For a single adult applying through Express Entry, the cost to immigrate to Canada in 2026 lands between CAD$2,300 and CAD$3,000 in fees, plus CAD$15,263 in settlement funds you must show in your bank account. Couples and families pay more in fees and need larger settlement balances. The exact total depends on the program you choose, your family size, and whether a province nominates you.
This guide breaks down every line item: the IRCC application fees, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, the language test, the educational credential assessment, biometrics, the medical exam, and the settlement funds you have to prove. We use the official 2026 IRCC fee schedule throughout, including the April 30, 2026 federal fee increase, so the numbers you see here match what you will actually pay.
How Much Does It Cost to Immigrate to Canada? The Short Answer
How much does it cost to immigrate to Canada depends on the pathway. Express Entry runs about CAD$2,300 for a single applicant in fees and CAD$4,400-$5,500 for a couple, before settlement funds. A family of four sits closer to CAD$5,700-$7,200 in fees. Provincial Nominee Program streams add CAD$500-$2,000 on top, depending on the province.
2026 Federal Fee Increase: What Changed on April 30
IRCC raised most permanent residence application fees on April 30, 2026. The principal applicant economic-class processing fee went from CAD$950 to CAD$990, the spouse fee matched at CAD$990, and the dependent child fee rose from CAD$260 to CAD$270. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) went from CAD$575 to CAD$600. Total per-adult fees jumped from CAD$1,525 to CAD$1,590.
Applications submitted before April 30, 2026 are billed at the old schedule. Applications submitted on or after April 30 are billed at the new schedule. If your Invitation to Apply (ITA) lands close to the cutoff, the date your e-application is submitted and paid is what counts, not the date IRCC opens it. (IRCC fee changes)
The citizenship adult fee also moved earlier in 2026, from CAD$630 to CAD$653 effective March 31, 2026. Citizenship is a separate cost most permanent residents face three to four years after landing, but it is worth budgeting for now.
Check Out How Much You Need to Immigrate to Canada:
Permanent Residence Application Fees by Program
The federal application fee structure is the same backbone whether you go through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, family sponsorship, or business immigration. What changes is the program-specific add-on.
Express Entry (FSW, FST, CEC) Federal Fees
Express Entry processes the three federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The federal fees are identical across all three.
| Fee item | Cost (CAD, on or after Apr 30, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Principal applicant processing fee | $990 |
| Principal applicant Right of Permanent Residence Fee | $600 |
| Spouse / common-law partner processing fee | $990 |
| Spouse / common-law partner RPRF | $600 |
| Dependent child (each) | $270 |
A single applicant pays CAD$1,590 in federal fees. A couple without children pays CAD$3,180. A couple with two children pays CAD$3,720. The RPRF is invoiced after IRCC approves your application, but you must pay it before you become a permanent resident, so it is a real cost, not an optional one. (IRCC fee schedule)
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Fees by Province
The Provincial Nominee Program lets a Canadian province or territory nominate you, which adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply. The federal IRCC fees still apply on top of the provincial nomination fee.
Provincial fees vary widely:
- British Columbia (BC PNP) Skills Immigration: CAD$1,750 (effective January 22, 2026)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Employer Job Offer in the Greater Toronto Area: CAD$2,000
- OINP Employer Job Offer outside the GTA: CAD$1,500
- OINP Master’s Graduate / PhD streams: CAD$1,500
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) all worker streams: CAD$500 application + CAD$250 second review fee, both effective April 1, 2026
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP): CAD$500
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP): CAD$500
Some streams in some provinces still charge nothing, including OINP Foreign Worker streams without a job offer and most Atlantic Immigration Program streams. Always check the provincial site at the time you apply because fees change frequently and not all provinces follow the same fiscal year.
A PNP applicant in British Columbia therefore pays CAD$1,750 (BC PNP) + CAD$1,590 (federal principal applicant) = CAD$3,340 just in government fees, before any other costs. The same applicant going through Saskatchewan pays CAD$500 + CAD$1,590 = CAD$2,090. Province choice has a real dollar impact.
Family Sponsorship Fees
Family Class Sponsorship is the route for spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The fee structure is different from economic immigration:
- Sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner: CAD$1,205 total (sponsorship fee + processing fee + RPRF)
- Sponsor a dependent child: CAD$170 (no RPRF for dependent children sponsored as principal applicants)
- Sponsor a parent or grandparent: CAD$1,205 total
Family sponsorship is generally the lowest-fee pathway because there is no language test requirement for sponsored persons in most cases, no ECA requirement, and no settlement funds requirement. The bottleneck is the parent and grandparent program, which uses an annual interest-to-sponsor lottery instead of open intake.
Business Immigration and Start-Up Visa
Business immigration costs more upfront but does not require a job offer or a CRS score. The Start-Up Visa principal applicant fee is CAD$2,385 plus the CAD$600 RPRF, for a total of CAD$2,985. Spouses and dependents are billed at the standard economic rates. On top of the IRCC fees, the program requires a commitment from a designated venture capital firm, angel investor group, or business incubator, which typically involves due-diligence costs and equity terms set by the designated organization.
The Pre-Application Costs Most People Forget
The application fee is the headline number. The pre-application costs are where most budgets break. Plan to spend another CAD$700-$1,500 per adult on the items below before you ever click submit.
Language Tests: IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF
Express Entry and most PNP streams require a recent language test. IRCC accepts four tests:
- IELTS General Training (English): CAD$322-$352 in Canada, depending on test centre
- CELPIP-General (English): CAD$290 (CELPIP-General LS, accepted only for citizenship, costs CAD$195)
- PTE Core (English, IRCC-accepted since 2024): approximately CAD$250
- TEF Canada (French): CAD$390-$450
- TCF Canada (French): approximately CAD$390
Your language results have to be less than two years old at the moment IRCC receives your e-application, so most applicants budget for one test now and a re-take if their score plateaus below the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level their program requires. CEC needs CLB 7 in most categories; FSW needs CLB 7 as a minimum eligibility floor and rewards CLB 9+ heavily on the CRS. (IRCC language test page)
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
If you earned your post-secondary education outside Canada, FSW and most PNP streams require an Educational Credential Assessment to confirm your foreign credential is equivalent to a Canadian one. CEC applicants with foreign credentials use an ECA only when claiming CRS points for foreign education. IRCC designates five organizations to provide ECAs:
- World Education Services (WES): CAD$267 for a general ECA in Canada
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS): CAD$230, plus courier
- International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS): CAD$230 for a general assessment
- Comparative Education Service (CES) at the University of Toronto: CAD$210
- Medical Council of Canada and the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada: for licensed health professionals only; their fee structures differ by occupation
WES is by far the most common because it is the fastest for many countries and accepts digital documents from many institutions. Document procurement and certified translations can add CAD$100-$500 if your university issues paper transcripts only or if your records are in a language other than English or French. (WES Canada fees)
Biometrics
Biometrics is a one-time fingerprint and photo capture you complete at a Visa Application Centre, run for IRCC by VFS Global outside Canada and by Service Canada Biometric Collection Service Points inside Canada. The fee is:
- One person: CAD$85
- Family of two or more applying together: CAD$170 maximum
- Group of three or more performers: CAD$255 maximum
Biometrics are valid for ten years across most IRCC applications, so if you previously gave biometrics for a study or work permit and the ten-year validity has not expired, you do not pay again on a fresh PR application. Travel to the nearest Visa Application Centre is on you.
Medical Exam (Panel Physician)
Every permanent residence applicant needs an Immigration Medical Exam from a panel physician, a doctor or clinic IRCC has authorized to perform the exam. Panel physicians set their own fees because they are private clinics, not government employees. Real-world ranges:
- Adult, age 15+: CAD$200-$450
- Child, under 15: CAD$80-$250
The exam includes a physical, vision check, urinalysis, blood test for syphilis and HIV (age 15+), and a chest X-ray (age 11+). If a panel physician orders follow-up tests because something on the screen needs clarification, those are billed extra. Provincial health insurance does not cover the immigration medical because the appointment is not for medically necessary care, it is a federal status check. (Find a panel physician)
Police Certificates and Document Translations
IRCC requires police clearance certificates from every country you have lived in for six months or more since age 18. Costs depend on the issuing country. The U.S. FBI Identity History Summary is USD$18. The U.K. ACRO Police Certificate is GBP£62. Many countries charge between CAD$10 and CAD$60 plus courier or apostille fees.
Certified translations of any non-English, non-French documents are also IRCC-required. A certified translator in Canada typically charges CAD$30-$50 per page. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, military records, and police certificates are the most commonly translated documents.
Settlement Funds: How Much Money You Need in the Bank
Settlement funds are not a fee. They are liquid assets you have to prove you control before IRCC will issue a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) under FSW or FST. The 2026 minimums (set at 50% of Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off and updated annually by IRCC) are:
| Family size | Minimum settlement funds (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,263 |
| 2 | $19,001 |
| 3 | $23,360 |
| 4 | $28,378 |
| 5 | $32,191 |
| 6 | $36,308 |
| 7+ | $40,422 + $4,114 per additional member |
Family size includes you, your spouse or partner, and any dependent children, even if a family member is not coming to Canada or is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Two important exceptions:
- Canadian Experience Class applicants do not need to show settlement funds because they are already living and working in Canada with a job.
- FSW and FST applicants with a valid arranged employment offer in Canada, plus authorization to work, do not need to show settlement funds.
What IRCC accepts as proof: bank letters on official letterhead showing the account number, opening date, current balance, and six-month average balance. Bank statements, term deposits, mutual funds, and stock and bond holdings work too, valued in Canadian dollars at current exchange. What IRCC does not accept: cryptocurrency holdings, the equity in property you have not liquidated, vehicle equity, and money you do not legally control (a parent’s account where you are not a joint holder, for example). Keep a buffer of CAD$1,000-$2,000 on top of the minimum so currency fluctuations do not push you below the threshold while your file is in queue. (Express Entry proof of funds)
Temporary Residence Pathway Costs
Many newcomers come to Canada first as a student or temporary worker, then transition to permanent residence. The temporary residence fees are smaller, but they stack if you renew or change status before applying for PR.
Study Permit Costs
The IRCC study permit fee is CAD$150 per person. Add biometrics at CAD$85 if you have not given them in the last ten years. International students also need a Provincial Attestation Letter from the province where they will study (free, issued by the province), and proof of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution. Tuition itself is not a government fee but is the largest line item by far: a public undergraduate program for international students typically runs CAD$20,000-$45,000 per year in 2026, with some specialized graduate programs higher. International students also need to show CAD$22,895 per year (outside Quebec) in living costs as proof of funds, on top of first-year tuition.
Work Permit Costs
The IRCC work permit fee is CAD$155 per person, with a CAD$465 maximum for a group of three or more performers. Open work permits require an additional CAD$100 holder fee. If your employer is hiring you under a position that requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), the employer pays a CAD$1,000 LMIA fee in most cases (this is a regulatory cost on the employer, not on you). International Experience Canada (IEC) participants pay a CAD$172 program fee plus biometrics.
Visitor Visa and eTA
A standard visitor visa (TRV) costs CAD$100 per person, capped at CAD$500 for a family of five or more applying together. Citizens of visa-exempt countries flying into Canada apply instead for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) at CAD$7. The eTA is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires. U.S. citizens do not need either document for visit purposes.
Optional Costs: Lawyers, Consultants, and Travel
You can complete every IRCC application yourself online with no representative. Many applicants choose to. If you hire help, the two licensed options are an immigration lawyer (member of a provincial law society) or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants). Typical 2026 ranges:
- Express Entry profile and PR application: CAD$2,000-$5,000 flat fee
- PNP application: CAD$3,000-$6,000 depending on province and stream
- Family sponsorship: CAD$1,500-$3,500
- Business immigration / Start-Up Visa: CAD$10,000-$25,000
Travel to and from biometric centres, language test sites, and panel physician clinics also adds up if you live outside a major city. International applicants flying to Canada to land as PRs should budget at least CAD$1,000-$3,000 per person for one-way flights and initial accommodation, depending on origin country and season.
Total Cost to Immigrate to Canada by Scenario
Putting the pieces together for the most common 2026 scenarios, applying on or after April 30 at the new federal rates:
| Scenario | Federal fees | Pre-app costs | PNP fee (if any) | Total fees (excl. settlement funds) | Settlement funds required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single adult, Express Entry (CEC) | $1,590 | $700-$1,200 | $0 | $2,290-$2,790 | $0 (CEC) |
| Single adult, FSW, no job offer | $1,590 | $700-$1,200 | $0 | $2,290-$2,790 | $15,263 |
| Single adult, BC PNP | $1,590 | $700-$1,200 | $1,750 | $4,040-$4,540 | $15,263 |
| Couple, no kids, FSW | $3,180 | $1,400-$2,400 | $0 | $4,580-$5,580 | $19,001 |
| Family of four, FSW | $3,720 | $1,800-$3,200 | $0 | $5,520-$6,920 | $28,378 |
| Family of four, OINP (GTA) | $3,720 | $1,800-$3,200 | $2,000 | $7,520-$8,920 | $28,378 |
| Spousal sponsorship (in Canada) | $1,205 | $200-$500 (medical, biometrics) | $0 | $1,405-$1,705 | $0 |
Add immigration counsel at CAD$2,000-$5,000 if you choose representation. Add CAD$50-$100 for PR card issuance after landing.
How to Lower Your Total Immigration Cost
A few legitimate ways to keep the total down without skipping a required step:
- Take CELPIP instead of IELTS if your English is already strong. CELPIP runs CAD$30-$60 cheaper and the test format is closer to North American workplace English for most applicants.
- Choose the right ECA provider for your country. WES is fastest for many institutions but ICAS or CES is sometimes cheaper for the same outcome. Check your university’s preferred partner.
- Apply through a province with low PNP fees if you qualify. Saskatchewan and Manitoba at CAD$500 are dramatically cheaper than BC at CAD$1,750 or OINP-GTA at CAD$2,000, and the provincial nomination still gives the 600-point CRS boost.
- Skip the consultant if your case is straightforward. Single-applicant CEC files with a clean work history are designed for self-service. The IRCC online portal is usable without paid help.
- Time your application around the fee cutoff. If you can submit before a known fee increase, do. The April 30, 2026 increase is not the last one IRCC has scheduled.
- Use family-rate biometrics. A couple gives biometrics together for CAD$170 instead of CAD$85 each at separate visits.
What you should not skip: the medical exam (mandatory), the language test (mandatory for almost every economic stream), and the proof of funds (your application is refused without it, full stop).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do you need to immigrate to Canada?
A single adult applying through Express Entry needs about CAD$2,300-$3,000 in fees plus CAD$15,263 in settlement funds, for roughly CAD$17,500-$18,300 total. A family of four needs about CAD$5,700-$7,200 in fees plus CAD$28,378 in settlement funds, for roughly CAD$34,000-$35,500 total. Family sponsorship and Canadian Experience Class are cheaper.
What is the cheapest way to immigrate to Canada?
Family Class Sponsorship is the cheapest pathway. A spousal or partner sponsorship costs CAD$1,205 in IRCC fees with no language test, no ECA, and no settlement funds requirement. Among economic streams, the Canadian Experience Class is cheapest because CEC applicants do not need to prove settlement funds and have already paid for a study or work permit on their original entry.
How much does Canada PR cost for a family of four?
A family of four going through Express Entry pays about CAD$3,720 in IRCC fees on the post-April 30, 2026 schedule, plus another CAD$1,800-$3,200 in pre-application costs (two language tests, two ECAs, four medical exams, family-rate biometrics, document translations). Total fees land between CAD$5,520 and CAD$6,920 before settlement funds of CAD$28,378.
How much does it cost to apply for Express Entry?
Creating an Express Entry profile is free. The cost begins after you receive an Invitation to Apply: CAD$1,590 per principal applicant on the post-April 30, 2026 schedule (CAD$990 processing + CAD$600 RPRF). Add language test, ECA, biometrics, and medical exam to reach a total of about CAD$2,300-$3,000 for a single applicant.
Do you need to pay the RPRF before becoming a permanent resident?
Yes. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee of CAD$600 per adult is invoiced after IRCC approves your application but must be paid before you receive Confirmation of Permanent Residence and land. You can pay it at the time you submit your application to avoid the second-stage payment step. The RPRF is refundable if you decide not to land.
Can I immigrate to Canada with no money?
Realistically no, not as a permanent resident. Every economic stream except Canadian Experience Class requires settlement funds in your name. Family sponsorship waives settlement funds, but the sponsor must meet a Minimum Necessary Income threshold for parent and grandparent sponsorship. Refugee resettlement is the only PR pathway that does not require either applicant or sponsor funds.
How long does it take to immigrate to Canada?
Express Entry CEC is the fastest, with an IRCC service standard of six months from a complete application to a permanent residence decision. Federal Skilled Worker is also six months in principle but trends longer in 2026. PNP base streams (paper, non-Express-Entry) commonly take 18-24 months. Spousal sponsorship from inside Canada is around 10-12 months. Parent and grandparent sponsorship is 24-36 months.