Introduction

Immigrating to Canada is a major life transition, and it requires a significant financial investment. Beyond proving you have settlement savings, you must pay various government processing fees and third-party expenses.

Knowing these costs in advance helps you plan your migration budget without financial strain.

In this guide, we break down all the primary expenses involved in obtaining Canadian Permanent Residency (PR). You can calculate your total government processing fees with our Canada PR Fee Calculator.

1. IRCC Government Processing Fees

IRCC charges fees to process your application and issue your permanent residency. These fees are updated every two years:

• Processing Fee: Paid when you submit your application.
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): A mandatory fee for all principal applicants and spouses. It can be paid upfront or when requested.
• Dependent Children: A flat processing fee applies per child.
• Calculate your exact government fees with the Canada PR Fee Calculator.

2. Third-Party Costs (Mandatory)

Before you can submit an application, you must spend money on these required evaluations:

• Language Tests (IELTS / CELPIP / TEF): Around $300 to$400 per exam.
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): Required for foreign degrees, costing around $200 to$300 plus international courier fees.
• Immigration Medical Exam (IME): Done by panel physicians, costing between $200 and$400 depending on the country.
• Police Certificates: Small local processing fees to obtain certificates from every country you lived in for 6+ months.
• Biometrics: A flat fee per individual or family for fingerprinting.

Summary of Total Estimated Costs (for Single Applicant)

Conclusion

By paying your processing fees and RPRF upfront, you can prevent delays in your application processing.

To see the exact government fee total for single applicants, couples, or families with children, use the Canada PR Fee Calculator.