OpenVisaFees: what you pay IRCC, when, and what RPRF is
Paid online, to the government, before you submit.
As of October 2026, IRCC lists CA$1,260 for a spouse or partner, made up of three fees, with biometrics paid separately. Amounts change on a schedule, so check IRCC's page the week you pay.
1. What is the total?
Fees to sponsor a spouse or partner: from $1,260
That total is three fees, with biometrics on top:
| Fee | Who it covers | Amount (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship fee | The sponsor | CA$85 |
| Principal applicant processing fee | The applicant | CA$600 |
| Right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) | The applicant | CA$575 |
| Biometrics (not in the CA$1,260) | Each person giving biometrics | CA$85 |
Dependent children add their own processing fee each. The amounts are from IRCC's how to apply page.
2. What is the RPRF?
The right of permanent residence fee is charged when permanent residence is granted, not for processing. IRCC lets you pay it with the application or when they ask for it before the decision. Paid with the application, it saves a later request from IRCC; it's refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn.
Paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee(s) (RPRF) at the same time as the processing fees is recommended. The application will not be returned to you if this fee is not paid upfront. However, if you need to pay it at a later date it may increase the processing time for your application.
3. Is biometrics a separate fee?
Yes, and in most cases it's paid at the same time as the application. If it isn't paid, IRCC asks for it and the file waits; an unpaid biometrics fee delays the application but doesn't get it returned.
In most cases, you'll pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application. If you don't, your application may be delayed.
4. How do we pay, and what do we upload?
Online, through IRCC's payment system, by card. Save the receipt as a PDF; it's uploaded with the application. An unpaid sponsorship or processing fee gets the package returned (Guide 5289), and in the threads where people post their return letters, a missing receipt is one of the causes (what gets an application returned).
5. What isn't an IRCC fee?
Police certificates, the medical exam, translations and photos are paid to those providers. Quebec residents also pay Quebec's own processing fee to the province, separately from IRCC (Guide 5289). Preparing your forms in OpenVisa is free; the download is a one-time CA$499 paid to OpenVisa, never to IRCC, and it doesn't change what you owe IRCC.
OpenVisa is software, not a lawyer or RCIC. This page explains what the rules and forms say; it is not advice about your case. You submit your application yourself.