Canada increases application fees for temporary resident categories

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an increase in application fees for several temporary resident categories, affecting individuals seeking to restore their status or apply for various permits.

The fee hikes, which range from 2.80% to 4.69%, will apply to applicants in categories such as restoring temporary resident status, re-entering Canada after inadmissibility, and applying for Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs).

The updated fee structure impacts eight application categories, with varying increases for each. For instance, the fee for restoring Visitor Status has risen to $239.75 from $229.00.

Similarly, restoring Student Status now costs $389.75, up from $379.00, while restoring Worker Status has increased to $394.75 from $384.00. Other notable fee hikes include the cost for authorization to return to Canada, which has increased to $479.75 from $459.55, and criminal rehabilitation applications, which now range from $239.75 to $1,199.00, depending on the severity of the criminality.

Additionally, the fee for the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, which targets young professionals and working holiday participants, has risen to $179.75, up from $172.00.

The fee for Temporary Resident Permits (TRP) has also gone up by 4.34%, while criminal rehabilitation applications for serious criminality have seen an increase of over 4%.

IRCC has emphasized that applicants must ensure they pay the correct fees at the time of application submission. For applications submitted online, the new fees should be included.

If submitting by mail before December 1st, 2024, applicants can still use the old fees, but will be required to pay the difference. Applicants are encouraged to use IRCC’s online payment tool to make any necessary additional payments.

These fee adjustments are part of IRCC’s periodic updates to account for inflation and to maintain the quality of services offered to applicants.