Starting December 1, Canada will introduce higher application and processing fees for certain temporary resident categories, impacting visitors, workers, and students. The increased fees will apply to services such as:
- Restoring temporary resident status for individuals in Canada as visitors, workers, or students,
- Requests for authorisation to re-enter Canada,
- Applications for criminal rehabilitation, including those addressing serious criminal offenses,
- Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) requests.
The new fee structure has not yet been revealed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Current Fees for Applications
| Application Type | Current Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Restoration of Visitor Status | $229.00 |
| Restoration of Student Status | $379.00 |
| Restoration of Worker Status | $384.00 |
| Authorisation to Return to Canada | $459.55 |
| Criminal Inadmissibility Applications | $229.77 |
| Serious Criminal Inadmissibility Cases | $1,148.87 |
| Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) | $229.77 |
What Happens If You Paid the Old Fee
In most cases, applicants who pay the old application fee and submit a complete application to IRCC won’t need to worry about fee increases later.
For online applications, submissions are processed almost immediately, ensuring they meet the requirements.
For mailed applications, there may be a delay between when the documents are sent and when IRCC receives them.
During this time, fees might change. However, applications are generally not rejected if the applicant:
- Paid the full old fee,
- Submitted a complete application, and
- Sent the application before the fee increase took effect.
If additional payment is needed due to a fee change, IRCC will provide instructions on paying the difference.
Paying the Fee Difference for an IRCC Application After a Fee Change
If an application was submitted with the old fee before a fee increase, IRCC may request payment of the difference.
Applicants will receive instructions on calculating the fee difference, making the payment, and submitting the receipt.
Steps to Pay the Fee Difference
1. Calculate the Fee Difference
Determine the amount owed by subtracting the old fee from the new one. If the application includes family members, ensure the difference is calculated for each applicable fee.
2. Make the Payment
- Go to IRCC’s online payment tool and select the Make an additional payment or pay other fees option.
- Under “Quantity,” enter the total fee difference (new fee minus old fee).
- Payments can be made in one transaction or multiple, but each payment will generate a separate receipt.
- Create an IRCC account or log in to complete the transaction.
3. Submit the Receipt
Follow the instructions provided by IRCC in their fee adjustment request to upload or send the receipt as proof of payment.
