Family Reunification Cost Calculator Canada 2026

Total cost of sponsoring family to Canada — IRCC fees, RPRF, biometrics, medical exams, translations, and Quebec MIFI fees.

Key Takeaways

  • IRCC fees are updated each April. The calculator lets you select the schedule year to model current and upcoming cost projections.
  • The sponsorship application fee is a flat $75 regardless of relationship type or family size.
  • RPRF is $575 per adult and does not apply to dependent children under 22.
  • Biometrics are capped at a family maximum ($170 for 2+ persons applying together) — large families don't pay per-person biometrics.
  • Quebec sponsors pay the federal IRCC fees PLUS a Quebec MIFI undertaking fee (approximately $322). This is in addition to, not instead of, the federal fees.
  • Peripheral costs (medical exams, police certificates, translations) are mid-range estimates in Canadian dollars; actual amounts vary widely by country of origin, currency, and service provider.

Family Reunification Total Cost Calculator

Sponsoring a family member to Canada involves more than just the IRCC application fee. The full cost includes government processing fees, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), biometrics (capped at the family maximum), and a range of peripheral costs — medical exams, police certificates, certified translations, photos, courier shipping, and notary attestations. Quebec sponsors also pay an additional provincial engagement fee to MIFI.

This calculator totals every expected cost for a family sponsorship application based on the relationship type (spouse, partner, dependent child, parent, or grandparent), the number of accompanying dependents, your sponsor region (Quebec vs rest of Canada), and which peripheral costs you need. It returns a per-category subtotal (IRCC, peripheral, Quebec) and a grand total so you can budget the application realistically.

How It Works

Select the relationship of the sponsored person, the number of accompanying dependents (typically the sponsored person's children), your province (Quebec or rest of Canada), and which peripheral costs to include (medical exams, police certificates, translations). Select the fee schedule year — IRCC updates the schedule each April.

The calculator applies the IRCC fee schedule for the selected year, computes the sponsorship application fee, principal applicant processing fee, dependent children processing fees, RPRF (adults only), and biometrics (capped at the family maximum for families of 3+). Peripheral costs are applied per-adult and per-child using mid-range estimates. Quebec sponsors see an additional MIFI engagement fee line item.

IRCC Fee Breakdown

The IRCC fee schedule for family sponsorship includes several distinct line items. The sponsorship application fee ($75) is paid once per application, regardless of how many people are being sponsored. The principal applicant processing fee ($490 for adults, $155 for dependent children under 22) covers the PR application itself. Each additional accompanying dependent child adds another $155 processing fee.

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) is $575 and is charged per adult when PR is approved. Dependent children under 22 are exempt from RPRF. Biometrics are $85 per person but capped at a family maximum of $170 for families applying together. For a spouse-plus-two-children application, biometrics total $170 (capped), not $255 (3 × $85).

Peripheral Cost Estimates

Peripheral costs are the non-IRCC expenses required to assemble a complete application. These include upfront medical exams by an IRCC-approved panel physician (typically $200-400 per adult, $150-250 per child depending on country), police certificates from every country where the sponsored person has lived for 6+ months since age 18 (typically $30-100 per certificate), certified translations of foreign documents into English or French (typically $40-80 per document), and courier fees for document shipping.

The calculator uses mid-range estimates in Canadian dollars. Actual costs vary by country of origin, the number of supporting documents required, the complexity of the case (e.g., previous marriages, multiple police jurisdictions), and service provider pricing. Sponsors in high-cost countries should budget 1.5-2x the estimate; sponsors with simple profiles may pay closer to the low end.

Quebec-Specific Costs

Quebec sponsors pay an additional MIFI undertaking fee (approximately $322) on top of the federal IRCC fees. This fee covers the provincial engagement (engagement de parrainage) — a separate document from the federal undertaking that creates an additional financial obligation under Quebec law.

The Quebec engagement is required for all family sponsorships where the sponsor resides in Quebec, regardless of whether the sponsored person is a spouse, child, parent, or other relative. Unlike the federal undertaking, which is handled by IRCC, the Quebec engagement is administered by MIFI (Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration) and creates a debt collectable by the Quebec government if the sponsored person receives Quebec social assistance during the undertaking period.

Key Facts

  • IRCC publishes family sponsorship fees in a multi-year schedule. Fees typically increase 2-5% per year.
  • The principal applicant processing fee for a dependent child ($155) is much lower than for an adult ($490), reflecting the reduced processing complexity.
  • Biometrics are required for all applicants aged 14 and over; younger children are exempt.
  • The Quebec MIFI engagement fee (~$322) is unique to Quebec-resident sponsors. Federal sponsors outside Quebec do not pay this fee.
  • Medical exams are valid for 12 months. Police certificates are valid for varying periods depending on the issuing country (typically 6 months to 1 year).

FAQ

Are the peripheral cost estimates accurate for my country?

The estimates are mid-range values in Canadian dollars that reflect typical costs across common source countries. Actual costs vary — medical exams in the US/UK/EU are often at the higher end, while exams in South Asia or Africa may be at the lower end. Sponsors should treat the calculator output as a rough budget and verify specific costs with panel physicians and police certificate issuers in each relevant country.

Why does Quebec cost more than other provinces?

Quebec sponsors pay the same federal IRCC fees as other provinces, plus an additional provincial engagement fee (~$322) to MIFI. The additional fee reflects Quebec's independent administration of its own immigration selection system under the Canada-Quebec Accord (1991). Only sponsors who reside in Quebec at the time of application pay this fee.

Do I pay the biometrics fee even if the sponsored person has given biometrics before?

Biometrics collected for a previous IRCC application are valid for 10 years for temporary resident applications (visitor, work, study), but are NOT transferable to a permanent residence sponsorship application. You will pay the biometrics fee again for the family sponsorship, even if the sponsored person gave biometrics for a recent visitor visa.

Can I get a refund if my sponsorship is refused?

The sponsorship application fee ($75) and the principal applicant processing fee ($490/$155) are non-refundable regardless of outcome. The RPRF ($575) IS refunded if your sponsorship is refused or withdrawn — it's only collected when PR is granted. Peripheral costs (medical, police, translations) are not refundable because they are paid to third parties.

How often do IRCC fees change?

IRCC typically updates fees each April. Recent increases have been in the 2-5% range, though some years see larger adjustments. The calculator lets you select the fee schedule year to model upcoming cost changes — budget for the year your application will be processed, not the year you submit it.

Updated April 2026. Information on this page is provided for educational purposes only. Tax rules, rates, and government programs may change — verify details with the CRA or a qualified financial advisor.