· NextMigrate Team
Canada PR Cost in 2026: The Full Bill From India, Nigeria or the Philippines
Imagine you are a software tester in Chennai with a spouse and two young children. You have been saving for two years. A YouTube video says Canada PR costs "only ₹1.5 lakh". Another says "₹20 lakh". Which one is true? Both, in a way. One counts the fees. The other counts the money you must show in the bank.
The short answer: As of November 2026, IRCC's own fees for Express Entry are C$1,590 per adult (C$990 processing plus the C$600 right of permanent residence fee), C$270 per dependent child, and C$85 for biometrics (C$170 for a family) (IRCC fee list). A single applicant pays C$1,675 to IRCC. A couple with two children pays C$3,890. On top come your degree assessment, language test, medical exams and police certificates. Separately, most people without a Canadian job offer must show settlement funds, from C$15,263 for one person to C$28,362 for a family of four. That money stays yours (IRCC proof of funds).
The full bill, line by line
| Cost | Who pays | Amount (as of November 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | Each adult (you and your spouse) | C$990 | IRCC |
| Right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) | Each adult | C$600 | IRCC |
| Dependent child | Each child | C$270 (no RPRF) | IRCC |
| Biometrics | Per person, or per family applying together | C$85, or C$170 maximum for a family | IRCC |
| Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) | Each degree you claim (and your spouse's, if you claim points for it) | WES lists C$264, plus delivery | WES |
| Language test | You, and your spouse if they test | IELTS General Training on computer: ₹19,000 (New Delhi), NGN 299,000 (Lagos), PHP 14,470 (Manila) | ielts.org |
| Medical exam | Each family member, even if they are not coming with you | Set by the panel physician and paid at the appointment; not refunded if you are refused | IRCC |
| Police certificates | You and family members 18 or older, for each country where you stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years | Set by each country's police | IRCC |
| Flights and first weeks in Canada | Everyone moving | Your choice of date and route | Check airline prices |
IELTS prices are from the test centre pages on ielts.org for Lagos and Manila too, and can change. CELPIP and PTE Core prices also vary by country. Check the price where you will sit the test.
One kind detail: the RPRF is refunded if you withdraw or IRCC refuses your application. It is the only fee IRCC refunds after processing starts (IRCC).
Fees vs funds: two very different numbers
Think of the fees as the ticket price. Think of the settlement funds as the luggage you must carry with you. You spend the first. You keep the second, but you must have it.
What IRCC charges
| Family | IRCC fees | Biometrics | Total to IRCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | C$1,590 | C$85 | C$1,675 |
| Couple | C$3,180 | C$170 | C$3,350 |
| Couple with 1 child | C$3,450 | C$170 | C$3,620 |
| Couple with 2 children | C$3,720 | C$170 | C$3,890 |
Calculated from the IRCC fee list, as of November 2026.
What you must show in the bank
| Family members | Minimum settlement funds (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,263 |
| 2 | $19,001 |
| 3 | $23,360 |
| 4 | $28,362 |
| 5 | $32,168 |
| 6 | $36,280 |
| 7 | $40,392 |
| Each extra person | $4,112 |
Source: IRCC proof of funds, table updated 7 July 2025 and still shown in November 2026. IRCC updates it every year.
You don't need proof of funds if you are invited under the Canadian Experience Class, or if you are authorised to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. Count your spouse and dependent children even if they are not coming with you. You cannot borrow the money or use the value of your house. The funds must be yours and available when you apply and when your visa is issued.
Work out your own number with our free proof of funds calculator. We explain the rules in more depth in how much money you need to migrate.
Free eligibility check · 2 minutes
Could Canada work for you?
6 quick questions on your age, skills and English. You get a score out of 100 and a read on your chances in Canada, on screen. No sign-up.
1 of 6 · When are you planning to move?
Canada is picked for you. You can change that at question 6.
What it costs in rupees
The Bank of Canada's daily average rate on 30 October 2026 was C$0.01471 per Indian rupee, so about ₹68 to one Canadian dollar (Bank of Canada). Your bank's rate will be a little worse.
| Item | CAD | About in INR (30 Oct 2026 rate) |
|---|---|---|
| IRCC fees and biometrics, single | C$1,675 | ₹1.14 lakh |
| IRCC fees and biometrics, couple with 2 children | C$3,890 | ₹2.64 lakh |
| WES ECA, one degree | C$264 | ₹18,000 |
| IELTS General Training, New Delhi | ₹19,000 | |
| Settlement funds, 1 person | C$15,263 | ₹10.4 lakh |
| Settlement funds, family of 4 | C$28,362 | ₹19.3 lakh |
So for a single applicant from India, the fees you can price today come to about ₹1.5 lakh before medicals, police certificates and flights. For our Chennai family of four, the fees are about ₹3.2 lakh with two ECAs and one test, plus about ₹19.3 lakh to show in the bank. Both YouTube numbers were half right.
We have not converted Nigerian naira or Philippine pesos, because the Bank of Canada does not publish daily rates for them. Use your central bank's rate on the day you pay, and our visa costs tool to compare countries.
Costs people forget
- Retakes. If you miss CLB 9 by one band, a second test doubles your test cost. Read one band short before you rebook.
- Your spouse's ECA and test. They are optional, but they can add points. Compare the cost with the points in our free CRS calculator.
- Translations. Documents not in English or French need certified translations.
- Courier and passport fees. When IRCC asks for your passport, you may pay a visa application centre for delivery.
- The first three months. Rent deposits, winter clothes and transport before your first paycheque. Our first-year guide helps you plan.
Where people waste money
- Paying for a "job offer". It is fraud, and it can end your application. Read why paying for a job offer or LMIA is a crime.
- Paying unlicensed agents. In Canada, only lawyers, Quebec notaries and licensed consultants (RCICs) may give immigration advice for a fee (IRPA s.91). Check anyone you pay on the CICC public register.
- Paying for things that are free. Creating an Express Entry profile and checking your score are free. IRCC's fees are paid only after you are invited.
A 5-step budget plan
Step 1: Score yourself first
Before you pay for anything, check whether your profile can compete. A free score estimate costs nothing. Use the CRS calculator.
Step 2: Pay for the test and ECA
These are the first real costs. They usually come before you create your profile.
Step 3: Start building your settlement funds
Keep them in your own account and get bank letters showing the 6-month average balance.
Step 4: Set aside the IRCC fees
You pay them when you submit your application after an invitation. Paying the RPRF at the same time avoids delays.
Step 5: Plan for medicals, police certificates and flights
For Express Entry, you get the medical exam after your invitation and before you apply, and you have 60 days to submit. Police certificates can take a long time, so IRCC suggests asking for them as soon as your profile is in the pool. Ask local panel physicians and police for current prices.
For the wider picture across several countries, see the true cost of migrating abroad and our Express Entry guide for Nigeria and India applicants.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Canada PR cost from India in 2026?
IRCC's fees and biometrics are C$1,675 for a single applicant, about ₹1.14 lakh at the Bank of Canada rate on 30 October 2026. With an ECA (C$264) and IELTS (₹19,000), the fees you can price come to about ₹1.5 lakh. Medicals, police certificates and flights are extra. Most people must also show settlement funds of at least C$15,263.
How much is the Canada PR fee for a family of 4?
For a couple with two dependent children, IRCC charges C$3,720 in application fees plus C$170 in family biometrics, so C$3,890. The settlement funds for 4 people are C$28,362.
Is proof of funds a fee?
No. It is money you must have and show, not pay to IRCC. You keep it and use it to settle. You don't need it under the Canadian Experience Class, or if you are authorised to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.
Can I get the Canada PR fee back if I am refused?
IRCC refunds the right of permanent residence fee (C$600 per adult) if you withdraw or your application is refused. The processing fee is not refunded once processing has started.
How much does IELTS cost in Nigeria and the Philippines?
As of November 2026, ielts.org lists IELTS General Training on computer at NGN 299,000 at Lagos centres and PHP 14,470 at Manila centres. Prices can change, so check your own centre.
Do I need to pay an agent for Canada PR?
No. You can create your profile and apply yourself. If you want someone to advise you for a fee, Canadian law requires them to be a lawyer, a Quebec notary or a licensed consultant (RCIC).
Know your number before you spend a rupee
The fees are smaller than most people fear. The settlement funds are bigger than most people expect. Write both numbers down, check whether your score can compete, and only then start paying. That order protects your savings.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice, and it is not advice on your own case. Fees and exchange rates change. Always confirm current fees with IRCC and the test or assessment provider, and for your own situation speak to a licensed consultant (RCIC) or a lawyer before you act.
