IRCC confirmed on 28 April 2026 that permanent-residence (PR) processing fees will increase for every immigration class this Thursday, 30 April, under the biennial CPI adjustment required by regulation. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) climbs from CAD 575 to CAD 600, while the principal-applicant fee for economic streams such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program rises from CAD 950 to CAD 990. Although the dollar increments appear modest, families submitting together face meaningful jumps.
![Permanent-residence fees to rise across all categories on 30 April—applicants urged to act now]()
VisaHQ’s team of immigration specialists can help applicants navigate these updated government fees and ensure that all payment receipts meet IRCC’s latest standards. Through our Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), users can calculate costs, generate compliant forms, and receive reminders when regulations change—reducing the risk of a returned or delayed file.
A two-person Express Entry application will now cost CAD 3,180 in processing and RPRF charges—CAD 130 more than today. Business-class applicants see the steepest hike: the principal-applicant fee grows to CAD 1,895. For mobility managers preparing corporate PR sponsorships, timing is critical. IRCC treats an online application as ‘received’ the moment the applicant clicks ‘submit.’ Paper files couriered before the deadline may still be assessed under the old fees, but IRCC can demand the difference later. Companies should verify payment amounts in their internal checklists and remind employees to download new receipts before uploading to the e-APR. Stakeholders also note that the fee increase lands during a flurry of immigration activity: Express Entry issued more than 65,000 ITAs year-to-date, and Bill C-12—Canada’s new immigration compliance act—received Royal Assent last month. Applicants rushing to beat the fee change must balance speed with completeness; incomplete files risk being returned, costing more in the long run. IRCC last adjusted PR fees in 2024 and is expected to repeat the exercise every two years. Employers may wish to build a contingency line into relocation budgets to accommodate predictable future hikes.
VisaHQ’s team of immigration specialists can help applicants navigate these updated government fees and ensure that all payment receipts meet IRCC’s latest standards. Through our Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), users can calculate costs, generate compliant forms, and receive reminders when regulations change—reducing the risk of a returned or delayed file.
A two-person Express Entry application will now cost CAD 3,180 in processing and RPRF charges—CAD 130 more than today. Business-class applicants see the steepest hike: the principal-applicant fee grows to CAD 1,895. For mobility managers preparing corporate PR sponsorships, timing is critical. IRCC treats an online application as ‘received’ the moment the applicant clicks ‘submit.’ Paper files couriered before the deadline may still be assessed under the old fees, but IRCC can demand the difference later. Companies should verify payment amounts in their internal checklists and remind employees to download new receipts before uploading to the e-APR. Stakeholders also note that the fee increase lands during a flurry of immigration activity: Express Entry issued more than 65,000 ITAs year-to-date, and Bill C-12—Canada’s new immigration compliance act—received Royal Assent last month. Applicants rushing to beat the fee change must balance speed with completeness; incomplete files risk being returned, costing more in the long run. IRCC last adjusted PR fees in 2024 and is expected to repeat the exercise every two years. Employers may wish to build a contingency line into relocation budgets to accommodate predictable future hikes.
