IRCC Policy Update — April 16, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Effective April 30, 2026, permanent residence application fees are increasing across all categories: the Right of Permanent Residence Fee rises from $575 to $600, Express Entry/PNP principal applicant fees rise from $950 to $990, and family class rises from $545 to $570.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 385,000 new temporary resident arrivals in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028, with the overarching goal of reducing Canada's temporary population to below 5% of total population by end of 2027.
Effective April 1, 2026, eight immigration changes came into force simultaneously, including increased passport fees (10-year adult passport now $163.50), a new 30-business-day passport processing guarantee with a free passport remedy if missed, and flexible Super Visa income requirements.
What You Should Do
- If you are planning to submit a permanent residence application, do so online before April 30, 2026 to pay the current (lower) fees — a PNP principal applicant saves $40 by applying before the deadline. Pay at ircc.canada.ca.
- If you need a Canadian passport, be aware that as of March 31, 2026, a 10-year adult passport costs $163.50 (up from $160). Applications are now guaranteed to be processed within 30 business days or you receive a free passport — apply at passport.canada.ca.
- Review the full list of eight April 1 immigration changes at cicnews.com/2026/04/eight-canadian-immigration-changes-effective-april-1 to confirm whether any changes affect your pending or upcoming applications.
- Review the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan supplementary document at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/corporate-initiatives/levels/supplementary-immigration-levels-2026-2028.html to understand admission targets for your immigration category.
Sources
Topics Covered
Service Fee Adjustments: Effective April 30, 2026, all PR application fees are increasing (e.g., RPRF from $575 to $600; PNP processing from $950 to $990). Citizenship fees and passport fees also increased effective March 31, 2026.
Student Work Authorization Simplification: Effective April 1, 2026, IRCC eliminated the requirement for a separate co-op work permit for eligible post-secondary international students, requiring only their study permit to participate in mandatory work placements.
2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: The 2026–2028 Levels Plan caps new temporary resident arrivals at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027–2028, prioritizing economic immigration and aiming to bring Canada's temporary resident share below 5% of total population by end of 2027.
More IRCC Policy Updates
IRCC Policy Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — June 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
IRCC Policy Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
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