Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced adjustments to application fees across various temporary resident categories. The updated fees, which reflect increases ranging from 2.80% to 4.69%, apply to applicants seeking to restore temporary resident status, return to Canada after inadmissibility, or obtain temporary resident permits (TRPs).
Revised Fees for Temporary Residency
The fee adjustments impact a wide range of temporary resident applications, including those for visitors, students, and workers. According to Immigration News Canada (INC), eight specific application categories are affected, with the new rates compared to the old ones outlined below:
- Restoration of Visitor Status: $239.75 (previously $229.00), a 4.69% increase
- Restoration of Student Status: $389.75 (previously $379.00), a 2.84% increase
- Restoration of Worker Status: $394.75 (previously $384.00), a 2.80% increase
- Authorization to Return to Canada: $479.75 (previously $459.55), a 4.40% increase
- Criminal Rehabilitation (Grounds of Criminality): $239.75 (previously $229.77), a 4.34% increase
- Criminal Rehabilitation (Serious Criminality): $1,199.00 (previously $1,148.87), a 4.36% increase
- Temporary Resident Permit (TRP): $239.75 (previously $229.77), a 4.34% increase
- International Experience Canada (IEC): $179.75 (previously $172.00), a 4.51% increase
Categories Impacted by the Increase
The updated fees primarily affect individuals restoring visitor, student, or worker status.
- Applicants needing authorization to return to Canada after being deemed inadmissible now face a 4.40% fee hike. This applies to those previously subject to removal orders or other violations.
- Applications for criminal rehabilitation, which enable individuals with criminal records to enter Canada legally, have increased by over 4%. Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs), which allow entry for those otherwise inadmissible, also reflect similar adjustments.
- Participants in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, designed for young professionals and working holiday travelers, now pay 4.51% more.
Key Payment Guidelines
IRCC emphasizes the importance of submitting the correct fees with applications.
- For online submissions, the updated fees must be included at the time of application.
- Applications sent by mail before December 1, 2024, with outdated fees will not be rejected. However, applicants must pay the difference between the old and new rates.
- The additional payment can be made using IRCC’s online payment tool under the “Make an additional payment or pay other fees” option. A receipt must accompany the application as proof.
Why the Fee Hike?
The IRCC periodically adjusts application fees to account for inflation and rising administrative costs. These revisions aim to maintain service quality and reduce processing delays.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review application requirements and ensure accurate fee payments to avoid complications. For further information, the IRCC website and licensed immigration professionals are valuable resources.
