The Canadian federal government has recently issued a notice regarding adjustments to fees associated with Canadian citizenship applications. According to the latest regulation, the 'Right of Citizenship Fee' applicable to adult applicants will officially increase starting midnight on March 31, 2025.
Permanent residents (aged 18 and older) applying for Canadian citizenship on or after this date will be subject to the new Right of Citizenship Fee of $119.75 CAD. Previously, this fee was $100 CAD.
It is important to note that adults (18 years and older) applying for Canadian citizenship are typically required to pay two fees:
- Processing fee: $530 CAD (this fee remains unchanged)
- Right of citizenship fee: The new standard is $119.75 CAD
Therefore, following this adjustment, the total cost for an adult applying for Canadian citizenship will increase from the previous 630CAD(630CAD(530 CAD + $100 CAD) to 649.75CAD(649.75CAD(530 CAD + $119.75 CAD), representing an increase of $19.75 CAD.
Who is affected?
All permanent residents aged 18 and older submitting their citizenship application on or after midnight, March 31, 2025.Stateless adults born outside Canada to a Canadian parent must also pay the increased Right of Citizenship Fee when applying for citizenship.Adult applicants who submitted paper applications before the deadline may be required to pay the difference of $19.75 CAD if their fee processing is not completed before the new policy takes effect.
Who is not affected?
Adult applicants who submitted a complete online application via the online system and successfully paid the $100 CAD Right of Citizenship Fee before midnight on March 31, 2025.Minor applicants (under 18 years of age). They are only required to pay a $100 CAD processing fee for their citizenship application, which remains unchanged, and they are exempt from the Right of Citizenship Fee.
Regarding becoming a Canadian citizen through naturalization:
According to the Canadian Citizenship Act, permanent residents can become Canadian citizens through naturalization if they meet specific criteria. Key requirements include:
- Holding valid Canadian permanent resident status;
- Meeting residency requirements: having physically resided in Canada for at least 1,095 days (equivalent to three years) within the five years preceding the application;
- Having filed taxes as legally required within that five-year period;
- Passing the Canadian citizenship test (for applicants aged 18 to 54);
- Demonstrating English or French language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher.
Notably, minor applicants are exempt from the physical presence requirement mentioned above.
Once the application is approved, applicants formally become Canadian citizens at a citizenship ceremony (which can be virtual or in-person). During the ceremony, applicants aged 14 and older must take the Oath of Citizenship.
