Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed that application fees for all permanent-residence streams will rise on 31 March 2026, with citizenship fees following on 30 April. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee increases to CA$600, while processing fees for principal applicants in economic classes such as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs climb to CA$990. Business-immigration candidates face the steepest jump—from CA$1,810 to CA$1,895—while dependent-child fees move to CA$270.
![Canada to raise permanent residence and citizenship fees, impacting Indian applicants]()
For applicants who want help navigating these changes, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork and timeline. Through its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) the service provides real-time fee calculators, document checklists, and live support that make assembling a Canadian PR file—or any other global visa application—faster and less stressful for individuals, families, and HR teams alike.
IRCC adjusts fees every two years to keep pace with inflation, but this cycle lands as record numbers of Indians prepare to file Express Entry profiles after Ottawa raised its annual intake target to 500,000 newcomers. Nearly one-third of Canada’s 2025 permanent residents were Indian citizens; consultants therefore expect a late-March surge of electronic applications as families rush to lock in lower rates. For employers that sponsor staff under the Global Talent Stream or intra-company transfer categories, the hike marginally raises overall assignment costs but is unlikely to deter strategic moves, recruiters say. However, firms with large graduate intake programs should review relocation budgets to accommodate the higher government charges for dependants. Indian students transitioning from Post-Graduate Work Permits to permanent residence will also need to factor the new pricing into financial-proof calculations. IRCC clarified that any file submitted and fully paid before the deadline will be processed at the old rate, so applicants close to completion should act immediately.
For applicants who want help navigating these changes, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork and timeline. Through its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) the service provides real-time fee calculators, document checklists, and live support that make assembling a Canadian PR file—or any other global visa application—faster and less stressful for individuals, families, and HR teams alike.
IRCC adjusts fees every two years to keep pace with inflation, but this cycle lands as record numbers of Indians prepare to file Express Entry profiles after Ottawa raised its annual intake target to 500,000 newcomers. Nearly one-third of Canada’s 2025 permanent residents were Indian citizens; consultants therefore expect a late-March surge of electronic applications as families rush to lock in lower rates. For employers that sponsor staff under the Global Talent Stream or intra-company transfer categories, the hike marginally raises overall assignment costs but is unlikely to deter strategic moves, recruiters say. However, firms with large graduate intake programs should review relocation budgets to accommodate the higher government charges for dependants. Indian students transitioning from Post-Graduate Work Permits to permanent residence will also need to factor the new pricing into financial-proof calculations. IRCC clarified that any file submitted and fully paid before the deadline will be processed at the old rate, so applicants close to completion should act immediately.
