Cape Breton Island 
Canada is raising several permanent residence fees at the end of April; the increase is tied to inflation and program costs.
Credit: Igor Kyryliuk/Flickr
The federal government confirmed that updated fees will take effect on April 30, 2026, as part of its regular two-year adjustment cycle tied to inflation and program costs. The increases vary by immigration stream.
The right of permanent residence fee will go up by $25, reaching $600. Applicants under the Provincial Nominee Program will pay $990, an increase of $40. Business applicants will see a larger jump, with fees rising by $85 to $1,895.
Other categories are also moving up in smaller increments. Family class applications increase to $570, while fees for protected persons and those applying on humanitarian and compassionate grounds both rise to $660. Permit holders will pay $390, up by $15.
The government says these adjustments are routine under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and are meant to keep the system running efficiently as demand grows.
For applicants, the timing of payment can make a difference. Online applications are received instantly, so the correct fee must be paid before submission. Mailed applications can fall into a grey area if they are sent before April 30 but arrive after. In most cases, those applications will still be accepted if the old fee was paid and everything else is complete. Applicants will then be asked to pay the difference.
Anyone who delayed paying the permanent residence fee will need to pay the new $600 amount, even if their application was filed before the change.
