India has historically been a leading source of new permanent residents in Canada, akin to obtaining a green card in the US, offering a pathway to Canadian citizenship. However, individuals aspiring to become Canadian permanent residents will soon face increased fees, with hikes of approximately 12% across key immigration programs. These adjustments are intended to align with inflation rates, with the new fee schedule taking effect as of April 30 and remaining in place until March 2026.
The ‘right of permanent residence fee’ will rise from CAD 515 to CAD 575, a 12% increase, payable upon application for permanent residence, though dependent children are exempt. Application fees for various permanent residency immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Provincial Nominee Program, will also increase from CAD 850 to CAD 950. Similarly, accompanying spouses or common-law partners and dependent children will see fee revisions from CAD 230 to CAD 260.
In 2022, 1.18 lakh Indians became permanent residents of Canada, accounting for 27% of new permanent residents that year. Contrastingly, only 31,841 Chinese individuals (7%) were admitted. While full 2023 data is unavailable, strained India-China relations likely contributed to a decline in Indian applications.
Fees under the family reunification program, covering spouses/partners, children, parents, grandparents, and other relatives, will also rise. The sponsorship fee will increase from CAD 75 to CAD 85, with the principal applicant’s application fee rising from CAD 490 to CAD 545.
Canada annually sets immigration target levels, projecting the number of permanent residents to be admitted over three years. Recently, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced an expansion of the immigration levels plan to include both temporary and permanent resident arrivals. According to the plan announced in November, Canada aims to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025, maintaining these numbers through 2026.
