Canadian Citizenship Fees for Adults, Minors and Families
Canadian citizenship fees depend on the type of citizenship application or service. Paying the correct amount is important because an application may not be accepted for processing if the required fee is missing or incorrect. In most cases, applicants need to pay IRCC application fees for a grant of citizenship or a citizenship certificate, while other services such as resumption, renunciation, and record searches have separate fees. Some applicants may also have extra costs for translations, certified copies, photos, courier charges, or other supporting documents. Because the total cost may include both government fees and additional expenses, it is important to understand which fee applies, how to pay it correctly, and what other costs may be involved.
IRCC Government Fees for Canadian Citizenship
Canadian citizenship fees depend on the type of citizenship application or service. The cost is different for a grant of citizenship, a citizenship certificate, and other citizenship-related requests.
GRANT OF CITIZENSHIP
This is the IRCC category for becoming a Canadian citizen through application, usually after meeting eligibility requirements such as permanent resident status and the 1,095-day physical presence requirement.
- Adult applicants (18 and over): $653 CAD
($530 citizenship processing fee + $123 right of citizenship fee)
The right of citizenship fee increased on March 31, 2026. - Minor applicants (under 18): $100 CAD
This applies to a minor grant of citizenship application and includes the processing fee.
Citizenship fees do not decrease based solely on age once an applicant is 18 or older. Seniors generally pay the same adult government fee, even though applicants aged 55 or older may be exempt from the citizenship language and test requirements. IRCC does not currently provide a general citizenship application fee waiver or reduced fee based solely on low income, senior status or disability.
CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE
This is the IRCC term for an application for proof of citizenship. It is often the relevant fee when a person is already a Canadian citizen and needs official proof.
- Citizenship certificate: $75 CAD
BORN IN CANADA
Most people born in Canada are Canadian citizens at birth and do not pay an application fee to become citizens. However, limited exceptions may apply, such as some children of foreign diplomats. If official proof is needed later, the relevant IRCC fee is usually the citizenship certificate fee.
Applying for a Canadian passport is a separate process, and passport fees are separate from Canadian citizenship fees.
- Citizenship certificate: $75 CAD
OTHER CITIZENSHIP FEES
- Search for your record of citizenship: $75 CAD
- Resume your citizenship (18 and over): $530 CAD
- Resume your citizenship (under 18): $100 CAD
- Renounce your citizenship: $100 CAD
- Stateless adult (18 or over) born to a Canadian parent: $123 CAD
Each of these is a separate IRCC fee category. Choosing the correct one before paying is important to avoid delays.
How to Pay Canadian Citizenship Fees Online
IRCC says citizenship application fees can be paid online through its official payment system. Online payment is available for a new paper citizenship application and for some online citizenship applications. After payment, IRCC emails a receipt, and a copy of that receipt should be included with the application. Payment steps can differ depending on how you apply. Some online citizenship applications include payment as part of the submission process, while paper applications usually require using IRCC’s online payment system and including the receipt with the application.
IRCC accepts:
- credit cards
- prepaid cards
- debit cards
Accepted card brands include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Visa Debit, and Debit MasterCard. The payment card does not have to be in the applicant’s name.
PAYMENT STEPS
- Go to IRCC’s online payment system
- Select Citizenship as the application type
- Choose the fee that matches the correct citizenship application or service
- Enter the number of fees to be paid
- Sign in or create a payment account
- Pay the required amount online
- Save the receipt emailed by IRCC
- Include the receipt with the application
Paying the correct fee category is important. A grant of citizenship, a citizenship certificate, and other citizenship-related services each have their own fee category, and paying the wrong amount can affect the citizenship processing time or require an additional payment later.
If you paid less than the required amount, IRCC may ask you to pay the difference or may return the application until the correct fee is paid. If you make more than one payment, keep all receipts and include the receipts that together show the full required amount.
If you paid too much or paid the wrong fee, you may need to request a refund and pay the correct fee again. If IRCC has already started processing the application, some fees may not be refundable, but the right of citizenship fee may be refundable in certain cases.
Third-Party Costs for a Canadian Citizenship Application
IRCC government fees are only part of the total cost. Some Canadian citizenship applications also involve third-party expenses, which are not set by IRCC and can vary depending on the documents required, the country involved, the language of the records, and the service provider.
COMMON THIRD-PARTY COSTS MAY INCLUDE:
- Translations, affidavits, or certified copies — often around $50 to $150+ CAD per document, depending on the language, certification requirements, and provider. These are usually required when documents are not in English or French or need to be officially certified.
- Replacement civil documents — often around $20 to $100+ CAD per document, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or name change records. These may be needed if the original document is unavailable, not accepted, or needs to support identity or family relationship details.
- Citizenship photos — typically around $15 to $40 CAD, depending on the photography provider and required specifications. The number and format of photos required depend on the application type and the applicable Canadian citizenship photo requirements.
- Courier, printing, and document handling — often around $20 to $150+ CAD, especially if records must be mailed, copied, or ordered from another authority.
- Foreign record retrieval or archive searches — often around $50 to $300+ CAD, depending on the country, archive, registry, and urgency.
These amounts are approximate ranges, not IRCC-set fees. The actual total can vary significantly from one case to another.
Third-party costs can also look different depending on the type of citizenship matter. Grant of citizenship applications often involve more routine identity and status documents, while citizenship certificate cases may be more likely to require older civil records, parent records, or foreign documents. If a person born in Canada later needs official proof of citizenship, the extra cost usually comes from obtaining supporting documents, not from a separate birthright citizenship fee.
Professional Fees for Canadian Citizenship Applications
Professional help is optional for Canadian citizenship applications, and many people choose to prepare and submit the application on their own. For others, professional support can help with choosing the correct citizenship category, reviewing supporting documents, preparing forms, and reducing avoidable mistakes before submission, especially when citizenship is part of a person’s long-term settlement plans in Canada.
Professional citizenship fees are separate from IRCC government fees and third-party costs such as translations, certified copies, photos, courier charges, and document retrieval costs.
Booking a citizenship consultation can be a helpful first step for people who want guidance before choosing a service option.
- Eligibility Assessment Only: $50
- One-Time Consultation: $85 to $200, depending on appointment type and length
The Full Package is intended for people who want complete support from start to finish. It is the most comprehensive option and is best suited for applicants who want help with strategy, forms, supporting documents, submission preparation, and post-submission support.
- Citizenship Application: $1,250
- Proof of Citizenship: $1,750
The Do It Yourself Package is designed for people who want to prepare more of the application themselves while still receiving guided professional support.
- Citizenship Application: $750
- Proof of Citizenship: $1,050
The Peace of Mind Package is intended for people who have already prepared most of the application and want a professional review before submission.
- Citizenship Application: $375
- Proof of Citizenship: $425
Taxes, IRCC government fees, and third-party costs are not included. Government fees are official application charges, while professional fees are private service fees based on the level of support chosen.
Frequently Asked Questions
When citizenship fees change, which fee amount applies to my application?
Applicants should check IRCC’s official citizenship fee list immediately before paying and submitting an application. If a fee changes before submission and the applicant has already paid the previous amount, the difference can generally be paid online. Both receipts should be included so the combined payments equal the full required fee. An application submitted without the correct amount may be returned. If the application was already submitted when the fee changed, the applicant should follow any transition instructions or payment request issued by IRCC.
When are Canadian citizenship fees refundable, and how do I request a refund?
Refund eligibility depends on the application stage and the type of fee paid. If IRCC returns an application, the applicable fees are generally refunded. If an applicant withdraws before processing begins, the fees are generally fully refundable. Once processing has started, the processing fee is normally not refunded after withdrawal or refusal, but the right of citizenship fee is refundable if citizenship is not granted.
Eligible refunds may be issued automatically. If a refund is not received, or a payment was made for an application that was never submitted, the applicant may request a refund through IRCC’s online payment service using the receipt number. Refunds can take up to eight weeks to process.
