Canada
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST): government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Source auto-reconfirmed 23 July 2026 by the daily automated check (figures unchanged since last review).
Canada Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades costs CAD 1,675 in IRCC government fees for a single principal applicant, plus mandatory language testing and any trade-certificate assessment or exam cost where the applicant does not rely on a qualifying job offer.
These are the fees paid to the Canada government. You pay these directly as part of your application. Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.
How much does the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) cost in Canada?
Canada Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades costs CAD 1,675 in IRCC government fees for a single principal applicant, plus mandatory language testing and any trade-certificate assessment or exam cost where the applicant does not rely on a qualifying job offer.
Verified against IRCC - Fee list for permanent residence applications on 1 July 2026.
Headline total
CA$1,675
Single FST principal applicant, no dependants
No changes recorded for this figure since 1 July 2026.
Currency
CAD (Canadian dollar)
Last checked
1 July 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
Application processing fee (principal applicant)# Economic immigration processing fee for Express Entry, including Federal Skilled Trades. Raised in the 30 April 2026 IRCC fee increase. | CA$990 | Yes |
Right of Permanent Residence Fee# Payable before PR is finalised; refundable if the application is refused or withdrawn. | CA$600 | Yes |
Biometrics (principal)# Family biometric cap: CAD 170 for 2+ eligible family members applying together. | CA$85 | Yes |
Language test (approved English or French test, indicative)# Third-party cost, not paid to IRCC. FST requires CLB 5 speaking/listening and CLB 4 reading/writing; provider and country pricing vary. | CA$320 | Optional |
Certificate of Qualification assessment or exam# Conditional third-party/provincial cost. FST requires either a qualifying Canadian job offer or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority; assessment and exam fees vary by trade and province. | Variable | Optional |
Spouse / common-law partner processing fee# | CA$990per spouse | Optional |
Spouse Right of Permanent Residence Fee# | CA$600per spouse | Optional |
Dependant child fee# | CA$270per child | Optional |
Worked example
Single FST principal applicant, no dependants — CA$1,675
- CAD 990 processing fee
- CAD 600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee
- CAD 85 biometrics
- Plus an approved language test and any trade-certificate assessment/exam cost paid to third parties
How to read these fees
The CA$1,675 headline covers single FST principal applicant, no dependants. Of the 8 components listed above, 3 are mandatory and 5 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Application processing fee (principal applicant) at CA$990.
Bringing family changes the total — see the dependant section below. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.
Dependant fees
Spouse or common-law partner adds CAD 990 processing + CAD 600 RPRF. Each dependent child adds CAD 270. Family biometrics are capped at CAD 170 for eligible family members applying together.
Why fees change
IRCC raised economic permanent-residence fees on 30 April 2026: principal processing is CAD 990, RPRF is CAD 600, and dependent children are CAD 270. Biometrics remain CAD 85 for an individual. Language-test and trade-certification costs move on provider and provincial schedules.
Primary source
IRCC - Fee list for permanent residence applications
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) fee schedule", https://visaatlas.org/fees/canada/express-entry-fst. Last verified 1 July 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/fees
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) cost in government fees?
Canada Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades costs CAD 1,675 in IRCC government fees for a single principal applicant, plus mandatory language testing and any trade-certificate assessment or exam cost where the applicant does not rely on a qualifying job offer. The worked example assumes single fst principal applicant, no dependants, totalling CA$1,675. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.
Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?
Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.
How often do these fees change?
IRCC raised economic permanent-residence fees on 30 April 2026: principal processing is CAD 990, RPRF is CAD 600, and dependent children are CAD 270. Biometrics remain CAD 85 for an individual. Language-test and trade-certification costs move on provider and provincial schedules.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
Spouse or common-law partner adds CAD 990 processing + CAD 600 RPRF. Each dependent child adds CAD 270. Family biometrics are capped at CAD 170 for eligible family members applying together.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST).
Processing time
How long the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) takes from application to decision.
Compare: Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) fees
Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience.
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.