Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs) – Intake – Payments for Fees

There are two types of fees, namely processing fees and regulatory charges.

• The processing fee (or the cost recovery fee) refers to the cost for processing an application, specified under the Regulations and for a specified service or for legislated administrative purposes such as enforcement activities:
  • Officers will need to charge fees for processing and not for the results
    • As such, the processing fees is non-refundable, even if the application is unsuccessful or if the client withdraws the application before the authorities render a decision – refer to the section on Refunds for exceptions
  • Officers will not commence the processing of an application until the client has paid the relevant processing fee
• A right confers a special permission or privilege on an individual, for which the individual will need to pay a specific sum of money
  • The two categories of rights fees in the Department comprise:
    • The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) and,
    • The Right of Citizenship Fee (ROCF)

The Citizenship Fees

The Citizenship Act and its Regulations describe the application types of lines of business related to citizenship services. The fee schedule provides the fees which the officers will need to collect for each type of application. Officers will be able to find the authority to charge the prescribed fees in:

• Section 27 of the Citizenship Act and,
• Section 31 of the Regulations

It is worth mentioning that all citizenship grant applications for people 18 years of age or older will require a processing fee and a Right of Citizenship Fee (ROCF). Applicants will need to pay the Right of Citizenship Fee (ROCF) at the same time as the processing fee. Otherwise, the officers will not process the application. However, applications for minors will not need to pay the Right of Citizenship Fee (ROCF). This is in accordance with the provisions specified in 5 (2) (a).

In some cases, officers might need to issue refunds for the processing fee and / or the Right of Citizenship Fee (ROCF). They will be able to come across information pertaining to these situations in the section on Refunds.

The Immigration Fees

For immigration cases, the authority to charge the prescribed fees remains based on:

• Section 89 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and,
• Paragraphs 19 (1) (a) and 9.1 (a) of the Financial Administration Act

The Temporary Residence Fees

The authorities require clients to pay the appropriate processing fees for a variety of temporary resident services such as Work Permits (WPs), Study Permits (SPs), Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs), Visitor Records (VRs), extensions and enforcement services.

Similarly, the authorities charge restoration fees as well. The processing fee for restoring a temporary resident status is $200. Clients applying for the restoration of their temporary resident status as a:

• Visitor will need to pay $200, which includes the processing fee of $75 for a visitor record
• Worker or student will need to pay the applicable processing fee for the permit they need, in addition to the restoration fee of $200

There are some exemptions that apply to the temporary residence processing fee.

The Permanent Residence Fees

For permanent resident applications, applicants will need to pay two types of fees. These include:

• The processing fee and,
• The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) formerly went by the name of the Right of Landing Fee. Applicants will need to pay this for the right to obtain permanent resident status in Canada. This fee is partial compensation for the numerous benefits and privileges that permanent resident status confers. However, only applicants aged 22 years or older will need to pay this fee.

With effect from February 28, 1995, the authorities introduced a Right of Landing Fee (ROLF) of $975. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the authorities retitled this as the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), which is the name that the authorities have used in this section.

The authorities recognise that permanent residence has a value – both tangible and intangible – attached to it. There is an economic or market value that arises from an enhanced opportunity for improving one’s economic condition. In addition, there is also the value of having access to a wide range programs and services provided by the state at no or minimal cost. There is also an intangible value to having permanent resident status in Canada. The fee is therefore, partial compensation for the benefits that accrue to the person who acquires permanent resident status and serves to defray various costs incurred by the authorities in delivering the immigration program.

The authorities included the announcement of the fee in the 1995 Federal Budget. Similarly, the authorities expanded the Immigrant Loans Program for including provisions for a federal loan to assist immigrants in the payment of this new fee. The Regulations typically indicate the broad eligibility for a loan. Hence, the criteria established serve to focus on the need and the ability to repay the loan. Initially, refugees were the primary recipients of Right of Landing Fees (ROLF) loans.

Since March 2000, the authorities have exempted applicants for permanent residence whom the authorities have determined to be refugees or members of the humanitarian protected persons abroad classes from having to pay the Right or Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). Since this change came into effect, the demand for loans has dramatically decreased. In order to help alleviate the economic burden of immigrating, Budget 2006 included a reduction of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee to $490.

The Change in Terminology

With the coming into force of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the authorities no longer use the term ‘landing’. Instead, they consider clients as having acquired permanent resident status. The only exception to this are clients who become permanent residents under the provisions specified in A25 and who receive permanent resident status from the Minister.

The Legislative Authority

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) comes within the authority of section 19.1 of the Financial Administration Act (FAA). This section permits the charging of fees for the rights or privileges that the authorities might grant or confer on a person.

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) describe the fee and remission provisions. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) remission comes under the authority of section 23 (2.1) of the Financial Administration Act (FAA).

The Exemptions to the Payment of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)

Exemptions for the payment of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) only apply to:

• Protected persons
• Dependent children who are principal applicants or,
• Dependent children who are family members of the principal applicant

In addition, the following individuals do not need to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF):

• People who are family members and are dependent children of a principal applicant as defined in R1 (3)
  • This could typically include applicants who are 19 years of age or older and who might be spouses or common-law partners while still maintaining status as dependent children
  • Officers will need to refer to the definition of dependent child given in R2 (b) (ii)
• Principal applicants in Canada who have made applications in accordance with the provisions specified in R66 [Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C)] and who are dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Members of the permit holder class who are dependent children of members of the permit holder class who have made applications to remain in Canada as permanent residents or those who are dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• People who are members of the protected temporary residents class and are described in R151.1 (2) and the family members included in their applications
• Principal applicants who are foreign nationals and who are referred to in R117 (1) namely:
  • Dependent children of the sponsor
  • Orphaned brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews or grandchildren or,
  • Children seeking adoption
• Protected persons within the meaning given in A95 (2) who have applied to remain in Canada as permanent residents and their family members
• People who are members of the Convention Refugees Abroad Class and the family members included in their application and,
• People who are members of the Humanitarian Protected Persons Abroad classes and the family members included in their applications

The Payment of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)

The authorities require applicants to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) prior to the issuance of the permanent resident visa for applications processed at visa offices or the permanent resident record for applicants in Canada. Thus, each contact with the applicant will need to include a reminder that the applicant needs to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) and that the authorities will not issue the visa or that the client will not become a permanent resident (as the case might be) until the authorities receive this payment.

In addition, the officers will need to emphasise that the early payment of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) will avoid delays in finalising the processing of the application for those classes where it is appropriate e.g. priority family class cases. In other cases, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) instructions specify that clients will need to wait to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) until Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) contacts them. This will usually be the case in cases such as family class sponsorships of parents and grandparents, where the processing time is usually longer.

Officers will need to make concerted efforts for soliciting payment at the early stages of processing. However, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will also need to accept the payment of the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), whenever the applicants submit it. This is a requirement of the Financial Administration Act (FAA). In addition, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has no authority for refusing to refund the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) upon the request of a client who has paid this upfront or at any time before the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) is due for visa issuance / permanent residence status. This is a change to the past policy that the authorities would not refund Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) payments already submitted for applications in process, unless they refuse the application or the applicant withdraws it, or in case the application does not result in the granting of permanent residence status.

Situations could arise where clients could complete all the other documentary and regulatory requirements for acquiring permanent resident status but fail to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) and thus, complete the acquisition of the permanent residence process. In this scenario, there is no legal basis for closing the file. In addition, officers cannot consider the file as abandoned either.

For applications processed at the visa offices, the authorities require clients to make the payment prior to the issuance of the Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) i.e. the counterfoil. The authorities will refund this fee at anytime only if the authorities have not yet issued the Permanent Resident Visa (PRV).

For applications processed in Canada, the authorities require clients to make the payment prior to the granting of permanent residence status. The authorities will refund this fee at anytime only if the authorities have not yet granted permanent residence status.

Clients will be able to make payments at local offices, Ports of Entry (POEs) and Case Processing Centres (CPCs).

The Instructions to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Offices in Canada on the Elimination of the Remaining Non-Online Payment Options

As of April 01, 2017, the authorities will eliminate all the remaining non-online payment options previously accepted at inland offices or processing centres.

At Inland Offices and Ports of Entry (POEs)

The clients will be able to pay the fees at a Port of Entry (POE):

• In cash i.e. Canadian currency in Canada or Canadian or US currency at Ports of Entry (POEs)
• With Visa or MasterCard
• By money order, certified cheque or traveller’s cheque or,
• By presenting an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online payment receipt – refer to the section titled ‘Online Payments’ that appears subsequently in this document

The clients will be able to pay their fees at an inland office by presenting an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online payment receipt – refer to the section titled ‘Online Payments’ that appears subsequently in this document.

At Processing Centres

The authorities require that applications sent to a Case Processing Centre (CPC) should include a fee payment issued from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online payment tool – refer to the section titled ‘Online Payments’ that appears subsequently in this document.

It is worth highlighting that the authorities will not accept any other means of payment. As such, officers will return the applications to clients who do not make payments via the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online payment tool. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not pay any service charges for the processing of payments.

For family class cases, clients will need to make all their payments to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) using the processing centre’s procedure. For these cases, officers will not accept the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) payments at visa offices abroad. Members of the same family applying together will be able to pay all the applicable fees on one receipt. When using one receipt, the family members will need to send their application forms in a single envelope.

Clients have the ability to choose to pay their fees by using the online payment tool given on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). To make this payment, the clients will need to create an account. Then, they will need to select the service that they wish to pay for and provide an e-mail address. Once the authorities approve the payment, the client will receive a receipt via e-mail.

The client will need to:

• Make an online payment via credit card and include the CVV code (a numeric three or four digit code usually specified on the back of the credit card):
  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • American Express
  • Japan Credit Bureau (JCB) or,
  • Prepaid credit card
• Make an online payment via debit card from a participating Canadian bank using online Interac or a Visa debit
• Print a copy of the receipt
• Attach a copy of the printed receipt to the application and,
• Send this copy along with the application to the designated Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office for processing in accordance with the application instructions

Note:

• Clients who do not enter a valid CVV and / or address will not be able to make an online payment as the system will decline their transactions
• In case the client does not receive the payment receipt via e-mail, the client will need to return to the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and retrieve their official receipt via the account that they have created

Clients will be able to make payments abroad at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) and at missions or via the online payment tool given on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)

With effect from January 14, 2014, economic and business class applicants outside Canada will be able to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) online by using an accepted credit card i.e. Visa, MasterCard and American Express only.

The Guidelines for Processing Online Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) Payments and Related Refunds

It is worth mentioning that the data capture in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) for online fee payments using Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipts is quite similar to that of payments received at visa offices using POS+ receipts. However, unlike POS+ receipts, officers will integrate the Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipt information entered in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) with Handling Public Monies (HPM) and the Canada Immigration Centre’s (CIC’s) financial system – the Integrated Financial and Material System (IFMS).

The system will generate a Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipt electronically for each completed online fee payment. Thereafter, payers will have the option of printing the receipt and mailing it or submitting it via e-mail as proof of payment.

The Guidelines for Processing Online Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) Payments

• The client will need to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) online via the Canada Immigration Centre (CIC) website by using an accepted credit card i.e. Visa, MasterCard and American Express only
  • Once the authorities approve the online payment, the system will deposit the funds directly into the bank account of the Canada Immigration Centre (CIC) in Ottawa
  • Because of this, the officers will not need to carry out data capture activities in the IMS (SAP of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD)) and POS+
  • As such, the officers will need to exclude these payments from the monthly certification of immigration deposits
  • After a delay of up to three business days, the Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipt number will be available for selection in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)
• Thereafter, the client will need to submit the Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipt to the appropriate visa office as proof of payment
• A Global Case Management System (GCMS) user at the visa office will typically retrieve the Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipt number specified on the receipt submitted by the client (assuming that at least three business days have elapsed) and,
• A Global Case Management System (GCMS) user at the visa office, who is responsible for cost recovery) will need to record the payment for the Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipt under the client’s application and allocate the payment

The Guidelines for Processing the Refunds of Online Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) Payments

• The visa office that recorded or allocated the online payment in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) will need to trigger the refund process in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)
  • Officers will be able to find the details of the visa office that recorded or allocated the online payment in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) in the ‘Create Office’ field on the fee tab in the Global Case Management System (GCMS))
• Similarly, the visa office processing the refund will need to complete the Refund Request Form for Online Payments Only
• A delegated employee who has refund of revenue authority will need to sign the refund request form i.e. Section 34 (restricted to section 20) of the Financial Administration Act
• Officers will need to send the completed form and a copy of the Handling Public Monies (HPM) receipt to National Headquarters (NHQ) Finance
• National Headquarters (NHQ) Finance will need to issue the refund payment within four to six weeks
  • The visa office finance of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) will not need to carry out any interventions

Note:

• Situations could arise where it is not possible to make the refund payment via the original credit card such as in cases where the card has expired (for instance)
• In this scenario, National Headquarters (NHQ) Finance will need to issue a cheque (in the appropriate currency) to the payee and mailing address as specified on the refund request form
• In some cases, sending a cheque from Canada might not be possible
• In this scenario, National Headquarters (NHQ) Finance will need to communicate with the client for identifying alternate methods of payment

The Guidelines Pertaining to Communications with Applicants

It is worth highlighting that there are wide variations in banking conditions from one visa office to another. As such, the Canada Immigration Centre (CIC) manager and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) will jointly need to decide on the forms of payment abroad on a post-by-post basis. Decisions on alternate banking arrangements for the payment of fees abroad will typically require the approval of the International Region Management Services (IRMS) in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD).

Clients will typically need to include the proof of payment or payment of the appropriate cost recovery processing fees along with the application for the service requested. Officers will not process the application for a service unless the client has paid the correct fee. In addition, officers will not consider the application ‘locked in’ until they have received the fees or the proof of payment.

However, this does not apply to the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). Thus, clients will be able to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) at any point during the process prior to the issuance of the immigrant visa or the acquisition of permanent resident status.

Clients will usually need to pay the biometric fee each time they provide biometric information. The authorities do not expect applicants to pay the biometric fee again if, as part of the same application, an officer requires the applicant to repeat the biometric information collection.