How Much Does Canadian Citizenship Cost in 2026? Full Fee Breakdown
The Canadian citizenship cost in 2026 is $653 for an adult applicant and $100 for a child under 18. The adult total is a $530 processing fee plus a $123 right of citizenship fee. Those are the government fees set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and they are the same across the country.
Why the exact citizenship fee matters before you apply
Paying the wrong amount is one of the simplest ways to stall a citizenship application. If your payment does not match the fee for your applicant type, IRCC can return the application as incomplete, and you start the wait over. The fee also changed recently: the right of citizenship fee rose on March 31, 2026, so older guides and competitor blogs still quoting a $630 adult total are out of date. Confirm the current amounts on the official IRCC fee list before you pay, then keep your receipt with your application.
Canadian citizenship cost breakdown (2026 IRCC fees)
Here is what each citizenship application and service costs in Canadian dollars, taken directly from IRCC's fee list.
Application or service | Fee (CAD) | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
Adult (18 and over) | $653 | Processing fee ($530) plus right of citizenship fee ($123) |
Minor (under 18) | $100 | Processing fee only (no right of citizenship fee) |
Stateless adult born to a Canadian parent | $123 | Right of citizenship fee only |
Proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate) | $75 | Certificate confirming you are already a citizen |
Search of citizenship records | $75 | A search of your citizenship record |
Resume citizenship (adult) | $530 | For former citizens applying to get it back |
Renounce citizenship | $100 | To give up Canadian citizenship |
Source: IRCC citizenship and immigration application fees. Verified August 2026.
What the right of citizenship fee is (and who does not pay it)
The right of citizenship fee is a $123 fee, separate from the processing fee, that you pay before you can become a citizen. For an adult grant application you pay it upfront together with the $530 processing fee, which is why the adult total is $653. Minors under 18 do not pay the right of citizenship fee, so a child's citizenship application costs only the $100 processing fee. If you are ever asked to pay the right of citizenship fee on its own, IRCC lists it separately at $123. These figures come from IRCC's notice on the right of citizenship fee, which confirmed the increase from $119.75 to $123 effective March 31, 2026.
The real cost of Canadian citizenship: what the sticker fee leaves out
The $653 is the government fee, not the full cost of becoming a citizen. In practice, applicants in Metro Vancouver and elsewhere routinely spend more once you add the items IRCC does not charge for but that your application still needs. Budget for these before you apply:
Citizenship photos that meet the specifications (two photos, taken to IRCC's rules)
Certified translations of any document not in English or French
A police certificate, only if IRCC asks for one to assess your case
The cost of a Canadian passport after you are approved, which is a separate application with its own fee
When explaining this to clients, the point the team at Ansari Immigration makes is simple: plan for the total, not the sticker price, so an approval is not held up by a document you did not budget the time or money to get. There is no separate fee for the citizenship test or the interview, and citizenship applicants do not pay a biometrics fee. Once the fees are paid, the wait becomes the next question, and our guide to citizenship application processing time sets out what to expect.
Can you get the citizenship fee back?
Sometimes. IRCC's refund rules say that if you withdraw your application before processing begins, you get a full refund. Once processing has started, only certain fees can be refunded, and the right of citizenship fee is one of them, so the $123 can be refunded if your application is refused or you withdraw. That refund is not instant: it is generally returned right away when you withdraw, but on a refusal there is a waiting period before it is refunded. The $530 processing fee is generally not refundable once IRCC has started reviewing your application. You can read the current rules on the official ask for a refund page.
Have you already started saving for the extra costs beyond the government fee, or did the passport and translation expenses catch you by surprise? Share what your citizenship application actually cost in the comments so others can budget realistically. Keep it general, and for advice on your own file, use a consultation.
How you pay the citizenship fee
You pay IRCC citizenship fees online. You sign in to your IRCC secure account, choose to pay your fees, select the correct applicant type (adult or minor), and pay by credit card, prepaid card, or debit card. IRCC emails you a receipt, and you include a copy of that receipt with your application. If you are also getting your permanent residence documents in order first, our guide to permanent residence in Canada walks through the step that comes before citizenship.
Not sure whether your household should apply together and what that adds up to? That is a 30-minute question, and Ansari Immigration's licensed RCIC can price it out with you before you file.
Frequently asked questions about Canadian citizenship cost
How much does citizenship cost in Canada?
For an adult, Canadian citizenship costs $653: a $530 processing fee plus a $123 right of citizenship fee. For a child under 18, it costs $100, which is the processing fee only.
How much is the right of citizenship fee in 2026?
The right of citizenship fee is $123 for adults. It increased from $119.75 on March 31, 2026. Minors under 18 do not pay it.
How much does citizenship cost for a child?
A minor under 18 pays a $100 processing fee. Children do not pay the right of citizenship fee, so $100 is the full government fee for a child's citizenship application.
Can I get a refund of the citizenship fee?
If you withdraw before IRCC starts processing, you get a full refund. After processing starts, the $123 right of citizenship fee can be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn, but the $530 processing fee is generally not refundable.
How much does proof of citizenship cost?
A citizenship certificate, which is proof that you are already a Canadian citizen, costs $75. This is different from applying to become a citizen.
Is there a separate fee for the citizenship test?
No. There is no separate fee for the citizenship test or the interview. Both are included in the application fee, and citizenship applicants do not pay a biometrics fee.
Related Posts
Canada Citizenship Application Processing Time in 2026: How long IRCC currently takes to process a citizenship grant and what affects your timeline.
Canadian Citizenship Test 2026: What to Expect and How to Prepare: What the test covers, who has to take it, and how to get ready.
How to Check Citizenship Application Status in Canada (2026): The ways to track your citizenship application after you apply and pay.
Why work with Ansari Immigration
Doing it alone: you total the government fees yourself, hope you have chosen the right applicant type for everyone in the household, and find out after filing whether the package was complete.
With Ansari Immigration ($1,000 flat for citizenship representation, quoted upfront, additional family members quoted separately): the firm's licensed RCIC, regulated by CICC, prices your file, prepares the application, and handles the IRCC correspondence, with direct access to your consultant throughout. A citizenship consultation is $80 for 30 minutes.
Would you rather file this yourself or have it checked first? Tell us in the comments, and book a citizenship consultation when you want a straight answer on your situation.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.
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