5. Pay the fees and send in your application

When you send your application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you must include proof that you’ve paid the processing fees.

If you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner and your application includes a dependent child, the fee for the child is $150. If the child is not included with a spouse or partner, the child is what IRCC calls the “principal applicant”. The fee for the child is still $150.

There is also a biometrics fee of $85. If you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner with a child or children, the maximum fee is $170. This applies to a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time and place.

If you sponsor a dependent child on their own, they also have to pay $500 as a right of permanent residence fee. You can wait to pay this fee until the application is approved. But if you do this, it might take longer for the child to arrive in Canada. If you pay the fee when you apply, IRCC gives the money back to you if they refuse the application.

How to pay

You pay your fees online using a credit card or a Canadian debit card. You need to give IRCC an email address. They email you a receipt. You must print the receipt and include it with your application.

Before you send in your application

Review your document checklist to make sure you have completed and signed the most recent versions of all the forms and included all the documents that IRCC asks for.

If you’re not sure about something, ask for information from a community agency or get legal help.

Sending in your application

Organize the application in the following order:

• your completed checklist on top
• the barcode pages next
• all of the other documents in the order shown on the checklist

Make a copy of your application and every document you include with it, and keep them in a safe place.

Send the application by courier or registered mail and ask for proof that it’s delivered to the IRCC Case Processing Centre. Keep your proof of delivery.