How much does it cost to immigrate to Canada?
If you are planning a move, the real question is bigger than a single number. The cost to immigrate to Canada splits into two buckets: the government fees you pay IRCC, and the settlement funds you must prove you have. This 2026 guide separates them clearly, with current figures from a licensed RCIC.
IRCC sets and updates both the fees and the settlement funds amounts, most recently on 30 April 2026 and 7 July 2025 respectively, so check the live figures on canada.ca before you pay anything.
Key takeaways
The cost to immigrate to Canada has two parts. The first is government application fees: for Express Entry permanent residence in 2026, $1,590 per adult, made up of a $990 processing fee and a $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, plus $270 per dependent child and $85 biometrics per person to a family maximum of $170. The second, and usually much larger, part is the settlement funds you must prove you have, starting at $15,263 for one person in 2026 and rising with family size. These funds are not a fee you pay, but money you must show. You are exempt from proving funds with a valid job offer or under the Canadian Experience Class. Variable costs such as a language test, an ECA, a medical exam, police certificates, and translations should be budgeted separately, and study permits, work permits, and sponsorship have their own fee schedules.
- Express Entry PR fees are $1,590 per adult ($990 processing + $600 RPRF) and $270 per dependent child.
- Biometrics are $85 per person, capped at $170 per family.
- Settlement funds you must prove start at $15,263 for one person and rise with family size.
- Funds are not a fee, they are money you must show, and they usually dwarf the fees.
- You are exempt from proving funds with a valid job offer or under the Canadian Experience Class.
What does it cost to immigrate to Canada? Fees versus funds
The cost to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry is $1,590 per adult in government fees you actually pay IRCC, plus $15,263 in settlement funds a single applicant must prove they can access but never hands over. Those two buckets are different in kind, and mixing them up is the most common budgeting mistake we see:
- Bucket A, government fees you pay: the application fees IRCC charges to process your permanent residence, such as the processing fee and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee. This is money that leaves your account.
- Bucket B, settlement funds you must prove: money you have to show you can access to support yourself and your family after you land. You do not pay this to anyone. It just has to be available, and it is usually the much bigger number.
Confusing the two leads to real anxiety, because people see the settlement funds figure and assume it is a cost. It is not. Below we put exact 2026 numbers on Bucket A, then on Bucket B, and then on the variable costs that genuinely depend on your circumstances. Bucket A moved this year, because the fee rise of April 30, 2026 was one of the Canada immigration changes 2026 brought in.
Bucket A: the government fees you pay IRCC (2026)
For Express Entry permanent residence, the core government fees are set per person and are payable to IRCC. As of April 30, 2026, the principal applicant pays a $990 processing fee plus the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), which comes to $1,590 per adult. A spouse or partner included in the same application adds another $990 plus $600. Each dependent child is $270, with no RPRF for children. On top of those, biometrics cost $85 per person, to a maximum of $170 for a family applying together. For the complete fee schedule across every permanent residence program, see our guide to Canada PR application fees.
| Cost item | 2026 fee (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee (per adult) | $990 | Paid to IRCC for each adult applicant |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF, per adult) | $600 | Generally refundable if you do not become a PR |
| Adult total (processing + RPRF) | $1,590 | Principal applicant, and each spouse or partner |
| Dependent child (each) | $270 | No RPRF charged for children |
| Biometrics (per person) | $85 | Fingerprints and photo at a collection point |
| Biometrics (family maximum) | $170 | The cap for two or more people applying together |
| Language test (IELTS or CELPIP) | Varies | Budget for it, costs vary |
| Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) | Varies | Budget for it, costs vary |
| IRCC medical exam | Varies | Budget for it, costs vary |
| Police certificates | Varies | Per country, costs vary |
| Document translations | Varies | Per document, costs vary |
Refundable versus non-refundable
Bucket B: the settlement funds you must prove (the big number)
Here is the figure that surprises most people, and it is not a fee. For Express Entry, you generally must prove you have settlement funds to support yourself and your family after you arrive. As of the amounts effective July 7, 2025 and in force through 2026, a single applicant must show $15,263. The required amount rises with family size, and it dwarfs the application fees. This money stays yours, you simply have to demonstrate you can access it.
| Family size | Settlement funds required (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,263 CAD | Single applicant |
| 2 | $19,001 CAD | For example, a couple |
| 3 | $23,360 CAD | Add each accompanying family member |
| 4 | $28,362 CAD | Amount rises with each person |
| 5 | $32,168 CAD | Includes accompanying dependants |
| 6 | $36,280 CAD | Count everyone in the application |
| 7 | $40,392 CAD | Larger families show more |
| Each additional person | + $4,112 CAD | Added on top of the seven-person amount |
For the full detail on which accounts qualify, how recent your statements must be, and how IRCC verifies this, see our dedicated proof of funds for Express Entry guide. That deep-dive covers the rules; this page is the broad cost picture.
When you do not have to prove funds
Variable costs to budget for (these genuinely differ)
Beyond the fixed government fees, several real costs vary by provider, country, and your own circumstances. We will not invent prices for these, because they change and depend on where you are. The right approach is to budget for each one and confirm the current price from the provider:
- An approved language test such as IELTS or CELPIP for English, or a recognised French test. Costs vary, budget for it.
- An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to verify a foreign degree or diploma. Costs vary by designated organisation, budget for it.
- The IRCC medical exam, completed by a panel physician. Costs vary by clinic and country, budget for it.
- Police certificates from each country where you have lived. Costs vary per country, budget for them.
- Document translations for anything not in English or French. Costs vary per document, budget for them.
These items are usually modest next to your settlement funds, but they add up across a family, so include them from the start. Our cost to immigrate calculator helps you total the fixed fees and plan for the variable ones.
Costs differ by program: PR, study, work and sponsorship
Everything above describes Express Entry permanent residence. Other pathways are priced differently, so do not assume one program costs the same as another:
- Study permits have their own application fee schedule, and study permit applicants must usually show proof of funds for tuition and living costs.
- Work permits have a separate fee schedule, and some categories involve employer-side costs.
- Family sponsorship has its own fees for the sponsor and the sponsored person, which differ from the Express Entry amounts.
- A Provincial Nominee Program may add a provincial fee on top of the federal cost, depending on the province and stream.
Because each program is priced on its own schedule and the amounts are updated periodically, check the specific fee page for your route on canada.ca, or ask a licensed RCIC to map the total for your situation.
How to build your full Canada immigration budget
If you want a clear method rather than a scattered list, here is how to build a realistic budget for the cost to immigrate to Canada in 2026. Work through it in order so nothing is missed.
- 01
Count everyone in the application
List the principal applicant, any spouse or partner, and each dependent child, because both the fees and the settlement funds scale with family size.
- 02
Total the fixed government fees
Add $1,590 per adult ($990 processing plus $600 RPRF), about $270 per child, and biometrics of $85 per person up to $170 per family.
- 03
Confirm the settlement funds you must prove
Find your family-size amount, starting at $15,263 for one person in 2026, unless you are exempt with a valid job offer or under the Canadian Experience Class.
- 04
Budget for the variable costs
Set aside money for a language test, an ECA, the medical exam, police certificates, and translations, confirming each current price from the provider.
- 05
Check your program and confirm on canada.ca
If you are on a study permit, work permit, sponsorship, or a PNP route, use that program's fee schedule, and verify every current figure on canada.ca before you apply.
Do not treat settlement funds as a fee
How Wild Mountain Immigration helps you plan your immigration costs
Understanding the cost to immigrate to Canada is really about separating what you pay from what you must prove, and planning for both. Working under CICC #R706497, our team breaks down the government fees for your exact family size, confirms the settlement funds you must show (and whether you are exempt), and flags the variable costs so there are no surprises. We represent clients entirely online, and because IRCC fees and settlement funds amounts are updated periodically, we work from current canada.ca guidance. You can see what professional representation costs on our fees page. Start by estimating your total with our cost to immigrate calculator and scoring your profile with the CRS Calculator, then book a call and we will map the full cost of your route.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC (CICC #R706497). Government fees, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, biometrics, and settlement funds amounts are set and updated by IRCC, so always confirm the current details on canada.ca before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to immigrate to Canada in 2026?
Express Entry permanent residence costs $1,590 per adult in government fees, made up of a $990 processing fee and a $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, and separately requires a single applicant to prove $15,263 in settlement funds. The two are different in kind. The settlement funds are not a fee you pay IRCC, but money you must show you can access. Other costs such as a language test and a medical exam vary, so budget for them separately.
What is the difference between immigration fees and proof of funds?
Fees are money you actually pay to IRCC to process your application, such as the $990 processing fee and the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee per adult. Proof of funds, or settlement funds, is money you must show you have available to support yourself and your family after you arrive. You do not hand it over, and you are not charged it. It simply has to be in accounts you can access. For Express Entry, the settlement funds amounts are usually much larger than the fees.
How much money do you need to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry?
For Express Entry permanent residence in 2026 you need $1,590 per adult in government fees, plus the settlement funds you must prove: $15,263 for a single applicant, $19,001 for a family of two, rising with family size. You should also budget for variable costs such as a language test, an Educational Credential Assessment, a medical exam, police certificates, and translations. IRCC updates both figures periodically and publishes the current ones on canada.ca.
Do I always have to prove settlement funds?
No. You are exempt from proving settlement funds if you already have a valid job offer with authorization to work in Canada, or if you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class. If you qualify for one of those, you do not have to show the settlement funds amount for your family size. Everyone else applying through Express Entry must prove they have the required funds. Because the exemption rules can change, confirm your situation on canada.ca or with a licensed RCIC before you rely on it.
Is the Right of Permanent Residence Fee refundable?
The Right of Permanent Residence Fee, or RPRF, is $600 per adult and is paid as part of becoming a permanent resident. If you pay it but do not end up becoming a permanent resident, it is generally refunded, because it is the fee for the right of permanent residence itself rather than for processing. The $990 processing fee, by contrast, covers the work IRCC does on your application and is generally not refundable once processing has begun. Confirm the current rules on canada.ca.
How much are biometrics for Canadian immigration?
Biometrics cost $85 per person, up to a maximum of $170 per family applying together. So an individual pays $85, while a couple or a larger family applying at the same time pays no more than $170 in total for biometrics. Biometrics are your fingerprints and photo, collected at an official collection point. This fee is separate from your processing fee and your Right of Permanent Residence Fee, so include it when you budget for the full cost to immigrate to Canada.
Does it cost more to immigrate with a family?
Yes, on both sides of the budget. Each accompanying adult adds another $990 processing fee plus a $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, while each dependent child is $270 with no RPRF. The settlement funds you must prove also rise with family size, from $15,263 for one person to $19,001 for two and upward. Biometrics are capped at $170 per family. Variable costs such as language tests and medical exams also apply per person, so plan for those too.
Do study permits and work permits cost the same as permanent residence?
No. Study permits, work permits, and family sponsorship each have their own separate fee schedules that differ from the Express Entry permanent residence fees described here. A Provincial Nominee Program may also add a provincial fee on top of the federal cost. Because each program is priced differently and the amounts change, do not assume one program costs the same as another. Check the specific fee schedule for your program on canada.ca, or ask a licensed RCIC to map the full cost of your route.
Are immigration fees in Canadian or US dollars?
All IRCC government fees are charged in Canadian dollars. The figures in this guide, such as the $990 processing fee, the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, and the settlement funds amounts, are all in Canadian dollars. If you are paying from outside Canada, your bank will convert from your local currency, and exchange rates and card fees can change the amount you actually pay. Budget a little extra for currency conversion, and confirm the current Canadian-dollar fees on canada.ca before you apply.
Is Canada PR for lifetime?
Permanent residence has no expiry date, but it stays conditional for as long as you hold it: you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every rolling five-year period. You can lose the status only by renouncing it, by an official decision that you no longer meet that obligation, or through a removal order that comes into force (IRCC, Understand permanent resident status, canada.ca, checked September 2026). The PR card is proof of status and expires every five years; IRCC confirms you do not lose permanent residence when the card expires. Canadian citizenship carries no residency obligation at all.
Is Canada difficult to immigrate to?
Canada plans to admit 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026 under the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan (IRCC, tabled 4 November 2025), so the difficulty is not a shortage of places but whether you meet the published criteria of one specific program. Age, language test scores, education, skilled work experience and a provincial connection decide eligibility, and the temporary side has tightened, with planned new temporary resident arrivals cut to 385,000 for 2026. Cost is rarely the barrier; eligibility is. No consultant can tell you how your own application will be decided.
Know exactly what your move will cost
Estimate your fees and the funds you must prove with our calculator, then have a licensed RCIC confirm the full cost for your family.