The cost to apply for Canadian immigration may be a factor in deciding which economic pathway to take. Federal vs provincial skilled worker program
In Canada, you always end up applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence, as constitutionally the federal government has the final say on immigration. However, you can also apply for a province to vouch for your permanent residency application. If you successfully apply to a provincial pathway, you will get a nomination certificate, or a Quebec Selection Certificate from Quebec, to support your permanent residence application to IRCC.
While this option opens you up to an abundance of immigration options, it can be more costly and take more time. On the other hand, provincial programs may open the doors to even more immigration candidates. They are fine-tuned to open pathways to permanent residence for workers whose skills match with regional labor market needs.
In this article, we will compare the costs of different economic-class immigration programs. At the same time, weigh the pros and cons of immigration through Express Entry vs provincial immigration costs for skilled workers to apply to IRCC-run programs
When you apply for immigration to IRCC, you usually have to pay an application fee for yourself, and any dependents coming with you to Canada such as your spouse or common-law partner, and your children. You also have to pay a right of permanent residence fee for yourself and your partner. Dependent children are exempt from these fees to apply. Express entry managed programs Provincial nominee program Quebec skilled worker Atlantic immigration program Other economic pilot(Rural and northern immigration pilot and Agri-food immigration pilot)
Biometrics Fees for Canadian immigration are going up this year for applications of most economic, family, and humanitarian classes. In 2020, IRCC increased permanent residence fees to account for inflation for the first time since 2002. At that time, IRCC announced it would increase fees every two years to adjust for inflation, meaning this year fees are now due to go up. The next increase is expected to happen in 2024.
Starting April 30, the fees for the following immigration programs will go up about $40 more than the current cost of $1,325. Principal applicants and accompanying spouses will each have to pay $1,365 (all amounts are in CAD) and biometrics fees to apply Biometrics fees run about $85 per person, or $175 for a family of two or more. To give an example of some possible full costs, one principal applicant applying for an Express Entry-managed program could pay $1,450 including biometrics fees. A family of two could pay $2,905 for the same program. If they had one child, fees could run to about $3,135. Each dependent child will cost $230.
The application fees are different depending on the immigration program, but the right of permanent residence fee is always the same. Here is the list of fees for federal immigration programs in 2022
You must be logged in to post a comment.