The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) is currently $575 CAD. Paying this fee upfront when you first submit your spousal sponsorship application to IRCC is highly recommended, as it prevents major processing delays during the final stages of your application.
When you apply to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child to Canada, navigating the various government fees can feel overwhelming. Among the most important of these is the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). Whether you are living in Halifax, Montreal, or Calgary, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) absolutely requires this payment before they will officially grant your loved one permanent resident status.
Many applicants get confused about when to pay this fee. While IRCC allows you to wait until your application is nearly approved before paying the RPRF, doing so often adds frustrating delays to the timeline. By making the payment at the very beginning alongside your main processing fees, you ensure that the immigration officer can finalize the file the moment the background and medical checks are cleared.
Step-by-Step Process for Paying the RPRF in Canada
The IRCC payment system is completely centralized and online. It does not matter if you are sponsoring a spouse from the Philippines, India, or the United Kingdom; the payment steps remain exactly the same.
Step 1: Calculating Your Total Application Fees
Before you log in, you need to know exactly how much you owe. For a standard spousal sponsorship, you will pay a $75 CAD sponsorship fee, a $490 CAD principal applicant processing fee, and the $575 CAD RPRF. Most applicants also need to pay an $85 CAD biometrics fee. If you pay everything upfront, your total cart will usually be $1,225 CAD (or $1,310 CAD with biometrics).
Step 2: Accessing the IRCC Payment Portal
You must visit the official IRCC “Pay your fees” website. Avoid any third-party websites offering to pay fees on your behalf to prevent scams. You will be asked a series of questions to generate your specific fee list: select “Immigrate” and then “Spouse, partner or children.”
Step 3: Paying the RPRF Upfront
When you reach the payment screen, you will need to create a secure online account (if you don’t already have one). You can securely pay the fees using a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or a Canadian Visa Debit/Debit MasterCard. Ensure your credit limit can handle the full transaction amount, as split payments are generally not supported.
Step 4: Generating and Saving the Official Receipt
The moment your payment clears, the system will generate a PDF receipt containing a unique barcode and receipt number. It is critical that you immediately download and save this document to your computer. Do not close the browser window before securing this PDF, as retrieving it later can be incredibly difficult.
Step 5: Uploading the Receipt to Your Application
If you are applying online through the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal, there will be a specific document slot titled “Proof of Payment.” You must upload the PDF receipt here before the system will allow you to submit the final application. This proves to the processing officer that your RPRF has been fully settled.
Step 6: What to Do if You Forgot to Pay Upfront
If you submitted your application but forgot to pay the RPRF, do not panic. At the end of the process, IRCC will send you a formal letter requesting the payment. They usually give you 30 days to pay the $575 CAD and upload the receipt through your IRCC Webform. Your file will simply be paused until this is done.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Here is a detailed breakdown of the standard fees associated with sponsoring a spouse. All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD).
| Fee Type | Current Cost (CAD) | When to Pay? |
|---|---|---|
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $575 | Upfront (Highly Recommended) or at the end. |
| Sponsorship Fee | $75 | Must be paid upfront. |
| Principal Applicant Fee | $490 | Must be paid upfront. |
| Biometrics Fee (Per Person) | $85 | Must be paid upfront. |
Keep in mind that if you are including dependent children in the application, there is an additional processing fee of $235 CAD per child, but dependent children are completely exempt from paying the RPRF.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The standard processing time for a spousal sponsorship application in Canada is about 10 to 12 months. If you choose not to pay the RPRF upfront, IRCC will pause your application near the end of this timeline to request the fee. Waiting for the request, making the payment, and waiting for the officer to verify the receipt can easily add an extra 4 to 8 weeks to your final processing time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the RPRF refundable if my application is refused?
Yes. If your sponsorship application is unfortunately withdrawn or refused by IRCC, the $575 CAD Right of Permanent Residence Fee is the only fee that will be fully refunded to your credit card.
Do dependent children have to pay the RPRF?
No. Dependent children being sponsored alongside a spouse are entirely exempt from paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee. You only pay for the principal applicant (the spouse).
Can I pay the RPRF using a personal cheque?
No. IRCC modernized their systems and no longer accepts certified cheques, bank drafts, or money orders for most online applications. You must use a credit card, prepaid credit card, or an eligible debit card.
Will IRCC send me an email confirming they received my RPRF?
If you upload the receipt via the Webform later in the process, IRCC will eventually send an automated acknowledgment. However, if you paid it upfront and attached it to your application portal, they will simply process the file without sending a separate confirmation email.
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