Payment and collection of immigration loans
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
A loan recipient is expected to repay the loan in full with consecutive monthly instalments and in accordance with the repayment schedule set out in subsection 291(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). Monthly instalments are calculated according to the amount borrowed.
On this page
- Repayment times
- Notice of payment
- Methods of payment
- Payroll deductions
- Deferral of loan payments
- Change of address
- Recovery of delinquent loans
- Death of a loan recipient
- Where a loan recipient has left Canada
Repayment times
Clients must begin repayment after the 12th month from the issuance of the loan, and, depending on the amount borrowed, loans must be repaid as follows, starting after the day the loan becomes payable:
- loans up to but not exceeding $1,200 within 36 months
- loans over $1,200 but not exceeding $2,400 within 48 months
- loans over $2,400 but not exceeding $3,600 within 60 months
- loans over $3,600 but not exceeding $4,800 within 72 months
- loans over $4,800 within 96 months
Notice of payment
IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable establishes a loan account in the name of the loan recipient, using the unique client identifier (UCI) as the account number.
Depending on the type of loan requested, several months may lapse before a loan account is established. For example, before a loan account is established, IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable requires the invoice from a transportation company for the transportation costs for the people listed on the loan and a confirmation that the people listed have arrived in Canada.
Payment received is recorded as a credit to the account.
IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable notifies loan recipients about the loan amount and the minimum monthly instalments required. Loan recipients who wish to pay off their loans before the account is established may do so by contacting Collection Services.
- Telephone Toll free: 1-800-667-7301,
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET) - Email: collection@cic.gc.ca
Methods of payment
A loan recipient is entitled to make loan payments using any of the following methods of payment:
- credit card
- electronic banking payments via a participating financial institution to payee "Citizenship & Immigration Canada – Loans”
- pre-authorized debit (PAD)
Payments must be made in Canadian funds.
Payroll deductions
According to subsection 147(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Minister may authorize the repayment of a loan by means of a payroll deduction scheme.
Deferral of loan payments
Under special circumstances, a collection officer may grant a deferral of loan payments, a variation of payments or an extension of the repayment period. See subsection R292(2) for more information.
For Convention refugees and members of the humanitarian-protected persons abroad class who have resettled in Canada, the deferral of loan payments may be for up to 2 years. For any other eligible person, the deferral of loan payments may be for up to 6 months.
A deferral of loan payments is not automatically provided. A loan recipient who approaches an immigration office in Canada because they are unable to make full, regular loan payments must be immediately referred to Collection Services.
The immediate referral of loan recipients who are requesting a deferral of their loan payments is particularly important for those wishing to sponsor family dependants from abroad. These people need to satisfy the designated officer reviewing the family class sponsorship request that they have not defaulted on their loan payments to demonstrate their ability to support family dependants. Where a deferral of loan payments is being requested, a designated officer must notify Collection Services.
Change of address
A loan recipient must notify Collection Services of any change of address within 10 calendar days. The loan recipient may report a change of address as follows:
- By telephone: Toll free 1-800-667-7301
- By email: collection@cic.gc.ca
An immigration office in Canada that receives any new information on a loan recipient’s change of address should notify Collection Services.
Recovery of delinquent loans
Section A145 authorizes the recovery of any delinquent payments on loans on behalf of the Government of Canada. For the purposes of the Immigration Loans Program (ILP), the Chief of Collection Services, Finance, National Headquarters (NHQ), has been delegated responsibility for the recovery of delinquent loans.
Death of a loan recipient
In the event of the death of a loan recipient, the designated officer should immediately notify Collection Services.
Where a loan recipient has left Canada
If a designated officer becomes aware that a loan recipient with an outstanding loan balance has left Canada permanently, the officer must send an email to collection@cic.gc.ca and include the client’s biographic data and new address (if known), as well as the immigration loan number or numbers.
More procedures for all loans
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