The Department currently collects several fees for the purpose of delivering citizenship services, as prescribed in Citizenship Regulations, including citizenship grant application fees (adults $530, minors $100), right of citizenship fee ($100), proof of citizenship ($75), renunciation ($100), search of citizenship records ($75), and resumption of citizenship ($530 for adults, $100 for minors).
Citizenship grant application fees were last amended in 2015 when the service fee for adult grant applicants increased from $300 to $530. The $100 Right of Citizenship fee for adult grant applicants has remained unchanged since being established in 1995.
In December 2019, the Minister’s mandate letter included the commitment to eliminate fees for permanent residents fulfilling the requirements to obtain citizenship. This commitment was re-affirmed in the mandate letter issued in December 2021.
Key Messages
The Government is considering bringing forward a plan to eliminate fees for citizenship for permanent residents who have fulfilled the requirements needed to obtain it.
Obtaining Canadian citizenship allows permanent residents to fully participate in Canadian society and contribute to its prosperity, which benefits both the applicant and Canada.
Supplementary Information
If pressed on when mandate commitment will be implemented:
The Department is developing options to eliminate citizenship application fees at the earliest opportunity, while balancing the need to address affordability within the context of the current economic climate.
