Canada, once a welcome sanctuary for immigrants, is scheduled to raise application fees by 12% for those seeking permanent residency (PR).
The Department of Citizenship and Immigration released a notice in the Canadian Gazette on March 30 explaining the fee increases, which will take effect at 9:00 a.m. EDT on April 30.
Fee adjustments based on current inflation rates affect a variety of PR application types. For example, the permanent residency charge, excluding dependant children, will increase from 515 to 575 Canadian dollars (CAD).
Canada’s immigration plan 2024-2026
Canada’s immigration plan for 2024-2026 plans to admit more than 1.1 lakh Federal Skilled Workers and Provincial Nominee Programme applications each year.
The application expenses for these groups, which include accompanying spouses or common-law partners, will rise from 850 to 950 CAD.
Similarly, candidates for the Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class, and Economic Pilots programmes would see a cost increase to 950 CAD. Furthermore, expenses for accompanying dependent children will be increased to 260 CAD from 230 CAD.
Family reunification, an important immigration category that allows permanent residents to sponsor family members, will also see cost increases.
Sponsorship prices for anyone aged 18 and up will increase from 75 to 85 CAD. Additional fees for various forms of family reunion, ranging from 175 to 635 CAD, will also increase.
Federal Immigration Minister
This cost reduction comes shortly after Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced plans to provide permanent residency to those seeking family reunification in Quebec, despite the province’s tight application cap, which he described as “artificially low.”
To read our blog on “2 more PIA crew members escaped in Toronto, Canada,” click here