Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its fee schedule, revealing that two groups of applicants qualify for significantly reduced citizenship application fees. According to the new schedule, which was last updated on September 21, 2026, adults aged 18 and over are required to pay CAD 653 when applying for Canadian citizenship. This amount combines both the processing fee and the right of citizenship fee.
The first category that benefits from a lower rate is minors under the age of 18. Children applying for citizenship are charged only CAD 100, which covers the processing fee alone, making it significantly cheaper than the adult rate. This reduction in fees aims to facilitate the citizenship process for young individuals.
The second group consists of stateless adults aged 18 or over who were born to a Canadian parent. These applicants pay just CAD 123, an amount that covers only the right of citizenship fee. Unlike other adult applicants, this group is exempt from the processing fee entirely. This exemption acknowledges the unique circumstances of stateless individuals with a Canadian parent.
The IRCC fee schedule outlines costs across a broad range of immigration pathways. Business immigration attracts some of the highest charges, with combined fees reaching as much as CAD 2,495 when both the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee are factored in. This fee structure reflects the complexity and costs associated with processing business immigration applications.
In addition to citizenship and business immigration, the fee schedule covers costs for sponsoring a spouse or partner, which costs a combined total of CAD 1,260. Sponsoring a dependent child costs CAD 180 per child. These fees are designed to cover the costs of processing and administering various immigration programs.
For those going through the refugee resettlement process, the Canadian government provides immigration loans to cover transportation to Canada and other immediate settling-in costs. Repayment of these loans begins 12 months after arrival, with monthly statements sent either by email or by post. This support helps refugees settle in Canada and rebuild their lives.
All fee information is publicly accessible through Canada's official immigration portal, giving prospective applicants a transparent reference point as they navigate the citizenship and immigration process. This transparency enables applicants to plan and prepare for the costs associated with their immigration journey.
Key points
- Minors under 18 and stateless adults born to Canadian parents qualify for reduced citizenship application fees.
- Adult applicants aged 18 and over must pay CAD 653 for citizenship application.
- Canada provides immigration loans to refugees for settling-in costs.
