Canada Set to Raise Fees for Permanent Residence Applications

The Canadian government has declared its intention to hike application fees for permanent residency, effective from April 30, 2026, a move that will impact Nigerians and other foreign nationals planning to immigrate.

This announcement was made on March 27, 2026, by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), detailing that the fee changes will apply to all applications submitted after the specified date. This adjustment aims to maintain efficient service delivery and respond to the rising operational expenses attributed to inflation and increased demand.

Officials remarked, “To continue providing timely and reliable services and to keep pace with inflation, permanent residence fees will rise on April 30, 2026.” The new fee adjustments will affect various immigration pathways, encompassing economic schemes, family sponsorship, humanitarian categories, and business immigration streams.

In accordance with the updated fee schedule, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee will see an increase of $25, going from $575 to $600. Additionally, the fees for the Provincial Nominee Program will rise by $40, from $950 to $990, while business immigration fees will jump from $1,810 to $1,895.

Applications for family class sponsorship will also rise by $25, shifting from $545 to $570. Fees applicable to protected persons, as well as those applying for humanitarian reasons or public policy measures, will increase from $635 to $660. Fees for permit holder applications will experience a slight increase from $375 to $390.

The agency stated that these fee changes are standard practice, emphasizing that, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, fees are reviewed biennially to cover program operation costs and to accommodate rising demand.

Applications submitted prior to April 30, 2026, will be processed under the existing fee structure, whereas any received on or after that date will be subjected to the new charges.

Notwithstanding this fee hike, Canada continues to be an attractive destination for a considerable number of Nigerian migrants, with initiatives such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program still appealing to applicants in search of enhanced economic prospects and opportunities for long-term residency.