Canada
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 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-linked PNP costs CAD 1,675 in federal IRCC fees for a single principal applicant, plus the province-specific nomination fee. An Ontario Express Entry worked case is CAD 3,175 before third-party test, ECA, medical, police-certificate and translation costs.
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 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) cost in Canada?
Canada Express Entry-linked PNP costs CAD 1,675 in federal IRCC fees for a single principal applicant, plus the province-specific nomination fee. An Ontario Express Entry worked case is CAD 3,175 before third-party test, ECA, medical, police-certificate and translation costs.
Verified against IRCC - Fee list for permanent residence applications on 1 July 2026.
Headline total
CA$3,175
Single Ontario Express Entry nominee, 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? |
|---|---|---|
Express Entry profile submission# Creating or updating an Express Entry profile is the pool-entry step; IRCC charges federal fees after invitation to apply. | CA$0 | Yes |
Provincial nomination application/service fee# Province-specific. Ontario Express Entry streams publish a CAD 1,500 application fee; Alberta worker streams publish a CAD 1,500 application fee and a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee. Verify the nominating province before applying. | Variable | Yes |
Permanent residence processing fee (principal applicant)# Economic permanent-residence processing fee for the principal applicant. IRCC increased this fee on 30 April 2026. | CA$990 | Yes |
Right of Permanent Residence Fee# Payable before PR is finalised; refundable by IRCC if the application is refused or withdrawn before landing. | 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. Express Entry requires approved language results; provider and country pricing vary. | CA$320 | Optional |
Educational Credential Assessment (foreign education, indicative)# Needed for many foreign-educated Express Entry candidates, especially where the underlying federal program is FSW or where education is used for CRS points. | CA$230 | 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 Ontario Express Entry nominee, no dependants — CA$3,175
- CAD 1,500 Ontario Express Entry stream application fee
- CAD 990 federal PR processing fee
- CAD 600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee
- CAD 85 biometrics
- Plus language test, ECA, medical exam, police certificates and any translations paid to third parties
How to read these fees
The CA$3,175 headline covers single Ontario Express Entry nominee, no dependants. Of the 10 components listed above, 5 are mandatory and 5 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Permanent residence 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.
Provincial fees are not uniform. Ontario Express Entry streams publish CAD 1,500; Alberta worker streams publish CAD 1,500 plus a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee; other provinces set their own schedules.
Why fees change
IRCC raised economic permanent-residence fees on 30 April 2026. Provincial nominee fees move independently: Ontario updated OINP pages in June 2026 during a redesign, while Alberta introduced a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee in April 2026 and keeps worker stream application fees at CAD 1,500.
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, "Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) fee schedule", https://visaatlas.org/fees/canada/pnp. Last verified 1 July 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/fees
Primary sources (5)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) cost in government fees?
Canada Express Entry-linked PNP costs CAD 1,675 in federal IRCC fees for a single principal applicant, plus the province-specific nomination fee. An Ontario Express Entry worked case is CAD 3,175 before third-party test, ECA, medical, police-certificate and translation costs. The worked example assumes single ontario express entry nominee, no dependants, totalling CA$3,175. 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. Provincial nominee fees move independently: Ontario updated OINP pages in June 2026 during a redesign, while Alberta introduced a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee in April 2026 and keeps worker stream application fees at CAD 1,500.
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 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Processing time
How long the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) takes from application to decision.
Compare: Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC) fees
Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience.
Compare: Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) fees
Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.