# Canadian Citizenship Cost 2026 — All Fees Explained
Canadian citizenship is one of the cheaper citizenships in the world to apply for compared to the US (~US$725) or the UK (£1,500+), but the IRCC fee is only one piece of the bill. This guide breaks down every cost a 2026 applicant should plan for — required and optional.
IRCC fees (the headline cost)
| Applicant | Processing fee | Right-of-citizenship fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | CA$530 | CA$100 | CA$630 |
| Child (under 18) | CA$100 | $0 | CA$100 |
These fees were last raised in 2014 and have not increased since, despite inflation. Compared to other citizenships:
- United States: US$725 (about CA$985 in 2026)
- United Kingdom: £1,500–1,630 (about CA$2,500–2,700)
- Australia: A$540 (about CA$485)
So Canada at CA$630 sits in the middle of the developed-country pack.
How to pay
IRCC accepts only online payment through the IRCC fee-payment portal:
- Log in to the portal
- Select "Citizenship — Citizenship Grant Adult/Minor"
- Pay with credit card, Visa Debit, MasterCard Debit, or Interac
- Print the receipt — the PDF receipt is part of the application package
Payment in cash, money order, or cheque is no longer accepted for citizenship applications.
Indirect costs
Required for most applicants, but they are paid to third parties — not IRCC.
Language test (only for ages 18–54)
- CELPIP-General — about CA$280, results in 8 days
- IELTS General Training — about CA$320, results in 13 days
- TEF Canada (French) — about CA$320
- TCF Canada (French) — about CA$300
You only need a language test if you do not already have:
- Government-funded LINC or CLIC class certificate, or
- Transcript and diploma from a school or program completed in English or French
Citizenship-format photos
- About CA$10–25 at any Canadian photo studio. Most studios offer a "citizenship application" package that meets the IRCC spec exactly.
Postage
- A typical adult application is 30–50 pages. Sending it by Canada Post Xpresspost (with tracking) costs about CA$15–25 depending on destination office.
Notarised translations
- If any of your documents are not in English or French, you need a certified translation. Translators charge CA$30–80 per page.
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Optional costs
These are not required, but many applicants choose to pay for them.
Immigration consultant or lawyer
- A registered immigration consultant (RCIC) charges CA$500–1,500 for a citizenship application
- A lawyer typically charges CA$1,500–3,500
- Most straightforward applications do not need either — IRCC's forms and instructions are designed for self-applicants
Express passport photos / rush translations
- Same-day photo: extra CA$5–10
- Same-day translation: extra 50%
Citizenship test prep tools
- The Discover Canada study guide is free from Canada.ca
- The [free Canadian citizenship practice test](/practice-test) is also free
- Paid prep books or apps cost CA$15–80 — useful but not essential
Total cost scenarios
Scenario A: Cheapest possible path
- One adult applicant, English-speaker with Canadian university degree, no consultant
- IRCC fee: $630
- Photos: $15
- Postage: $20
- Total: CA$665
Scenario B: Typical adult applicant
- One adult, paid for IELTS, photos, postage, no consultant
- IRCC fee: $630
- IELTS General: $320
- Photos: $20
- Postage: $20
- Photocopying / paper: $10
- Total: CA$1,000
Scenario C: Family of four with consultant
- 2 adults + 2 children
- IRCC fees: $630 + $630 + $100 + $100 = $1,460
- 2 IELTS: $640
- Photos: $80 (4 sets)
- Consultant: $1,200
- Postage: $35
- Total: CA$3,415
Where families can save money
- Use LINC / CLIC classes for language proof if eligible (free for low-income PRs)
- Submit CRA tax records directly through the IRCC online account (free)
- Buy photos at a family bundle rate at one studio
- Skip the consultant if your file is straightforward — IRCC publishes a free step-by-step guide
- Use the [free physical-presence calculator](/citizenship-calculator) instead of paying for software
For a step-by-step walkthrough, read [How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship Step by Step](/blog/how-to-apply-canadian-citizenship-online-2026).
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Frequently Asked Questions
1Is the right-of-citizenship fee refundable?
Yes. The CA$100 right-of-citizenship fee is refunded if you do not become a citizen for any reason — application refused, withdrawn, or not completed. The CA$530 processing fee is **not** refundable, even if your application is refused.
2Why are there two separate fees?
The CA$530 processing fee covers IRCC's administrative cost of reviewing your file. The CA$100 right-of-citizenship fee is a separate, statutory fee that becomes payable only when citizenship is actually granted. Combining them into a single payment at submission is an administrative convenience, but legally they remain distinct fees.
3Do I have to pay both fees up front?
Yes. IRCC charges both fees together on the fee-payment portal at the time you apply. The CA$100 portion is held and only credited as 'spent' once you take the oath of citizenship. If you withdraw or are refused before that, IRCC refunds the CA$100 automatically to the same payment method.
4Do I have to pay for a language test even if I have a Canadian university degree?
Not necessarily. IRCC accepts English- or French-language post-secondary transcripts as proof of CLB Level 4. If your degree was completed in English or French — anywhere in the world — you can submit the transcript and diploma instead of paying for a language test.
5How can I lower the total cost?
Use government-funded LINC or CLIC language classes (free for eligible PRs), submit free CRA tax records, use any free city library photocopier, do the application yourself instead of hiring a consultant, and skip a paid language test if your education was already in English or French. A bare-minimum adult application can cost as little as $640 all-in.