Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has officially announced a permanent residence (PR) fee increase effective April 30, 2026, impacting all immigration categories.

If you’re planning to apply for PR, timing your submission correctly could save you money and prevent delays.

What Is Changing in 2026?

Starting April 30, 2026, all PR-related fees will increase, including:

• Express Entry & economic programs
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Family sponsorship
• Business immigration
• Humanitarian and protected persons categories

The increase follows Canada’s biennial fee adjustment policy, typically aligned with inflation and operational costs.

Fee Changes You Should Know

Here are the most important updates:

• Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): $575 → $600
• Economic PR (Principal Applicant): $950 → $990
• Spouse/Common-law Partner: $950 → $990
• Dependent Child: $260 → $270
• Family Sponsorship Fee: $85 → $90
• Business Class (Principal Applicant): $1,810 → $1,895

 While increases may seem small individually, families can pay $100–$150+ more overall.

Who Will Be Affected?

You will be affected if:

• You submit your PR application on or after April 30, 2026
• You pay your PR fees after April 30
• You receive an ITA but submit your application after the deadline

Important: For online applications, submission date = fee applicable date.

Who May Not Be Affected Immediately?

You may avoid the increase if:

• Your complete application is submitted before April 30
• You already paid the correct fees before the deadline

For paper applications:

• If mailed before April 30, IRCC usually won’t reject it
• BUT they may still ask you to pay the difference later

What Happens If You Pay the Old Fee?

If you pay outdated fees:

• IRCC will not process your application fully
• You’ll be asked to pay the difference
• This can delay your application significantly

Understanding the RPRF (Important)

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF):

• Paid by principal applicant + spouse only
• NOT required for dependent children
• Refundable if PR is refused

If you haven’t paid RPRF yet, pay before April 30 to save $25 per person

Why This Fee Increase Matters

Even though the increase seems small:

• A couple applying via Express Entry now pays about $130 more
• A family of four could pay $150+ extra
• Business applicants face the highest increases

Combined with processing delays and backlog pressures, mistakes can become costly.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you’re planning to apply:

Review your eligibility
Calculate total fees correctly
Prepare complete documentation
Pay fees before April 30 if ready
Avoid rushing incomplete applications

Strategic Advice from ICC Immigration

At ICC Immigration, we strongly recommend:

• Do NOT rush just to save fees
• A refused or returned application costs far more than the increase
• Focus on accuracy, documentation, and strategy

The best approach:
Submit a complete, error-free application at the right time

Final Thoughts

The April 30, 2026 PR fee increase applies across all categories and applicants.

The most important takeaway:

Your fee depends on when IRCC receives your application — not when you start preparing it

Planning ahead can help you:

• Save money
• Avoid delays
• Improve approval chances