Immigrating to Canada using the Express Entry system involves paying several required fees and possibly more extra costs.

It is very important to understand all the costs so you can plan your budget and avoid unexpected financial problems.

This article will explain how much it costs to immigrate through Express Entry. This includes the Permanent Residence (PR) application fees, language testing costs, biometrics fees, and other third-party fees.

All costs mentioned here are in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Mandatory PR Application Fees

The table below shows the total minimum cost for sending a PR application through Express Entry. It covers applicants applying alone and applicants applying with their spouse or common-law partner.

Fee Type Fee Amount – Sole Applicant Fee Amount – With Spouse Or Common Law Partner
Application processing fee $950 $1,900
Right of permanent residence fee $575 $1,150
Biometrics fee $85 $170
Total amount $1,610 $3,220
Including a dependent child $260 (per child) $260 (per child)
Total minimum amount $1,870 $3,480

Note that the biometrics fee is $85 per person, or a maximum of $170 per family of two or more people. Children under 14 and adults over 79 years old do not need to give their biometrics.

You must, at the very least, pay the application processing fee(s) when you submit your application. However, paying your right of permanent residence fee and biometrics fee at the same time can help you avoid delays in processing your application.

If your application is not approved and is unsuccessful, your right of permanent residence fee will be refunded to you.

Third-Party Fees: Costs For Required Steps

In addition to the main fees paid to the government, there are other costs you must pay to outside organizations (third parties) to complete the required steps for Express Entry.

Language Tests

To create and submit an Express Entry profile, you must first complete a language test from a government-approved test provider. This test proves your ability to speak, read, write, and listen in English or French.

The following language tests are approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

Language Language Test Provider Test Type
English International English Language Testing System (IELTS) IELTS General Training test
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) CELPIP-General test
Pearson Test of English (PTE) PTE Core test
French TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français N/A
TCF Canada : Test de connaissance du français N/A

Language test fees usually cost from $290 + tax to $450 + tax. The exact price may change depending on the country or location where you take the test.

It has been announced that the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), managed by the Education Testing Service, will also be accepted by IRCC in the future, but the exact date for this is not yet known.

You need to reach a certain Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level in French to qualify for each of the federal Express Entry programs:

Program CLB/NCLC Level
CEC TEER 0 or 1: CLB/NCLC 7, all abilities
TEER 2 or 3: CLB/NCLC 5, all abilities
FSWP CLB/NCLC 7, all abilities
FSTP Speaking and listening: CLB/NCLC 5
Reading and writing: CLB/NCLC 4

Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs)

If you finished your education outside of Canada and want to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or if you want to get points for your foreign education under any Express Entry program, you must get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). This report checks that your foreign education is valid and equal to a Canadian degree or diploma.

You do not need an ECA if you are only applying under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), unless you want to claim points for your foreign education.

The cost to get an ECA generally ranges from $200 to $310, plus tax and delivery costs. The price depends on which Designated Organization is completing the assessment.

Board-Certified Document Translations

Any documents that are not in English or French must be translated by a certified translator before they can be submitted to the immigration department. The translation must be submitted along with the original document (or a certified copy of the original).

Certified translations usually cost between $25 and $70 per document. The cost can vary based on the translator, how quickly you need the translation done, and how complex or long the document is.

Immigration Medical Exam (IME)

As of August 21, 2025, all Express Entry applicants (and all their family members) must get an upfront Immigration Medical Exam (IME). The result of this exam must be uploaded when you submit your PR application. Only doctors approved by IRCC (called panel physicians) are allowed to perform these exams.

Medical exams are required to make sure that you are not medically inadmissible to Canada. The cost for these exams typically ranges from $140 to $280 per person.

Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs)

You and every family member who is aged 18 or older must provide a Police Clearance Certificate for every country where you have lived for at least six continuous months in the last 10 years. This must be done when you submit your PR application. This check is done to see if you have a criminal record, which determines if you are admissible to Canada.

You do not need to provide police certificates for any country you lived in before age 18, or for time spent living in Canada.

The cost of a police certificate depends on the country issuing it. To get a general idea of the costs, let’s look at the top five countries where people who received their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) documents came from in the first three months of 2025:

Country Number Of COPRs Issued Police Certificate Cost Considerations
India 34,245 $8–$38 Exact cost may depend on external factors and speed with which one requires these documents.
Philippines 7,460 $4–$39 N/A
China 5,815 $40–$120 Difficult to obtain overseas. Third-party agency intervention might be required, which will result in higher costs.
Cameroon 4,960 $3–$207 N/A
Nigeria 4,525 $5–$180 Varies depending on location and exchange rate fluctuations.

Other Miscellaneous Fees

In addition to the main fees and mandatory third-party costs, there may be several other smaller costs you need to plan for when moving to Canada through Express Entry.

These costs include, but are not limited to:

  • Renewing your passport if it is about to expire.
  • Notarization fees for officially certifying copies of documents.
  • Courier fees for sending documents securely and quickly.
  • Document scanning and printing fees.
  • Fees to get additional ECA reports or to upgrade an existing one.
  • Fees for retaking language tests if you do not get the required score the first time.
  • Travel costs to and from your biometrics appointment(s) or medical exam appointment(s).
  • Fees for getting other supporting documents.
  • Airfare costs for your flight to Canada, especially if you are immigrating from outside the country.

If you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and successfully complete your first landing in Canada, your first Permanent Resident (PR) card is free. This is true if you provide your mailing address and photo as required within 180 days of arriving. If you fail to do so, you will need to pay $50 to apply for a PR card later.

Immigration Lawyer (Optional Fee)

Many candidates choose to hire an immigration lawyer for expert help and guidance throughout the process. Legal fees can vary a lot, depending on the law firm and how complex your specific case is. Legal fees typically range from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the firm and the amount of help you need.

Some individuals only seek limited help, such as assistance with submitting their initial Express Entry profile or gathering their supporting documents. Others may want end-to-end assistance, which includes preparing and submitting the full PR application after they receive an ITA.

The benefits of using an experienced immigration lawyer include:

  • Optimizing your CRS score to give you the best chance of receiving an ITA.
  • Navigating complex cases, which may involve complicated work history, family relationship issues, being previously removed from Canada, concerns about being inadmissible, and more.
  • Comprehensive document preparation to make sure all supporting documents are included, correct, and meet the high standards set by IRCC.
  • Avoiding unnecessary and costly mistakes. This helps speed up the process, prevents a refusal of your application, and avoids misrepresentation, which can lead to big fines, charges, and even a five-year ban from Canada.
  • Personalized legal advice and risk mitigation to make sure you are set up for success, from the beginning to the end of the process.
  • Peace of mind knowing your case is being handled by a trained professional can reduce stress and uncertainty during this important life change.

Settlement Funds (Financial Requirement, Not A Fee)

While this is not a fee that you pay to the government, you must be able to show that you have enough money to settle in Canada and support yourself and your family when you arrive. This requirement applies unless you are applying through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or already have a valid job offer in Canada.

The amount of money you need for settlement funds depends on the size of your family. For a family of one, you must show you have at least $15,263 in available funds (if this requirement applies to you). Moreover, you must be able to show this amount when submitting your PR application and when you are finally issued your PR visa. The amounts change yearly, so you must always check the latest required amount.

About The Express Entry System

As we have discussed how much it costs to immigrate through Express Entry, now let us understand how Express Entry works.  

Well, Express Entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.

To be eligible for Express Entry, you must meet the requirements of one of the following three federal economic immigration programs:

  1. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  2. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  3. The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Once you are sure you qualify for one of these, you fill out and submit an Express Entry profile to be placed into the pool of candidates. Moreover, there is no fee to submit this profile.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) gives your profile a score. This score is based on factors like your age, language skills, education, and work experience. Your score will be between 0 and 1,200 points.

The federal government regularly holds an Express Entry draw. In these draws, the candidates with the highest CRS scores receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence.

You must score the same as or higher than the draw’s CRS cut-off score to receive an invitation.

To apply for PR after getting an ITA, you must fill out the application form in your IRCC secure account, upload all the necessary documents shown in your personalized checklist, pay the application fees, and submit your complete application.

CWRVisa, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at CWRVisa.ca.