It may be no surprise that Canada ranks as one of the most popular destinations for Indian emigrants.
Considered to be the sixth-safest country in the world, Canada has relatively low levels of crime and a welcoming environment for new immigrants. With an excellent economy, plenty of job opportunities, and a high-ranking healthcare system, there are numerous reasons to consider a move to Canada.
Indian immigrants who have successfully integrated into Canadian society report job satisfaction in a variety of roles, from civil servants to small business owners.
If you’re planning to settle in Canada by yourself or with your family, there are a multitude of permanent residence (PR) pathways to consider. Each comes with its own requirements, fees, and perks, which can make it difficult for you to know how and when to get started.
In this article, we break down the most popular Canadian PR pathways for Indians as well shed light on how much is the fee for permanent resident application through all those pathways. Along the way, we will pay special attention to the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) payment process.
As a Canadian permanent resident, you get the right to live and work anywhere in Canada for 5 years. At the end of this period, you can extend your PR status or apply for Canadian citizenship, provided that you’ve physically lived in Canada for 3 full years.
The fee is based on how you apply for the Canadian PR
The Government of Canada requires most permanent residency applicants to pay a fee when their applications have been approved. The amount varies depending on the program you’ve applied for.
Canada’s Express Entry PR fee
The Express Entry program is Canada’s fastest and most popular PR pathway. It allows skilled, university-educated non-Canadian professionals with moderate English and/or French proficiency to immigrate to Canada.
To become eligible for the Express Entry program, a candidate must have CAD 12,960 (754,030 INR) in their bank account to prove that they will be able to support themselves after arriving in Canada. The Express Entry cost also includes a CAD 825 (48,000 INR) processing fee and a CAD 500 (29,000 INR) right of permanent residence fee in addition to related medical, biometrics, and police clearance expenses.
Candidates who wish to bring their spouse or partner with them will need to pay an additional CAD 1,325 (77,100 INR) for the Government of Canada to process their application. There is also a CAD 225 (13,090 INR) application processing fee for each dependent child that will accompany you.
The Provincial Nominee Program Canada PR application fee
The Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP) is a PR pathway for foreign workers who wish to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory.
Each province and territory targets different groups of workers based on its labor market needs. British Columbia, for example, encourages experienced entrepreneurs, IT professionals, and healthcare workers to apply for its PNP program.
PNP application and processing fees are added on top of federal immigration fees and determined by each province and territory. Candidates who wish to settle in more popular destinations like Ontario and British Columbia have to pay fees upwards of CAD 1,000 (58,200 INR).
Other provinces and territories like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and News Brunswick require candidates to pay no more than CAD 500 (29,090 INR) in fees.
Other pathways of applying for permanent residency in Canada
If you’re looking to immigrate to Canada through other PR pathways, there are more than 80 different ones to choose from.
Most pathways are grouped according to the following categories: temporary resident, study, and economic and business.
Temporary resident pathways are limited-time pathways for certain temporary residents and their families who are currently working in the Canadian healthcare system or other essential services.
Study pathways include the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) immigration option for international students with at least 12 months of continuous, full-time, skilled work experience in Canada.
Economic and business PR pathways have the most options and include the widely-popular Quebec Immigration, Investor, and Entrepreneur programs. More information on the processing fees for these different PR categories can be found here.
What is the Right to Permanent Residence Fee?
The Right of Permanent Residence Fee is one of many different Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) fees that permanent resident applicants must pay to be granted permanent residence status.
Once applicants become Canadian permanent residents after paying this fee, they gain the right to receive health care coverage and most other social benefits. Permanent residents can live, work, or study anywhere in Canada and also apply for Canadian citizenship.
Almost all principal PR applicants and their spouses and common-law partners are required to pay the RPRF.
How much does the PR application fee for Canada immigration cost?
The RPRF costs CAD 500 (29,090 INR).
Applicants are advised to pay the RPRF at the same time as their application to avoid any processing delays. In case you withdraw your application or the authorities refuse your application, the RPRF will be refunded to the principal applicant.
Canadian permanent residents who are ready to travel to Canada from their home countries will need to get a Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) or an Immigration Record of Landing (also known as a Confirmation of Permanent Residence).
The PR Card has an application processing fee of CAD 50 (2,900 INR). Lost, damaged, or stolen cards can be replaced for the same amount.
Who needs to pay the Canada PR fee?
All permanent residence applicants have to pay the RPRF. Only applicants from the following categories are exempt:
- Dependent children of a principal applicant or sponsor
- Sponsorship applications for adopted children
- An orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchild
- Protected persons, which include applicants eligible on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and convention refugees
When and how to pay the Canada Permanent Resident fees?
The Government of Canada asks applicants to pay the RPRF before Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues the permanent residency visa or before the applicant becomes a permanent resident in Canada.
If you’re wondering how to pay the permanent residence fee, you should know that you will be given instructions on how to pay, especially if you have not paid the RPRF upfront.
To pay the RPRF online, you will need access to a printer, any PDF Reader software, a credit or debit card, and a valid email address. When you’ve paid the RPRF, you’ll need to print a copy of your receipt and include it in your paper application.
Is it possible to fund the application fee for permanent residence in Canada through loans?
Yes–permanent residence applicants may seek a Right of Permanent Residence Loan to cover the cost of the RPRF.
A principal applicant can apply for this loan for themselves, their family dependents, or both. Canadian citizens may also seek this loan on behalf of a beneficiary. Refugees and protected persons are exempt from paying the RPRF and therefore do not need to take out a loan.
To apply for the loan, you will need to use the Right of Permanent Residence Loan, Transportation Loan, Admissibility Loan form (IMM 0500), and a Terms and Conditions of Loan form (IMM 0502).
While an approved RPRF loan application has no legislatively determined expiry date, Canadian immigration authorities encourage applicants who have received their RPRF loans to submit their permanent residence applications within 180 days of the loan approved date.
If for any reason you wish to submit a permanent residence application after the 180-day administrative timeframe, you may still be able to do so at the discretion of the Canadian immigration officer overseeing your case. The officer may process your application without asking for a re-evaluation of your financial status.
How soon can I move after paying the Canada permanent resident application fee?
To move to Canada from abroad, you will need a PR card.
You can apply for this card after you have paid the RPRF and received your PR status.
It generally takes about 45 days for most Canadian embassies to process PR cards for new permanent residents, provided that you have fulfilled their residency requirements. However, some applicants may experience processing delays which can last several months. Applicants who need renewed PR cards to enter Canada will need to wait approximately 100 days.
Canadian permanent residents are required to carry their PR cards with them when traveling from their home country to Canada. They must present their valid PR card or permanent resident travel document to a train, bus, boat, or airline representative to be permitted to board.
If your PR card is no longer valid at the time of your departure to Canada, you will need to apply for a new PR card. An expired PR card does not mean that you have lost your permanent resident status.
Need help with your Canada permanent resident application?
Applying for Canadian permanent residency may seem straightforward at first, but new border restrictions and changes to immigration rules can make the application process challenging.
That’s where we come in to help. Express Entry PR is a one-stop resource for all things related to studying, working, and settling in Canada.
We provide step-by-step guides tailored to Indian professionals who want to emigrate to any of the Canadian provinces and territories, including Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario.
Our experts share detailed insights of individual PR pathways, from the Express Entry program to the Provincial Nominee Programme. We help you determine which is best suited to your work and lifestyle needs.
To get started on your PR application, visit our website today.