Canada Increases Immigration Fees
Canada Announces New Immigration Fee Hike Effective December 1, 2025
Canada has introduced another round of fee revisions across several immigration categories, with new prices officially applying from December 1, 2025. The changes affect both inadmissibility-related applications and the International Experience Canada (IEC) work permit processing fee, impacting thousands of applicants preparing to file or restore their status.
The updated estimates show the inflow of newcomers has slowed more sharply than anticipated due to major policy changes initiated at both federal and provincial levels.
Overview of the Fee Adjustment
However, individuals who submitted paper-based applications before the deadline may still owe the difference, since IRCC calculates fees based on the date the application is physically received – not when it was mailed.
Updated Inadmissibility-Related Fees
Revised Fee Chart (Effective December 1, 2025)
| Application Type | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Authorization to Return to Canada | $479.75 | $492.50 |
| Temporary Resident Permit | $239.75 | $246.25 |
| Criminal Rehabilitation – Criminality | $239.75 | $246.25 |
| Criminal Rehabilitation – Serious Criminality | $1,199.00 | $1,231.00 |
| Restoration of Visitor Status | $239.75 | $246.25 |
| Restoration of Worker Status (without work permit) | $239.75 | $246.25 |
| Restoration of Worker Status (with new work permit) | $394.75 | $401.25 |
| Restoration of Student Status (without study permit) | $239.75 | $246.25 |
| Restoration of Student Status (with new study permit) | $389.75 | $396.25 |
While these figures represent a significant numerical reduction, officials indicate that the adjustment aims to bring goals in line with realistic processing capacity rather than actually slashing immigration. In fact, statistics for the first eight months of 2025 already indicate that actual admissions have lagged behind planned numbers, reaching just 42% for temporary foreign workers and 29% for students thus far.
What These Applications Mean
Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC):
Applicants previously ordered to leave Canada must obtain an ARC if they wish to enter again legally. This is usually filed alongside other applications such as work or study permit requests.
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP):
TRPs allow individuals who would otherwise be inadmissible to enter Canada for compelling reasons, provided the benefits of entry outweigh any potential risk.
Criminal Rehabilitation:
Those who completed their criminal sentence at least five years ago may apply to permanently resolve their inadmissibility. The fee varies based on whether the issue is classified as criminality or serious criminality.
Restoration of Status:
Foreign nationals who lose their temporary resident status in Canada—and fail to extend it in time—have up to 90 days to apply for restoration as a visitor, worker, or student.
Higher Fees for International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Working Holiday
- Young Professionals
- International Co-op (Internship)
Regardless of the stream, all IEC participants must pay the standard work permit processing fee, which has now increased.
IEC Work Permit Fee Change
| Old Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|
| $179.75 | $184.75 |
3. Closure or Suspension of Provincial Pathways
Reduced nomination room has pushed provinces to restructure their PNPs. Among the most notable changes:
- British Columbia: Terminated two major international graduate streams, postponed the implementation of replacement streams
- Saskatchewan: Close all streams oriented to entrepreneurs
- Ontario: Closed the Entrepreneur Stream and paused its Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
- New Brunswick: Discontinued one of its international student pathways
In some provinces, new Expression of Interest submissions have also been paused due to space limitations.
Key Questions for the Upcoming Plan
The commitment suggests yes, but actual numbers will reveal how strictly it is enforced.
With pressure to bring the share below 5% of the population, will student and worker permit caps tighten further?
Provinces may argue for greater allocations reflecting regional labor and demographic needs.
In particular, under Express Entry or provincial nomination, emphasizing skills, region, and language.
Housing, healthcare, and labor market absorption remain critical constraints. Reports flagged risks of population decline and housing gaps under previous levels.
1. Percentage Reduction of Temporary Resident Population
A Pivotal Year for Canada’s Immigration Landscape
What to Do If You Paid the Old Fee
How to Complete the Additional Payment
- Calculate the difference based on the updated fee table.
- Visit IRCC’s online payment platform and select “Make an additional payment or pay other fees.”
- Enter the fee difference under the Quantity section.
- Submit payment and download the receipt.
- Provide the receipt following the instructions received from IRCC.
