How Much Is It to Apply for a Canadian Visa
Last updated: 2021/09/01
When it comes to immigration costs, Canada is still fairly affordable compared to other popular immigration destinations such as Australia, the UK, and the USA. A family of four immigrating to Canada is looking at paying approximately CAD $11, 000 less than a family of four immigrating to Australia. That's a significant amount saved!
Immigrating to a new country is an intricate and lengthy process that comes with a hefty price tag but the outcome is surely worth it: a brand new life filled with better opportunities and a promising future for you and your loved ones.
The amount of money you need to immigrate to Canada depends on the size of your family, and the type of immigration program you apply for. It further involves settlement funds, visa processing fees, the collection of required documents and even bringing your pet over.
Take a look below for a breakdown of Canada's immigration fees and how much money you actually need to immigrate to Canada with your spouse or family.
How Much Money Do You Need to Immigrate to Canada?
If you're thinking about moving abroad, you should start to save save save. If you don't already have a job lined up in Canada, you'll need an adequate amount of savings to get you through the first three months while you settle into your new life.
As soon as you arrive in Canada, you'll need to pay for basic necessities like groceries, rent, transportation, and utilities. (Once you get a taste for Poutine, it'll be your new weekly treat.)
To ensure that you don't run out of money before you've received your first paycheck, the Canadian government requires that all permanent resident applicants have an adequate amount of savings as indicated in the infographic above.
IRCC Settlement Funds for Canadian Immigrants
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) created the Express Entry system which is the most popular immigration pathway to Canada for skilled foreign workers and their close family members. The IRCC settlement funds change every year. In 2021, a single applicant without a spouse or common-law partner and any dependent children must have a minimum of CAD $13, 213 in savings to qualify for permanent residency.
A couple who are immigrating to Canada must have a combined sum of CAD $16, 449 in settlement funds. Basically, you must add an additional CAD $3, 560in savings for every additional dependant family member even if they don't move to Canada with you.
Important
It's important to note that the number of family members includes both accompanying and non-accompanying dependents. That means even if your spouse or children don't immigrate to Canada with you, your savings must still reflect their share.
Express Entry Processing Fees
There is no cost to creating an Express Entry profile. It's only when you receive an ITA and submit a complete application that you'll need to pay an $825 visa processing fee. This fee includes your spouse or common-law partner. However, you'll need to pay an additional $225 per dependent child accompanying you to Canada.
Processing Fees and Settlement Funds for PNP Candidates
Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs) are immigration pathways designed and managed by the 11 participating provincial and territorial governments. Candidates apply to a PNP in hopes of achieving a nomination that significantly increases their chances of immigrating to Canada.
Provincial application or processing fees are determined by each province and territory. They are added on top of the federal immigration fees that successful provincial nominees pay to apply for permanent residence.
(Source: CIC News)
Initially, you must meet the settlement funds of the PNP to qualify for a nomination. The settlement funds required may vary from province to province and are dependent on the cost of living for that region. However, as soon as you have achieved a nomination, you need to meet the IRCC (see above) settlement funds which are only slightly different from the PNPs.
Take a look at the settlement funds for the provinces of Saskatchewan and Ontario below.
| Saskatchewan PNP Settlement Funds | |
|---|---|
| Number of Persons in Household | Minimum Funds Required (CAD) |
| One Person | $12, 669 |
| Two People | $15, 772 |
| Three People | $19, 390 |
| Four People | $23, 542 |
| Five People | $26, 701 |
| Six People | $30, 114 |
| Seven People or More | $33, 528 |
| Ontario PNP Settlement Funds | |
|---|---|
| Number of Persons in Household | Minimum Funds Required (CAD) |
| One Person | $12, 164 |
| Two People | $15, 143 |
| Three People | $18, 617 |
| Four People | $22, 603 |
| Five People | $25, 636 |
| Six People | $28, 913 |
| Seven People or More | $32, 191 |
Right of Permanent Residence Visa Fee
Your right of permanent resident fee costs $500 per adult applicant. The fee can be paid at the same time as your application fees to help reduce delays during processing. If your application is not approved, you will be refunded. However, when you pay the fees and your application is successful, it means you are officially a Canadian permanent resident. Hooray!
Temporary Visas and Immigration Documents Costs
If you want to get a feel for life in the Great North first before taking the leap, then you'll want to apply for a temporary visa, like a visitor visa or a work permit. The great thing about having Canadian work experience and/or a Canadian qualification is that it significantly increases your chances of immigration success. If you are ready to commit to life in this incredible country, you'll need to collect a few documents needed for your immigration application such as language test results and a medical examination.
| Temporary Visas and Immigration Documents Costs | |
|---|---|
| Visa Type or Immigration Documents | Costs in CAD |
| Study Permit | $150 |
| Permanent Resident Federal Fee | $1, 325 |
| Work Permit | $155 |
| Visitor Visa | $100 |
| Visitor Visa (Family) | $500 |
| Working Holiday Visa | $153 |
| IELTS (English) Language Test | $319 |
| TEF (French) Language Test | $440 |
| Medical Examination | $100 - $500 |
| Police Clearance | $20 on average |
| Education Verification | $160 for a course-by-course evaluation and $100 for a document-by-document evaluation. |
Immigration Agency Costs
Choosing to apply with an immigration agency like CanadianVisa.Org makes the process a lot easier, faster, and most importantly - successful. For an additional fee, you'll get to sit back and relax knowing your immigration application is in the professional and trusted hands of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs). You'll receive personalized guidance and advice throughout the entire process and all your paperwork will be managed by us.
See below for a breakdown of the services you'll be paying for:
Step 1: Eligibility Consultation with Consultants
During this step, we check that you are not inadmissible to immigrate to Canada. This means you must meet the minimum requirements to immigrate to Canada, including, have good health, a clean criminal record and be of qualifying age.
Step 2: Immigration Program Evaluation By an RCIC
During this step, you are required to complete an in-depth online questionnaire which will be evaluated by one of our professional Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs). The RCIC will analyze which of the more than 100 immigration and visa programs you qualify for to immigrate to Canada, and in which province offers the most opportunities for you.
Step 3: Document Verification & Application Submission
If you decide to move forward with your immigration application, you'll be given a retainer agreement to sign. This allows our immigration specialists to handle your paperwork on your behalf. This includes collecting your documents, liaising with the Canadian government or your employer on your behalf, optimizing your final application, and submitting it to the IRCC.
Step 4: Receive Your Application Results
The RCIC will let you know the status of your immigration application as soon as it has been revealed!
Ready to embark on this exciting life-changing journey with professionals guiding your way? All you have to do is complete our application form to receive your eligibility assessment today. It's just that simple.
How Much Is It to Apply for a Canadian Visa
Source: https://canadianvisa.org/blog/immigration/how-much-money-do-you-need-to-immigrate-to-canada