Effective December 1, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented a slate of fee increases that will affect thousands of foreign nationals applying to enter or remain in Canada. The revised schedule boosts costs for two broad categories: inadmissibility-related applications—such as Authorizations to Return to Canada (ARCs), Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs), criminal rehabilitation and restoration of status—and the processing fee for the popular International Experience Canada (IEC) work-permit program.
Most inadmissibility fees have risen by roughly 2-4 %, with the ARC now costing $492.50 and the fee for criminal rehabilitation related to serious criminality climbing to $1,231. Restoration of temporary resident status and associated permit applications now cost $246.25. For IEC participants, the work-permit processing fee has increased from $179.75 to $184.75; although the hike looks modest, it applies to more than 35 partner countries and will be felt acutely by working-holiday participants who already budget closely.
![Canada Raises Key Immigration Fees, Impacting IEC Work Permits and Inadmissibility Applications]()
IRCC says the changes are driven by higher administrative costs and the need to keep service levels sustainable amid record application volumes. Applicants who submitted and paid online before midnight on December 1 are grandfathered under the old rates, but paper applicants whose files were received after the deadline will be contacted and asked to pay the difference. IRCC has also updated its online payment tool to facilitate “top-up” payments and avoid processing delays.
For employers and global mobility managers, the higher fees come at a time when Canada is signalling a broader shift toward cost recovery and tighter management of temporary resident programs. Companies that rely on IEC work-permit holders—especially in hospitality, tourism and seasonal sectors—should revisit budget forecasts for 2026 and inform assignees of the new costs. Program administrators are also advised to check that restoration-of-status applications filed after a permit expiry include the updated fee to prevent refusals.
Practically, the fee increases reinforce the importance of filing applications well before travel dates, using IRCC’s online portal whenever possible, and monitoring exchange-rate fluctuations. They also underscore a growing policy trend: Canada is willing to rely more on user-pay funding to maintain service standards, a move that could foreshadow additional cost adjustments across other immigration streams in 2026.
Most inadmissibility fees have risen by roughly 2-4 %, with the ARC now costing $492.50 and the fee for criminal rehabilitation related to serious criminality climbing to $1,231. Restoration of temporary resident status and associated permit applications now cost $246.25. For IEC participants, the work-permit processing fee has increased from $179.75 to $184.75; although the hike looks modest, it applies to more than 35 partner countries and will be felt acutely by working-holiday participants who already budget closely.
IRCC says the changes are driven by higher administrative costs and the need to keep service levels sustainable amid record application volumes. Applicants who submitted and paid online before midnight on December 1 are grandfathered under the old rates, but paper applicants whose files were received after the deadline will be contacted and asked to pay the difference. IRCC has also updated its online payment tool to facilitate “top-up” payments and avoid processing delays.
For employers and global mobility managers, the higher fees come at a time when Canada is signalling a broader shift toward cost recovery and tighter management of temporary resident programs. Companies that rely on IEC work-permit holders—especially in hospitality, tourism and seasonal sectors—should revisit budget forecasts for 2026 and inform assignees of the new costs. Program administrators are also advised to check that restoration-of-status applications filed after a permit expiry include the updated fee to prevent refusals.
Practically, the fee increases reinforce the importance of filing applications well before travel dates, using IRCC’s online portal whenever possible, and monitoring exchange-rate fluctuations. They also underscore a growing policy trend: Canada is willing to rely more on user-pay funding to maintain service standards, a move that could foreshadow additional cost adjustments across other immigration streams in 2026.
