Quick answer: For a standard spouse or partner sponsorship application submitted after the April 30, 2026 fee increase, the core IRCC government fees are $1,260 CAD: a $90 sponsorship fee, $570 sponsored principal applicant fee and $600 right of permanent residence fee. If the sponsored spouse must also pay the standard individual biometrics fee, add $85, bringing the common federal total to $1,345 CAD. Medical exams, police certificates, translations and professional fees are separate.
Reviewed by Usman Khalil, RCIC R709592 | CPA Ontario C83028834. IRCC fee-change and biometrics pages were rechecked on September 30, 2026.
Spousal Sponsorship Fees in Canada: 2026 Breakdown
| Fee | Current amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship fee | $90 | IRCC family reunification fee effective April 30, 2026. |
| Sponsored principal applicant | $570 | Applies to the spouse or partner being sponsored as the principal applicant. |
| Right of permanent residence fee | $600 | Current RPRF after the April 30, 2026 increase. |
| Core federal total | $1,260 | Before biometrics and third-party costs. |
| Biometrics, individual | $85 | Where biometrics are required. |
| Common total with one biometrics fee | $1,345 | Does not include medical, police, translation or professional costs. |
These are government fees, not MAK professional fees. For MAK’s current service pricing, see the Professional Fees page.
How Much Does It Cost to Sponsor a Spouse to Canada?
For many straightforward spouse or partner sponsorship applications, the first number to understand is $1,260 in core federal fees. When the sponsored spouse must pay the standard $85 biometrics fee, the government-fee total commonly becomes $1,345.
The final out-of-pocket cost can be higher because IRCC fees do not include every document or service needed to prepare the application.
What Costs Are Separate From the IRCC Application Fees?
Depending on the facts, a spousal sponsorship file may also involve:
- immigration medical exam fees charged by the panel physician;
- police certificate fees charged by the issuing authority;
- certified translation costs for documents not in English or French;
- document, courier or notarization costs where applicable;
- provincial fees where a province has a separate family-sponsorship process; and
- professional fees if the sponsor and applicant retain an RCIC or lawyer.
These amounts are not fixed by IRCC and can vary by country, provider and the number of documents involved.
Does a Dependent Child Increase the Cost?
Yes. IRCC’s current family-reunification fee table lists an accompanying dependent child fee of $180. The exact application structure matters, so confirm how each family member is included before calculating the final amount.
For biometrics, IRCC lists an individual fee of $85 and a maximum total biometrics fee of $170 for a family applying at the same time.
Should the Right of Permanent Residence Fee Be Paid Upfront?
The right of permanent residence fee is part of the permanent residence fee structure. Paying the correct amount required for the application avoids an unnecessary fee-deficiency issue later.
IRCC’s current 2026 fee-change page lists the right of permanent residence fee at $600 for a principal applicant or accompanying spouse/common-law partner. Always use IRCC’s live payment system when actually paying, because government fees can change.
Inland vs Outland: Are the Government Sponsorship Fees Different?
The core family-reunification government fee components are based on the sponsorship application and family members included, not simply on whether the spouse is physically inside or outside Canada.
Other costs can differ in practice. For example, the required police certificates, medical logistics, translations and local document costs may vary depending on where the applicant has lived and where supporting documents are obtained.
For the processing-time distinction, see MAK’s Spousal Sponsorship Processing Time Canada 2026 guide.
Spousal Sponsorship Cost: Three Budget Layers
| Budget layer | What it includes |
|---|---|
| 1. IRCC government fees | Sponsorship fee, principal applicant fee, right of permanent residence fee and biometrics where required. |
| 2. Third-party document costs | Medical exam, police certificates, translations, document procurement and similar costs. |
| 3. Professional representation | RCIC or lawyer fees if professional assistance is retained. |
Keeping these three layers separate prevents a common misunderstanding: the government’s application fee is not the same thing as the total cost of preparing and filing the case.
What Does a Real 2026 Sponsorship Budget Look Like?
The useful number is not one generic “spousal sponsorship cost.” Build the budget from the people actually included in your file.
| Scenario | Government-fee calculation | 2026 subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse or partner only; biometrics not required | $90 sponsorship + $570 principal applicant + $600 RPRF | $1,260 |
| Spouse or partner only; one $85 biometrics fee required | $1,260 + $85 | $1,345 |
| Spouse or partner + one accompanying dependent child; one $85 biometrics fee required | $1,260 + $180 child fee + $85 biometrics | $1,525 |
| Spouse or partner + one child where the family biometrics maximum of $170 applies | $1,260 + $180 + $170 | $1,610 |
Medical exams, police certificates, translations, document procurement and professional representation are still extra. I would not invent one “all-in” number for those because the cost depends on the countries involved, the number of documents and the providers you use.
A budget worksheet I would use before filing
| Cost | Fixed or variable? | Your amount |
|---|---|---|
| IRCC spouse/partner fee package | Fixed at the live IRCC rate | $1,260 at the September 30, 2026 check |
| Dependent child | Fixed at the live IRCC rate | $180 per child |
| Biometrics | Fixed when required | $85 individual / $170 family maximum |
| Medical exam | Variable | Use the panel physician’s actual quote |
| Police certificate | Variable | Use the issuing authority’s actual fee |
| Translations / affidavits | Variable | Use the translator’s actual quote |
| Professional representation | Optional and variable | Use the representative’s written fee schedule |
Common Fee Mistakes in Spousal Sponsorship
1. Using old pre-April-2026 fee amounts
IRCC increased permanent residence fees effective April 30, 2026. Old fee tables should not be used for a new payment.
2. Forgetting the right of permanent residence fee
The RPRF is now $600. It should be accounted for when budgeting the permanent residence application.
3. Assuming biometrics are included in the $1,260 core total
They are not. Where the standard individual biometrics fee applies, add $85.
4. Forgetting dependent-child costs
An accompanying dependent child adds a government fee under the current family-reunification fee table.
5. Confusing government fees with consultant fees
IRCC fees go to the Government of Canada. Professional representation fees are separate.
6. Budgeting only for the application fee
Medical exams, police certificates and translations can create additional out-of-pocket costs.
Do Medical Exams Have a Standard IRCC Price?
No single IRCC medical-exam price applies across Canada and internationally. Immigration medical exams are completed by panel physicians, and the provider charges for the exam and related services.
Use IRCC’s current panel-physician system to locate an authorized physician rather than relying on a generic online price.
How Much Do Police Certificates Cost?
Police-certificate costs depend on the country and issuing authority. Some certificates are free, while others carry a government or service fee. IRCC’s country-specific police-certificate instructions control which document is required.
What About Translation Costs?
Documents not in English or French may require translation that meets IRCC’s document rules. The price depends on the language, number of pages, translator and any certification or affidavit requirements that apply.
For relationship and sponsorship evidence issues, see MAK’s Spousal Sponsorship Evidence in Canada guide.
Quebec Adds a Separate Undertaking Fee
If the sponsor lives in Quebec, there is a separate provincial undertaking process after IRCC tells you to continue with Quebec. For 2026, Quebec lists an undertaking-review fee of $335 for one sponsored person and $135 for each additional sponsored person. Quebec states that these undertaking fees are non-refundable even when the application is refused.
There is also a current intake issue that a fee-only article can easily miss. Quebec’s published family-reunification rules show that the maximum intake for undertaking applications for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and certain dependent children has been reached. Where a Quebec sponsorship is already in IRCC processing but the undertaking cannot be submitted to MIFI, IRCC says the PR application remains in inventory and cannot be approved until the Quebec undertaking is obtained.
Budget point: do not add $335 to every Canadian spousal sponsorship. It is a Quebec-specific provincial fee and the current intake rules must be checked at the time of filing.
Which Sponsorship Fees Can Be Refunded?
Refundability depends on what happens to the application and when. IRCC says that when a sponsor is refused and chooses to withdraw the sponsorship, the sponsorship fee is not returned but the other fees are refunded. IRCC also states that the right of permanent residence fee can be refunded when the sponsorship is withdrawn or the family member’s permanent residence application is refused, subject to IRCC’s process.
If you request withdrawal before IRCC starts processing, you may be eligible for a broader refund. Once processing has started, do not assume every fee comes back.
Government Fees vs Professional Fees
A sponsor can submit an application without hiring a paid representative. Where professional help is retained, representation fees are separate from IRCC’s charges.
MAK publishes its current service pricing separately so the government fees are not mixed with professional fees. See MAK Professional Fees.
Official IRCC Sources Checked
- IRCC: Citizenship and immigration application fee changes
- IRCC: Biometrics fees and requirements
- IRCC: Live citizenship and immigration fee list
- IRCC: After you apply, withdrawals and RPRF refunds
- Quebec: Spouse/partner undertaking fees
- Quebec: Current family-reunification intake rules
Fee check date: September 30, 2026. Use IRCC’s live payment system before paying because fees can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are the government fees to sponsor a spouse to Canada in 2026?
The core federal fees are $1,260: $90 sponsorship fee, $570 sponsored principal applicant fee and $600 right of permanent residence fee.
Why do some spousal sponsorship cost estimates say $1,345?
That total adds the standard $85 individual biometrics fee to the $1,260 core federal fees. Biometrics apply where required.
How much is the right of permanent residence fee in 2026?
IRCC’s current fee table lists the right of permanent residence fee at $600.
How much is the fee for an accompanying dependent child?
IRCC’s current family-reunification fee table lists $180 for an accompanying dependent child.
Are medical exams included in the sponsorship fee?
No. Medical exams are separate third-party costs charged by the panel physician or clinic.
Are consultant fees included in IRCC’s sponsorship fee?
No. Professional representation fees are separate from government application fees.
Need a Spousal Sponsorship File Review?
MAK can review sponsor eligibility, relationship evidence, forms, fees, document consistency and the filing strategy before submission.
Book a consultation with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant.
This guide is general information and a dated fee summary. IRCC’s live fee-payment system and the facts of the application control the amount due.
