Why Did the Canadian Federal Government Increase Citizenship Fees?

A recent significant update has led the Canadian federal government to decide to increase the right of citizenship fee for adult applicants. At midnight Eastern Time on March 31, 2025, this modification went into effect.

This significant change will impact Canada PR visa holders aged 18 years and above who have applied for citizenship on or after this amendment. This article will provide you with complete details about the recent fee amendment. 

Understanding the updated fee structure 

Adult candidates planning to transform their Canadian permanent residency status to Canadian citizenship are required to pay the following fees: 

• Processing Fee: $530 
• Right of Citizenship Fee: $119.75
• Total Fee: $649.75

This shift indicates an increase compared to the previous total of $630. The only fee that has changed is the right of citizenship fee; the processing fee has not changed.

Implications for the prospect applicants 

Candidates who have submitted their application online before midnight on March 31, 2025, and have paid the previous fee of $100 are not required to pay any additional costs. 

However, those who applied on paper before this date might be requested to pay the difference of $19.75.

This advanced cost of citizenship rights also encompasses stateless children born to Canadian citizens. In addition, children under 18 years of age are exempt from extra fees under this cost structure.

Provincial nominee program fee adjustments 

In addition to the federal fee changes, several Canadian provinces adjusted their immigration related fees. Notably, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has increased its worker stream fee from $1500 to $840, effective 1 April 2025. 

Why has the Canadian federal government increased this fee? 

This move to the Right of the Citizenship Fee is congruent with Canada's legislative provision that enshrines incremental increases in fees at intervals to recover inflation and the costs of administering them. 

In response to inflationary adjustments, costs for all permanent residency applications were increased on April 30, 2024.

Likewise, on December 1, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) raised application and processing fees on some visitor, worker, and student applications.

Eligibility criteria for Canadian citizenship 

To successfully apply for Canadian citizenship, applicants must meet the following criteria. 

1. Permanent Residency Status: Must be a permanent resident of Canada.
2. Physical Presence: Must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) of the five years leading to the application.
3. Tax Filing: Must have filed taxes for at least three years of the five years if obliged under the Income Tax Act.
4. Language Proficiency: If you are between 18 and 54, you must demonstrate that you understand English or French sufficiently (Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4).
5. Citizenship Test: Pass an examination of Canadian rights, responsibilities, and knowledge, required for ages 18 to 54.​

Conclusion 

The recent hike in Canada's Right of Citizenship Fee highlights the need to keep abreast with the most current trends in immigration policies and charges. To obtain the most up-to-date information, potential applicants must frequently check official websites, including the IRCC. Adequate preparation and knowledge of all involved costs and procedures can make the application process less bumpy toward attaining Canadian citizenship.

For more details about the recent fee update, reach out to the best immigration consultants in Delhi (Province Immigration) via +91 98961 96762 or [email protected].