Canada Immigration Fees to Rise for Applicants

The Government of Canada has officially raised several immigration-related fees, with the new pricing structure coming into effect on December 1, 2025.

This fee adjustment affects the following areas:

• Inadmissibility-related services
• International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit processing fees

Applicants who completed their online submissions and paid the required fees before December 1 will not be impacted. However, applicants who submitted paper applications prior to this date may still be asked to pay the fee difference once their application is processed, due to the longer time it takes for mailed documents to be received.

Updated Inadmissibility Fees

The increased fees apply to a range of inadmissibility-related applications, including requests for authorization to return to Canada, restoration of status, and criminal rehabilitation. Below is a comparison of the old and new fees:

What these fees cover:

• Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC): Required for individuals who were previously removed from Canada but now need to re-enter for valid reasons.
  
• Temporary Resident Permit (TRP): Allows those who are initially inadmissible to enter Canada temporarily when their purpose of travel is justified.
  
• Criminal Rehabilitation: Offers individuals with past offences the opportunity to permanently overcome inadmissibility after completing their sentence and the mandatory waiting period.
  
• Restoration of Status: Available to temporary residents who lost their legal status in Canada but wish to restore it within 90 days.

International Experience Canada (IEC) Fee Changes

The IEC program offers foreign youth from partner countries the opportunity to work in Canada for up to two years under three categories:

• Working Holiday
• Young Professionals
• International Co-op (Internship)

The work permit processing fee under IEC has increased as follows:

Applicants must first submit a profile to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), enter the appropriate IEC pool(s), and wait to receive an invitation before applying for a work permit.

As noted by IRCC, the pools for the 2025 IEC season are now closed. Eligible individuals can only participate once the 2026 pools reopen.

Paid the Old Fee? Here’s What Happens Next

If you mailed a complete application before the fee increase, IRCC may contact you to request payment of the difference. You will receive instructions on how to make this additional payment and provide proof of fee submission.

Applicants must:

1. Calculate the difference between the old and new fees.
2. Pay using IRCC’s online payment tool under “Make an additional payment or pay other fees.”
3. Enter the appropriate fee amount under “Quantity.”
4. Submit the receipt to IRCC as directed.

Payments may be made in a single transaction or across multiple payments; however, only one receipt is generated per payment.

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