Navigating the Dollars and Cents: Your 2026 Guide to Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Fees

So, you're dreaming of Canada, eh? Whether you're planning a quick visit, aiming for a longer stay, or hoping to plant roots permanently, there's one thing you absolutely, positively need to understand: the fees. Yes, almost every single application, from a simple eTA to becoming a full-fledged citizen, comes with a price tag. And trust me, these aren't always straightforward. I've seen countless people get caught off guard, scratching their heads over what they owe and when. That's why I'm here, today in 2026, to break down the nitty-gritty of Canadian immigration and citizenship application fees. My goal is to give you the clearest picture possible, so you can budget properly and avoid any unwelcome surprises on your journey to, or within, Canada. Let's get down to business.

Temporary Stays: What'll It Cost Ya to Visit, Study, or Work?

Thinking of a short-term stint in Canada? Great choice! But even temporary resident applications usually involve fees. Knowing these costs upfront can save you a real headache.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Let's start with the easiest one, the Electronic Travel Authorization, or eTA. If you're from a visa-exempt country and flying into Canada, you'll probably need one of these. The fee? A cool $7.00 CAN. It's a small price for entry, honestly.

International Experience Canada

For young globetrotters looking for a working holiday, the International Experience Canada program is fantastic. But it's not free. You'll be looking at an International Experience Canada fee of $184.75 CAN. It's an investment in a memorable adventure, wouldn't you say?

Study Permits: School's Out... for a Fee

Students, listen up! Planning to hit the books in Canada? A study permit, including any extensions you might need, will run you $150.00 CAN per person. And if, heaven forbid, your status as a student lapses, restoring it is a two-part punch: $246.25 CAN to restore your status, plus another $150.00 CAN for the new study permit. That's a grand total of $396.25 CAN. Yikes. My advice? Don't let your status expire!

Temporary Resident Permit

A Temporary Resident Permit is a bit more specialized, typically for those who might otherwise be inadmissible to Canada but have compelling reasons to enter. If you need one, budget $246.25 CAN per person. It's definitely not a common one for most folks.

Visitor Visas and Extending Your Stay

A visitor visa, whether it's a single or multiple entry, will cost you $100.00 CAN per person. The government decides which one you get, so don't fret too much about that choice. Now, here's a neat trick: if you're a family of five or more applying together at the same time and place, there's a maximum fee of $500.00 CAN. That's a pretty good deal for larger groups! But wait, there's a catch for that family rate: all family members must apply simultaneously and in the same location, and your children must meet the dependent definition. Also, if you want to extend your stay as a visitor, that's another $100.00 CAN per person. And if you need to restore your status as a visitor? That's $246.25 CAN, and no, you don't need to pay another visa fee on top of that.

Work Permits: Getting Down to Business

For anyone looking to work in Canada, a work permit, or its extension, costs $155.00 CAN per person. But if you're a performing artist, things can get interesting. A group of three or more performing artists applying together can qualify for a maximum fee of $465.00 CAN. This is a special carve-out, I think, recognizing the unique nature of touring acts. However, a quick note on that: even if you get the group work permit fee, if members of the group also need visitor visas, they still have to pay for those individually. The visitor visa group fee only applies to families, remember? Also, open work permit holders pay $100.00 CAN. And if you need to restore your status as a worker, you're looking at $246.25 CAN for restoration plus $155.00 CAN for the new work permit, totaling $401.25 CAN.

Permanent Residency: Your Path to a New Life

Okay, now we're talking about the big league: permanent residency. These fees are generally higher and often include the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), which is a significant chunk of change on its own.

Business Immigration

If you're a business-minded individual looking to come to Canada through Quebec business immigration, as a self-employed person, or via the Start-up Visa program, the costs vary. Your main application, which includes both the processing fee and the RPRF, will be $2,495.00 CAN. If you pay *without* the RPRF initially, it's $1,895.00 CAN. Adding your spouse or partner? That'll be $1,590.00 CAN with the RPRF, or $990.00 CAN without. And for each dependent child, you're looking at $270.00 CAN. These aren't small numbers, so precise planning is key here.

Economic Immigration (Including Express Entry)

This category covers a broad spectrum, from the Atlantic Immigration Program to Federal Skilled Workers and Provincial Nominees. For your main application, including the RPRF, the cost is $1,590.00 CAN. Without the RPRF, it's $990.00 CAN. Same as with business immigration, if you're bringing your spouse or partner, they'll add $1,590.00 CAN (with RPRF) or $990.00 CAN (without RPRF). Each dependent child is still $270.00 CAN. Seems pretty standardized across the board for dependents, which is helpful.

Home Care Workers (Caregivers)

This is where things can get a little nuanced, depending on *when* the program you're applying under was launched.

Home Care Worker Programs Opened in 2026

For those applying under the Child Care or Home Support Immigration Pilots opened in 2026, your application, including the RPRF, is $1,590.00 CAN. Without the RPRF, it's $990.00 CAN. Spouses or partners are the same: $1,590.00 CAN (with RPRF) or $990.00 CAN (without RPRF). Dependent children cost $270.00 CAN each.

Home Care Worker (Caregiver) Programs Opened Before 2026

If your program, like the Live-in Caregiver Program or the older Home Child Care Provider Pilot, was opened before 2026, the fees are a bit lower. Your application with RPRF is $1,260.00 CAN, or $660.00 CAN without. Spouses/partners are also $1,260.00 CAN (with RPRF) or $660.00 CAN (without RPRF). Dependent children here are $180.00 CAN each. A special note for these older programs: if you also need a work permit, you have to pay for it *separately*. That means paying your caregiver fees, getting a receipt, then paying your work permit fees, getting *another* receipt, and including both with your application. What a process!

Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds

For those seeking permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, or through specific pathways like the Health-care worker pathway or the TR to PR pathway, the fees mirror the older caregiver programs. Your application with RPRF is $1,260.00 CAN, or $660.00 CAN without. Spouses/partners are also $1,260.00 CAN (with RPRF) or $660.00 CAN (without RPRF). Dependent children are $180.00 CAN each. These pathways often serve vulnerable populations, so the slightly reduced fees make sense.

Permanent Resident Cards and Travel Documents

Already a PR? Great! Your PR card, which *must* be delivered to a Canadian address, costs $50.00 CAN. If you're outside Canada without a valid PR card, you'll need a Permanent Resident Travel Document to get back in. That's also $50.00 CAN. Keep those cards current, folks!

Permit Holders Class

In specific, often humanitarian, circumstances, the Minister might grant permanent resident status to someone otherwise inadmissible. This is the Permit Holders Class. Your application, including RPRF, is $990.00 CAN. Without the RPRF, it's $390.00 CAN. This is a unique pathway, I've heard, and usually requires a compelling reason.

Protected Person

For protected persons, such as Convention Refugees, your application (including processing fee, but *not* RPRF, as they are exempt from RPRF) is $660.00 CAN. Including your spouse or partner is another $660.00 CAN, and each dependent child is $180.00 CAN.

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) Explained

Ah, the RPRF. This is a big one. It's a flat $600.00 CAN for most permanent residence applications. You technically pay it when your application is approved, before you officially become a permanent resident. However, you *can* pay it at the same time as your initial application fees to avoid delays later. If your application is approved before you've paid the RPRF, they'll contact you. The good news? If your application is refused or you withdraw it, the RPRF is the *only* fee they'll refund after processing has begun. That's a pretty important detail to remember! Who is exempt from the RPRF, you ask? Dependent children, adopted children, orphaned relatives, and protected persons, including Convention Refugees and those applying on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. There's even an RPRF loan available for some.

Family Sponsorship: Bringing Loved Ones Together

Sponsoring family members is a heartwarming journey, but it's not without its costs. The fees here often bundle the sponsorship fee, processing fee, and sometimes the RPRF.

Adopted Children and Other Relatives

Sponsoring a relative who is 22 or older, including the sponsorship, processing, and RPRF fees, will cost you $1,260.00 CAN. Without the RPRF, it's $660.00 CAN. For a dependent child, adopted child, or orphaned relative, it's $180.00 CAN per child, which includes the sponsorship and processing fees but no RPRF. If you're sponsoring a relative under 22 who isn't your dependent child, that's $780.00 CAN, or $180.00 CAN without the RPRF (this fee includes sponsorship and processing). And for the spouse or partner of your sponsored relative, it's $1,260.00 CAN (with RPRF) or $660.00 CAN (without RPRF). Phew, that's a lot of scenarios! My tip? Have your family tree handy when figuring these out.

Parents and Grandparents

Sponsoring a parent or grandparent is a big commitment. The fee, including sponsorship, processing, and RPRF, is $1,260.00 CAN. If you pay without the RPRF, it's $660.00 CAN. Including their spouse or partner is also $1,260.00 CAN (with RPRF) or $660.00 CAN (without RPRF). And if they have a dependent child coming with them? That's $180.00 CAN per child.

Spouse, Partner, or Children (Abroad or In Canada)

The fees for sponsoring your spouse, partner, or children are consistent whether they are abroad or already in Canada. Sponsoring your spouse or partner, including sponsorship, processing, and RPRF, costs $1,260.00 CAN. Without the RPRF, it's $660.00 CAN. For any dependent child you include, it's $180.00 CAN per child. And if you're independently sponsoring a dependent child, it's also $180.00 CAN per child. A crucial point for all Family Class applications: you can pay your fees when the sponsor files the sponsorship application. That helps get everything moving right from the start.

Citizenship: The Final Step

Becoming a Canadian citizen is the ultimate goal for many. And yes, there are fees for that too!

Citizenship Application Fees

For an adult (18 and over), the application, which includes the processing fee and the Right of Citizenship fee, is $653.00 CAN. If you're a stateless adult, 18 or over, born to a Canadian parent, you only pay the Right of Citizenship fee, which is $123.00 CAN. For a minor (under 18), it's a flat $100.00 CAN for the processing fee. Seems fair, right?

Other Citizenship Fees and Services

There are other citizenship-related services that also come with fees. Need proof of citizenship, a.k.a. a citizenship certificate? That's $75.00 CAN. Searching for your record of citizenship also costs $75.00 CAN. If you're resuming your citizenship, it's $530.00 CAN for adults and $100.00 CAN for minors. And if you ever need to renounce your citizenship (which I hope you don't!), that's $100.00 CAN. The standalone Right of Citizenship fee is $123.00 CAN.

Inadmissibility: When Things Get Tricky

Sometimes, unforeseen circumstances or past issues can make someone inadmissible to Canada. Even navigating this territory has fees.

Authorization to Return to Canada

If you've previously been removed from Canada and need formal authorization to come back, that will set you back $492.50 CAN. It's a steep price, but necessary if you want to re-enter.

Rehabilitation

If you're inadmissible due to criminality, you might need to apply for rehabilitation. For general criminality, the fee is $246.25 CAN. For *serious* criminality, it jumps significantly to $1,231.00 CAN. It's a reminder that past actions can have lasting financial consequences, unfortunately.

Repaying Your Removal Expenses

This is a rather sobering category. If you were removed from Canada, you might be required to repay the expenses incurred. The fees here depend heavily on *when* you were removed and *how*. If you were removed before April 1, 2026: - Removal to the U.S.A. and St. Pierre and Miquelon costs $899.00 CAN. - Removal to any other country is $1,799.00 CAN. But if you were removed on or after April 1, 2026, the costs absolutely skyrocket: - Escorted removal by air (excluding medical escorts) is a staggering $13,098.96 CAN. - Unescorted removal from Canada, escorted removal by non-air means, or removal under medical escort by air is $3,905.28 CAN. These numbers are eye-popping. They really emphasize the costs involved in these operations.

Temporary Resident Permit (for Inadmissibility)

Yes, we saw this earlier for temporary residents, but it's also relevant here. If you're inadmissible but need a Temporary Resident Permit for a compelling reason, that's still $246.25 CAN per person.

Other Applications and Services: Don't Forget These!

Beyond the main categories, there are a few other fees that commonly pop up.

Biometrics

For many applicants, biometrics (fingerprints and photos) are a requirement. The fee for an individual is $85.00 CAN. But there are family and group rates! For a family of two or more eligible people, the maximum fee is $170.00 CAN. This covers spouses/common-law partners and their dependent children. And for a group of three or more performing artists applying for a work permit together, the maximum biometrics fee is $255.00 CAN. This fee covers both the collection of your fingerprints and your digital photo. Pretty efficient, all things considered.

Employer Compliance

If an employer is hiring a foreign national, there's often an employer compliance fee of $230.00 CAN. For a group of three or more performing artists and their staff, the maximum employer compliance fee is $690.00 CAN. The employer needs to make those offers of employment to the group simultaneously to qualify for that reduced rate.

Immigration Loan

For refugees selected for resettlement, an immigration loan can be a lifesaver, covering transportation to Canada and other initial expenses. After 12 months in Canada, you start repaying it monthly. The exact amount is detailed on a statement of account sent to you. It's a critical support system, in my opinion, making resettlement possible for many.

Verifying Status or Replacing Documents

Lost a document? Need to verify your immigration status? That service costs a modest $30.00 CAN. It's a small fee for peace of mind, or to get back on track with your paperwork. There you have it. A comprehensive, if not a little dizzying, rundown of the fees you might encounter when dealing with Canadian immigration and citizenship in 2026. My biggest piece of advice? Always double-check the official government website for the most up-to-date information, and budget generously. This journey is an investment, after all, and knowing the costs beforehand is half the battle. Good luck!