Apply for Permanent Residence in Canada: Total Fee Structure for the Express Entry System

Apply for Permanent Residence in Canada: Total Fee Structure for the Express Entry System

The second largest country in the world, Canada, is the new immigration hot spot. As per Statistics Canada, the country’s population increased by 1 million people in just 2 years. After all, it’s a country of countless opportunities, a better quality of life, free healthcare, and friendly people.

Even though more than 80 programs are available to immigrate to Canada, becoming a Canadian Permanent Resident can be tough, given the terms and expense. One of the easiest pathways to apply for Permanent Residency status in Canada is through the Express Entry program.

What is the Express Entry System for applying for Permanent Residence in Canada?

Express Entry is an electronic immigration selection system designed to choose skilled workers from overseas and grant them permanent residency in Canada. Devised to rank economic immigration candidates, the popular program invites candidates with qualifying CRS scores to apply for PR status in Canada.

The Express Entry process is pretty fast, screening potential applications in as little as 6 months. If selected, the eligible candidates (along with their families) are allotted permanent residency (PR) Status by the Canadian Government, valid for 5 years. Since Express Entry is a federal immigration system, immigrants are eligible to settle anywhere in Canada.

But, what is the cost to immigrate to Canada under the Express Entry System?

The Complete Fee Structure of the Express Entry Immigration Program

The exact amount of fees to be paid for immigration under the Express Entry program depends on the candidate’s profile. However, there are two major fees that every applicant must pay under the Express Entry immigration program.

Government processing fee for your family members and you

The processing fee is paid to the IRCC to process your immigration application and includes the following costs

• $550 CAD for the applying candidate
• $550 CAD if a spouse or common-law partner is accompanying the applicant
• $150 CAD for each dependent child

The right of permanent residence fee

The right of permanent residence fees includes the following costs

• $490 CAD for the applicant
• $490 CAD if a spouse or common-law partner is accompanying the applicant
• No right of permanent residence fee for dependent children.

In addition to the process and permanent residence fees, there is a list of costs Express Entry Program applicants must pay as a part of their PR application process.

Biometrics fee

When submitting the application, a biometric fee is levied to cover the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo. The biometric cost varies from $85 CAD per person to around $170 CAD if the applicant is accompanied by the family.

Language test fee

To gain PR status in Canada through Express Entry, an applicant must establish their language skills by taking an approved language test in English or French. The English language tests include IELTS (~ $300 CAD) and CELPIP. For the French language, there is TEF Canada and TCF Canada (~ $350 CAD). On average, the language tests cost around $300 CAD per person.

Educational Credential Assessment

Educational credential assessment is a report that must be submitted with the Express Entry application to access the applicant’s degrees and diplomas earned outside of Canada. It costs around $200 CAD for each applicant. Including the courier handling charges, the ECA would cost around $300 CAD.

Medical Examination

All PR applicants must have an immigration medical examination done in order to successfully file their application. The fee for this medical exam varies from physician to physician, but, on an average, costs between $250-320 CAD.

 

Category	Single Applicant	Applicant with Spouse	The applicant with Spouse & One Dependent Child
Application Processing Fee	$550 CAD	$1,100 CAD	$1,250 CAD
Permanent Residence Fee	$490 CAD	$980 CAD	$980 CAD
Biometric Fee	$85 CAD	$170 CAD	$170 CAD
Language Test Fee	$300 CAD	$600 CAD	$900 CAD
Educational Credential Assessment	$300 CAD	$600 CAD	$600 CAD
Medical Examination	$250 CAD	$500 CAD	$750 CAD
TOTAL	$1,975 CAD	$3,950 CAD	$4,650 CAD

 

If you want to apply under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), an additional fee is charged depending on the province chosen by the applicant. The applicable fee varies between $250 CAD for New Brunswick to $1,500 CAD for Ontario.

Hence, for a single applicant applying for permanent residency status in Canada under the Express Entry system, the total bearable cost would be around $2,500 CAD including all the miscellaneous expenditures.

How can I turn my tourist visa into a student visa in Canada

How can I turn my tourist visa into a student visa in Canada

Canada is one of the most beautiful countries to visit. The endless lakes, parks, forests, and monuments promise to make your vacation worthwhile. But, alongside all the beauty, the country is also home to world-class universities and a high-quality education system that attracts around 150,000 international students annually. So, if you are a tourist who is a student or are planning to pursue higher education, you might want to extend your stay in Canada to complete your studies.

But, is it possible to get your “Visitor Visa” or V-1 Visa converted into “Student Visa” or S-1 Visa in Canada?

Transforming your Canadian “Visitor Visa” to a “Study Visa”, As of now, you can’t just request your “Visitor Visa” to be converted into a “Study Visa” within Canada.
As per the official site of the Government of Canada, to study in the country:

1. The applicant should have a legal status.
2. The applicant should have a study permit (if applicable)

 

Tourists wanting to pursue a short-term course of study for six months or less do not require a study visa or a study permit. They can complete the course on their visitor visa before its expiration. However, no visa extensions will be granted for completing a short-term program.
If you wish to enroll in a long-term educational program, which has a duration of more than 6 months or will exceed the permitted time limit of your stay, from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), you must apply for a study permit from outside Canada.
You are not required to get a new study visa if your V-1 visa is valid for a longer period than your study permit. However, most single entry visitor visas are valid for 6 months, so it is important to have a Study Visa (S-1) alongside your passport and study permit.

Why a “Visitor Visa” can’t be changed to “Study Visa” from within Canada?

Many tourists enter Canada using a “Visitor Visa” with an intent to study. A misconception is that they can simply file a change to update their “Visitor” status to “Student” status from within the country’s premises once they get accepted into a DLI institute. This mindset is quite common among foreign nationals and is referred to as “preconceived intent” – this might result in denial of your study permit.
Moreover, the officials at CPC find it difficult to perform background checks on foreign visitors from within Canada. This may delay the processing of your study permit, which will ultimately delay your visa.
Hence, to avoid the intent conflict and background check fails, it is advisable for visitors to apply for the study permit and S-1 visa before entering Canada, and, from their home country.

How to apply for a Study Permit as a Visitor in Canada?

To apply for a Canadian study permit and study visa, one would need
● An enrollment letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
● Proof of funds to show that you can afford your tuition fees, living costs and return travel
● No criminal records
● A medical examination to prove good health
● Proof that you will leave Canada once you complete your studies
Once you have submitted your application, you would need to wait until it is approved.

On approval, a letter of introduction, and an S-1 visa will be issued, which must be shown at border control in Canada along with a valid passport. Once you are given the clearance, you’ll be granted the student permit and will be allowed to stay in Canada for the duration of your course plus 90 days.