IRCC to increase application processing fees from April 30, 2020

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRC) is increasing the application fees for Canada’s permanent resident visa applications with effect from April 30, 2020 at 9 a.m. EDT. This new regulation applies to the complete applications received after this time and they will be returned as incomplete if the fees paid is not in accordance to the new fees structure.

This increase in application fees which include operational, processing and delivery costs is applicable to all permanent residence programs (Federal and Quebec Skilled Worker and Trade programs, the Provincial Nominee Programs, the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Self-Employed program and Family Class Sponsorship).

IRCC has not changed the permanent residence fees since 2002 however, fees are expected to increase after every two years based on the Consumer Price Index.

Type of PR Application

 

Current FeesFees w.e.f. 30 April 2020
Economic business class (self-employed, start-up visa, Quebec investor, Quebec entrepreneur, and Quebec self-employed

 

Processing Fee: $1050.00 CAD

Right of permanent residence fee: $490.00 CAD

Processing Fee: $1575.00 CAD

Right of permanent residence fee: $500.00 CAD

Economic non-business classProcessing Fee: $550.00 CAD

Right of permanent residence fee: $490.00 CAD

 

Processing Fee: $825.00 CAD

Right of permanent residence fee:  $500.00 CAD

Spouses or common-law partners of all economic classesProcessing Fee: $550.00 CAD

Right of permanent residence fee: $490.00 CAD

 

Processing Fee: $825.00 CAD

Right of permanent residence fee: $500.00 CAD

Dependent children of all economic classesProcessing Fee: $150.00

 

Processing Fee: $225.00 CAD

 

Applicants and their families under Caregiver program are exempt from this increase in fee structure.

Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) can now be gained while studying online courses

A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) allows international students to remain in Canada and work full time after they graduate from a designated Canadian post-secondary institution. It is an excellent way to advance professional goals and gain highly valued Canadian experience which might be required to be eligible for permanent residence in Canada.

However, to be eligible for PGWP, students are required to maintain full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of study program that is at least eight months long. But with the new regulations in place amid COVID-19 pandemic, international students studying online courses in their study program which is about to start in coming weeks will not be considered ineligible to apply for PGWP.

Although many courses were forced to move online to contain the spread of coronavirus but IRCC has given flexibility in the policies allowing international students to take these online courses to be eligible for PGWP and, seek Canadian experience since many economic class immigration programs reward extra points for Canadian experience.

International students in this predicament can begin their classes while outside Canada and may complete up to half of their study program while abroad if they cannot travel to Canada. International students who were approved for a study permit after March 18 are currently not exempt from Canada’s travel ban, which is set to be in place until June 30.