(Updated April 2020)
Welcome to the “How to immigrate to Canada” series, ten articles covering the basics—immigration categories, rights and duties as a permanent resident, first steps as a newcomer and more.
Browse these articles for more info on immigrating to Canada.
Did you find the right immigration category and check your eligibility? Are you getting ready to fill out your permanent residence application? Good job!
But wait—can you afford it?
You probably already know or suspect you will have to pay an application processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. But did you budget for other associated expenses?
In this article, I will give you an overview of how much you should budget when applying for permanent residence in Canada. All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
The application processing fee
The fee depends on your immigration category.
- For business immigration (Quebec business immigration, Self-employed people, and Start-up visa), the processing fee is $1050.
- For economic immigration, including Express Entry (Atlantic immigration pilot, Canadian experience class, Live-in Caregiver Program, Home Child Care Provider Pilot [without the work permit fee], Home Support Worker Pilot [without the work permit fee], Federal skilled workers, Federal skilled trades, Provincial nominee, Rural and northern immigration pilot and Quebec-selected skilled workers), the processing fee is $550.
- For humanitarian and compassionate, the fee is $550.
- For spouse, partner or children sponsorship, the fee is $550.
For more details, check out the Fee list.
The Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) fee
Applicants who plan to settle in Quebec must apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). The fee is $812 for the principal applicant, $174 for a spouse, and $174 for each child.
The right of permanent residence fee
All landed immigrants in Canada must pay the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF), which is $490 per person.
Note that the RPRF can be refunded if your application is denied or if you withdraw it. This is the only refundable fee.
Other application-related fees
- If your supporting documents (i.e. diplomas, certifications, etc.) are not in French or English, you must hire an authorized translator and provide a translation.
- You must include several photographs and the rules are quite specific (yes, Canadians are weird with passport pictures!). Depending on where you live, it adds up. In Canada, it cost about $14 for two pics—not cheap if you immigrate as a family!
- You may need to have your foreign degrees recognized in Canada. This is called a credential evaluation only designated organizations such as World Education Services can perform the assessment. The recommended ECA evaluation is $220.
- If English or French isn’t the official language in your country of citizenship, you will have to have your language abilities tested. This is one of the six selection factors for skilled workers. The language proficiency test must be administered by an approved organization, for example, IELTS (around $320) and CELPIP ($265) for English, or the TEF for French ($440).
- A medical exam is mandatory for each applicant and their dependents (spouse, children) and it must be performed by a panel physician. Two fees must be paid—the exam fee and the X-ray fee. Fees vary greatly so ask around. In 2005, I paid $100 for the medical exam and $100 for the X-ray in an Ottawa clinic.
Miscellaneous fees to budget for
- Travelling expenses from your city to your local Canadian visa office, typically located in world capitals. You may have to show up in person if an interview is required. Similarly, you may have to travel to the nearest panel physician for your medical exam.
- Passport fees, since you will need a valid passport issued by your country of citizenship to travel to Canada.
Unnecessary expenses
Don’t splurge for an immigration consultant! As I explained in Two Immigration Myths, most applicants don’t need to hire an immigration lawyer or an immigration consultant—it’s money wasted.
Immigration representatives typically charge from $1000 to $5000 (but the sky is the limit!). Save money, learn to Google.
Don’t forget you need savings on top of all these fees and expenses
If you apply in the skilled worker category, you will have to prove that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family for the first few months following your arrival in Canada. For one person, it’s $12,960, and up to $27,315 for a family of five.
Good luck!
My name is ali raza i am bassically from pakistan now i live in saudi Arabia i wanna go to canada so plz give me the great information how I come to Canada plz anyone tell me
There is a lot of information available online, it’s up to you to do research.
HI Ms.ZHU,
I am a Filipino and my husband is a Canadian.working on our application to come in Canada with my children,both me and my husband do not have any knowledge in immigration stuff, i would like to ask if what is the difference between sponsorship and the spouse visa.
thank you.and wish you well
It’s the same thing. Sponsorship is the immigration category under which spouses can apply.
Dear mam this is samson from Indian I want to settle in Canada kindly let me know the procedure please I am Bpharmacy graduate .
Thank you mam
With regards
Samson
You have to research it yourself, all the info is online.
very useful article thanks
Hi Zhu,
I am getting more confident that I can still live in Canada. I am a Filipino who’s job experience has been a customer service representative in call centers.
I don’t think my job experience qualifies to any of these programs (I hope I was wrong):
Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class.
I hope you can give me an advise, as I can’t afford to get an immigration consultant.
Thank you.
I’m not qualified to advise you, unfortunately. Most immigrants take the free online test, that’s the best way to see if you can qualify.
Thank you for the prompt response. I really appreciate it.
Where can i take the test online?
Just look for it on http://www.cic.gc.ca 🙂
hi mam i am pakistani i am a teacher want to imegrate to canada with my kids can you help me
All the info you need is online, I don’t provide immigration services.
If you own a business do you still go by the point system?
Dear Sir,
According to your above statement, it should roughly cost a family of four around $30,000 only to immigrate to Canada.
I heard through a colleague that if you invest in:
1- $150,000 government donation. (none refundable)
2- $ 500,000 paid to the government (refunded after five years)
Then you can apply for immigration.
The process takes about 18 months from the date of submission to get approved & then your issued your PR which allows you to finally enter Canada. Consequently, you have to spend 6 months a year, for five years straight before your can apply for citizenship.
Which one is it please? I am very confused and have a good friend wanting to move to Canada.
Kindly advise.
Thanks & regards,
Bisher
All the info you need are online, on Government of Canada websites. I can’t advise you.
Hello Sir/Ma’am,
I am a teacher with 4.5 yrs of experience in teaching CS, Maths(PRT) and Robotics.My qualification is MSc. (CS), MCA and M.Tech.My husband is a govt. employee(India) who is working in banking sector since last 5yrs as an assistant manager. My husband’s qualification is M.Com,BEd. We wanna get settle in Canada permanently.Can you please assist us?
* What is the procedure?
*Are job opportunities available in Canada?
*Leaving govt. job here(India) and getting settle in Canada,Will it be a wise decision?
*Approximately how much will it cost?
I can’t assist you as I’m absolutely not qualified to do so. However, you’ll find relevant information on this blog (check out the “immigration” section”) as well as on government websites. Good luck!
Hi, i am John from Nigeria. I, my wife and two kids planning to relocate to Canada. My wife has a degree in microbiology and has been working as a social worker in Nigeria. I have a HND in Agricultural extension and have been working as an extension service provider in Nigeria. Please where do we need to start from? What category do we fall under?
You need to research your options on http://www.cic.gc.ca.
Hi mam I m house
Wife I wana settle with my family in Canada I have three sons under 12, age and husband father mother and husband brother also husband sister I have so please guide me , are ahmadi Muslims and we are not happy in Pakistan be
Cause
In Pakistan they called us kafir so please do some thing….
You have to research your options online. Unfortunately, I can’t help you. All the information you need is on http://www.cic.gc.ca.
We are no safe in Pakistan please give us right advise to give family viza for canada
You have to research your options online. Unfortunately, I can’t help you. All the information you need is on http://www.cic.gc.ca.
Am a Nigeria but I currently base in Italy,
Please I would Love to know how much do I need in my account for a successful migrating???
Check the website http://www.cic.gc.ca. There is no single answer to your question.
ZHU, My husband and I are 66,and 67. Don’t think I qualify for citizenship. How long can you stay on a visa ? Not working, not in school. Have a nice retirement and excellent insurance. Terrified of Trump.
You can’t apply for citizenship, you have to apply for permanent residence. You’d get more info from http://www.cic.gc.ca. Can’t blame you for running away from Trump, but immigrating later in life is complicated.
Why is immigrating in later life more complicated?
Do you mean getting selected or adapting to a new life?
Barring the proof of suppirt funds, will it be safe to say that cost of total process may be around 2000 to 2500 CAD?
For one person? Yeah, sounds about right.
It’s truly depends on your personal situation. Under what category are u applying, your personal situation. Example- you may be eligible but might have issues with admissibility. As well as other costs such as medical exam, language exam , etc. Each client or case is different. If yours is an easy and basic application then yes but if it’s a bit complicated then maybe it can be a bit higher.
Very true!
Hi,
I am from india and currently working for an MNC and now myself and my wife planning to settle in Canada from my company transfer . Let me know what would be the cost for applying PR visa and is that i need to maintain a fund evn if my company gives transfer.
/Gopinath
All the info you need is available online. I’m not an immigration consultant.
Hi,
I am from india and currently working for an MNC and now myself and my wife planning to settle in Canada from my company transfer . Let me know what would be the cost for applying PR visa and is that i need to maintain a fund evn if my company gives transfer.
/Gopinath
All the information you need is available from the Government of Canada, it will be more accurate that my own info!
Respected Admin,
I am BSc mechanical engineer of 2016.I lived in Pakistan. I have no work experience. I want to go Canada on immigration for earning, or on study visa for further education. Kindly guide me, who can I apply, what will be t he expenses, and what will be the requirements ?
Regards,
Furqan Haider
All the info you need is available online. I’m not an immigration consultant.
ZHU – all you say I can’t help you here, I can’t assist you with that – what kind of revolution you want to start with this kind of attitude my friend? Why you write such amazing article in the first place? I am very disappointed I must tell you.
Huh… who do you think you are?
As I stated many times, I offer a perspective but 1) I immigrated to Canada 12 years ago and things changed since 2) I always say I don’t give immigration advice when all the info is available online. Why would you ask a random person online for such info? Do you want me to give you unreliable info? I don’t get it.
This is a blog, not a job. Some info is here if you care enough to work for it. I received between 10 and 20 emails per day asking me for advice. I used to reply to a few, but guess what, it was never good enough. I’m friendly, I love to answer specific questions when I know this answer but that’s it.
And I return you the comment: what kind of immigration project are you hoping to achieve with this attitude?
Why waste your breathe on thick skulls with shity attitudes, how much is he even paying you to use that tone. Just ignore the prick
… I usually don’t reply, occasionally I do and then give up pretty fast!
Hi dear
Pls help me with some information. First ĺet me give u some information about me.
My wife is the main applicant. We got pr of canada. Now she landed in toronto last week. M going to toronto on 28th feb. I have all supportive documents like copr etc.
My question is how much canadian dollar i must carry with me during landing? My wife already showed 10k in airport.
Hi there;
I have 6 bands in IELTS, have received my WES which is equivalent to Canadian Bachelor Degree….
What else I need to do to get work permit or PR ?
You need to apply for it!
Hi,I am from Bangladesh.I completed my post graduation degree. now i want to go canada but I don’t know how can I go there as a job holder?which province is suitable for me.please reply me if you can.
Hi my name is Chantelle im from South Africa . My husband(age 44) is a electrician, im a stay at home mum and we have 4 children(2,6,10,13) We did a assesment and know that we can immigrate to Canada but……can we apply for our visa’s and permanent residence ourself or do we need to get someone to do it for us? What is the total cost +- to immigrate please?
Thank you
Hello! Am from Nigeria and am applying via federal skill worker visa! I.E the rank on point system… Does this method also deals with invitation of spouse
Secondly, Can I travel in and out to my country within a year of my arrival without going through another long process?
You’ll find all the answer you need on the Government of Canada website. If you have a spouse and children, they can be included in the application. Once you land as a permanent residence, you can travel in and out of Canada easily, as long as you keep in mind residency requirements.
My husband is bussiness man. Can our family go to canda to settle. How much money to settle permanent.
I can’t help you, you’d better check the website of the Government of Canada.
I have 7 years of work experience as “School Teacher” in Kuwait. I want to apply for family immigration (5 pax including 3 kids).could you please advise me the best catagory to apply in ?
You have to figure it out by yourself, I’m absolutely not qualified to give advice on the matter. All the info you need is online, http://www.cic.gc.ca.
Is it Canadian dollars you refer to in the fees required
Just a vote of thanks, great article ZHU. I hope to move to Canada next year and I have worked out the figure I need, $15,000. Hope to meet you in person too and extend my sincere appreciation.
What you will need depends on so many things (size of your family, destination city, expectations, etc.) that I can’t comment on that. However, it sounds like a good nest egg! I wish you the best for the your project 🙂
Hi my son who is 23yrs old light car mechanic , he is thinking of immigrating from Australia ( he is Irish nationality) how easy or hard will it be for him to get a job and place to live?
Also how much money would he need to bring over with him? would he better applying for jobs from here before going over?
Thanks
Everything is relative, he should do research based on whether he is eligible as a skilled worker and where he wants to live.
I am trying to relocate to Canada to be with my boyfriend and work. I currently live and work in the United States as a Certified Nursing Assistant and a Medication Assistant. I looked at a bunch of website to figure out how to get permanant residency but I am not quite understanding it. Is there a number or someone I can call that could help me understand it more?
Unfortunately, not really. You can hire an immigration lawyer to walk through the process but most immigrants plan according to the official information available online. You bets source is http://www.cic.gc.ca (the Government of Canada).
Here is mebrah ,I tried to apply for immigrant visa as skilled worker in Canada ,I want some help .if you can guide me.
You’re welcome to take the time to read the articles here, which should be a good starting point.
Hi Zhu
One of the best guides to Canadian Immigration on the internet right now.
Im truly humbled by your patience to people I see here trying to take advantage of your kindness.
I really jist wanted to thank you for the info and wosh you best of luck.
Viktor
Well, thank you for your kind feedback and good luck with your project! 🙂
I have been sent application for work permit and permanent residence for me and my family, and they have been approved . But it was sent to me by : feesubmission@cicmigration.ca
And by : info@cicmigration.ca
But they want from me to transfer 5500$ . They told me that these fees are for the entire application processing of all documents and processing of all my files and other immigration documents.
How can be sure that this is not fake website and is a scam.how can i be sure that they are trusted people.
Thank you
Best regards
This is a scam, don’t send money.
We are retired Americans, with Railraod retirement, what are the chances of being able to immigrate to Canada.
You can look at your options on Citizenship and Immigration, the official website. I’m really not qualified to advise you.
Hi I was recently searching on the internet about immigration to Canada, one of the companies called me by the name of Canadian Visa professional. They asked me to transfer 1000 dollars immediately. I was told if I dont transfer immediately my chances of immigrating will be very less . I’m a student and going to finish my masters in coming January. Anyway I searched more and saw you mentioned $500 . I’m confused now that is 500 the average fee charged or is it 1000 dollars
Because the company is a scam and you should absolutely NOT transfer money to them. The only fees to paid are to be paid to the government of Canada.