,799 for any other country. Applicants in older caregiver programs who also need a work permit should pay the caregiver fee and work permit fee separately, then include both receipts.
From a consultation perspective, the increase is not only about the amount. The bigger risk is filing with the wrong receipt after July 2. A permanent residence or sponsorship package may involve a principal applicant, spouse or partner, and dependent children, so the total can change across several lines at the same time.
The general takeaway is clear: only applications submitted on or after July 2 are affected by the new amounts, but applicants close to the deadline should confirm the final submission date and payment total before filing.
Current difficulties from these fee changes include choosing the correct fee category, calculating dependants, and confirming whether the right of permanent residence fee should be paid upfront. Applicants may reduce avoidable delays by having their forms, receipts, and supporting documents reviewed through preparing, advising and representation of immigration applications from an immigration consultant through our services.
Citation
"Breaking: Canada Immigration Fees Change for Applications Filed on or After July 2." RED Immigration Consulting. Published July 2, 2026. https://redim.ca/breaking-canada-immigration-fees-change-for-applications-filed-on-or-after-july-2/
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