A Canadian visitor visa costs CAD 100 per person, but that is not always the amount you will pay. Someone who needs to provide biometrics may face a higher total. A student, an open work permit applicant and a family travelling together need different calculations.
This Canada visa fees guide separates those situations so you can build a realistic application budget without treating every charge as a government visa fee. It covers temporary residence, not permanent residence or citizenship applications.
Fee check: September 17, 2026. Amounts below are in Canadian dollars. Recheck your application category before payment; exemptions, program-specific rules and later fee changes can affect the amount due.
Canada visa fees at a glance
| Application or charge | Standard fee, CAD |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa, per person | 100 |
| Study permit | 150 |
| Work permit | 155 |
| Open work permit holder charge, where applicable | 100 additional |
| Biometrics, per individual | 85 |
| Electronic travel authorization, or eTA | 7 |
These are separate fee items, not interchangeable application options. Check the official IRCC fee list against the application you are actually submitting.
Four example totals, with the assumptions shown
The following calculations are illustrations, not personalised payment instructions. Each assumes one applicant, no fee exemption and a requirement to provide biometrics now. They exclude private services and any additional program-specific charges.
- Visitor: CAD 100 application charge plus CAD 85 biometrics equals CAD 185.
- Student: CAD 150 permit charge plus CAD 85 biometrics equals CAD 235.
- Standard employer-specific work permit applicant: CAD 155 plus CAD 85 equals CAD 240.
- Open work permit applicant subject to the holder charge: CAD 155 plus CAD 100 plus CAD 85 equals CAD 340.
Use the example matching your route, then check each assumption. If biometrics are not required for your application, do not automatically add that component. Likewise, a work permit exemption or a distinct program can make the standard work example unsuitable.
For a study permit application from outside Canada, IRCC says a required visa or eTA is issued with the permit without a separate application fee for that travel document. Do not automatically add the visitor visa price to the student example. A later, separate application needs its own payment check.
For planning, label your calculation with the application type and the date checked. A saved total without its assumptions is easy to misread months later or pass to a friend whose circumstances differ.
Family applications: two different maximum fees
A qualifying family of five or more can pay a maximum visitor visa fee of CAD 500 when applying at the same time and place; children must qualify as dependants. Separately, eligible families of two or more applying together can have a CAD 170 biometrics maximum.
If a family qualifies for both caps and needs biometrics, the combined illustration is CAD 670. This is not a universal group rate. Friends, colleagues or extended relatives should not assume that travelling together makes them eligible.
Create one row per applicant in your budget. Record their relationship, application category and whether biometrics are needed. Only then apply a family cap to the eligible group. This is especially useful when a household includes a student, a worker and visitors: one shared travel plan does not mean one shared application category.
Check existing biometrics before budgeting for another appointment
IRCC says biometrics for temporary residence are valid for ten years. If you have already provided them within that period, they can normally be attached to a new visitor, study or work application without a fresh collection each time. Use IRCC’s biometrics status tool to check the actual expiry date.
There is an important trade-off: a visa or permit cannot be issued beyond the biometrics expiry date. Applicants seeking longer document validity may choose to provide biometrics again when applying. Follow the current instructions, pay the applicable fee and wait for the new biometric instruction letter before arranging collection.
For a household budget, distinguish three cases: valid biometrics being reused, new collection required, or voluntary recollection under IRCC’s instructions. Do not treat a previous Canadian trip as proof that usable biometrics must already be on file.
Why an eTA is not a cheaper visa you can simply choose
The CAD 7 eTA belongs to a different travel-authorization route. Whether you can use it depends on your passport and other eligibility conditions, including the way you travel. It is not a discounted substitute available to every visitor visa applicant.
For an eligible traveller, the official application uses passport details, an email address and an accepted payment method. The eTA charge is non-refundable. Use the Government of Canada’s application route rather than assuming a higher-priced commercial package is the government price.
Before comparing prices, establish the document you need. Shopping for the lowest application charge first can leave you paying for something that does not match your circumstances.
Work permit costs: separate the worker’s bill from the employer’s
For many hires under the International Mobility Program, the employer submits an offer through the Employer Portal and pays a CAD 230 employer compliance fee. That is an employer-side requirement, not a charge to automatically add to every worker’s personal permit total.
The employer compliance step generally does not apply when hiring someone with an open work permit. Other hiring streams and exemptions have different rules. Ask which program the offer uses before relying on an estimate from a recruiter or comparing it with another applicant’s costs.
Request an itemised explanation if someone offers a single “Canada work visa package.” Separate your application charges, any employer obligations and optional professional services. A payment demand described only as a visa fee is not enough information for a useful comparison.
What the application budget still needs to include
The government total is only one line in your planning sheet. Depending on your checklist and circumstances, you may also need to budget for photographs, translations, medical examinations, document delivery or travel to a collection location. Obtain relevant local quotations rather than assigning everyone a universal surcharge.
Keep tuition deposits and living expenses outside the application-fee subtotal. The same applies to the funds you must demonstrate to support your stay: money shown as available for your trip is not automatically money paid to IRCC.
A practical budget can therefore have three totals: the government amount due, other application-related spending, and the money needed for the visit or intended stay. Keeping them separate makes it easier to spot double counting when comparing a consultant’s estimate with your own.
Pay through the right route and retain the evidence
Payment instructions vary with the application and how it is submitted. Follow the payment stage in your official application workflow or its specific guide; do not assume every application requires a separately purchased receipt.
Save the receipt and submission confirmation, along with a short note identifying the applicant and fee components. If paying with a card billed in another currency, distinguish the Canadian-dollar government amount from any conversion or bank charge on your statement.
If a checkout page times out, review your account messages and transaction status before repeatedly trying to pay. Keep screenshots with sensitive details protected, and use the official support route if the payment outcome remains unclear.
Can you get Canada visa fees refunded?
A refusal does not automatically return your application processing fee. IRCC distinguishes fee types and whether processing has started. Withdrawal before processing begins can qualify for a full refund; after processing begins, only specified fee categories may be refundable.
The method for requesting money back also depends on how you paid. Follow IRCC’s official refund instructions for your payment route. Keep your receipt number available rather than starting with a new payment or assuming a refund request withdraws an application.
IRCC lists an eligible open work permit holder fee and an employer compliance fee among particular refundable categories, with the latter returned to the employer. Do not interpret these exceptions as a promise that every work-related payment will be returned.
Before you press Pay
Confirm the application category, each family member’s position, biometrics validity, applicable exemptions and the current amount displayed. Check that your total excludes charges belonging to someone else and that you understand what will happen if you withdraw.
A reliable Canada visa fees estimate is a conditional calculation, not a promise of approval. This guide is independent general information; GlobalVisora is not affiliated with IRCC and cannot determine an individual application outcome.