Canada Visa Fees 2026: CAD 100 + $85 Biometrics

Canada Visa Fees 2026: Everything Beyond the Government Fee

Canada's visa fee structure has one advantage over the UK and US systems: it's relatively straightforward. The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) costs CAD $100 per person, biometrics are $85, and that's the government side sorted. But as with any visa application, the government fees are just the starting point. Between VFS Global charges, document preparation, and the various costs of proving you're a genuine temporary visitor, the real cost of a Canadian visa application typically runs CAD $250-500 per person.

Here's the full picture as of March 2026.

Visitor Visa (TRV) Government Fees

The family maximum of $500 applies when 5 or more family members apply together at the same time. A family of 4 pays $400 (4 x $100). A family of 7 pays $500 (the cap kicks in at 5+). This is one of the few genuinely family-friendly fee policies in the visa world.

Other Common Visa/Permit Fees

Biometrics Fees

Most visa applicants need to provide biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) at a designated collection point. This is a one-time cost that's valid for 10 years.

The family biometrics cap at $170 is genuinely generous. Whether your family has 2 members or 8, biometrics cost a maximum of $170 total. Combined with the $500 visa fee cap, large families get meaningful savings.

Biometrics exemptions: Children under 14 and adults over 79 are exempt from biometrics. Diplomatic and official visa holders are also exempt. If you gave biometrics for a previous Canadian application within the last 10 years, you generally don't need to provide them again — but verify this with your specific IRCC instructions.

VFS Global Service Charges

In most countries, Canadian visa applications are submitted through VFS Global. IRCC processes the applications, but VFS handles the in-person logistics.

The VFS service fee varies by country. It's generally lower than what VFS charges for UK or Schengen applications, but it's still a mandatory cost you can't avoid unless you're in a country where IRCC still accepts direct applications (very rare as of 2026).

Hidden Costs Most Applicants Miss

Medical Exam (If Required)

Canada requires upfront medical exams for visitors from certain countries or for stays longer than 6 months. The exam must be done by a designated panel physician (DMP) and typically costs CAD $100-300 depending on your country. You can find your nearest panel physician on IRCC's website. The exam results are submitted electronically — you don't need to carry them yourself.

Police Clearance Certificates

Not required for standard visitor visas, but if you're applying for a work permit, study permit, or permanent residence, you'll need police certificates from every country you've lived in for 6+ months since age 18. These cost $20-80 each and can take 2-12 weeks to obtain, so plan ahead.

Proof of Funds: Bank Statements and Letters

IRCC expects to see that you can support yourself during your stay. Most applicants provide 3-6 months of bank statements. Bank fees for stamped/certified statements: CAD $10-30 depending on your bank. If you have multiple accounts, this adds up.

If someone in Canada is inviting you, they may need to provide a letter of invitation along with their own proof of financial support — which means they're also paying for their bank statements and potentially notarization.

Passport Photos

Canada requires 2 photos (50mm x 70mm) — note this is a different size from US and Schengen photos. Many photo studios stock templates for Canadian specs, but double-check the dimensions. Cost: $5-15 at a local studio. The VFS centre will charge more.

Document Translation

All documents not in English or French need certified translations. IRCC accepts translations by certified translators and also translations accompanied by an affidavit from the translator. Professional translation costs CAD $20-40 per page.

Travel to the VAC (Visa Application Centre)

Depending on your country, the nearest VFS centre could be in another city. In countries like India (which has centres in multiple cities), this is less of an issue. In African countries with only one or two centres, travel costs can be significant — potentially CAD $50-250 for transport and accommodation.

Travel Insurance (Recommended, Sometimes Required)

For a standard visitor visa, travel insurance isn't strictly required but is strongly recommended. For the Super Visa (parents/grandparents), it's mandatory — you need at least CAD $100,000 in coverage from a Canadian insurance company. Super Visa medical insurance typically costs CAD $1,500-4,000 per year depending on age and health conditions.

How to Pay Canadian Visa Fees

Online Applications (Most Common Method):

If you apply online through IRCC's website, the government fee is paid by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or prepaid cards) or debit card (Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay) during the application submission. This is the most straightforward method.

At VFS Centres:

• Cash in local currency (converted at the day's rate)
• Debit/credit cards at most locations
• Bank drafts or demand drafts at some centres

Currency Conversion Notes:

All IRCC fees are in Canadian Dollars (CAD). When paying online by card, your bank converts at their rate plus any foreign transaction fee (typically 1.5-3%). The rate at VFS centres for cash payments is generally set weekly and is typically slightly worse than the market rate.

One tip: if you apply online and pay by card, using a travel-friendly card (Wise, Revolut, or similar) can save you 2-3% on conversion compared to a standard bank card. On a family application of $500+, that's a real saving.

Biometrics fee is paid separately — usually at the VFS centre when you go for your biometrics appointment.

Fee Waivers and Exemptions

Canada is more generous with fee exemptions than most countries:

Exempt from the visa application fee ($100):

• Diplomats and official passport holders on government business
• US citizens and permanent residents (they don't need a TRV)
• Citizens of visa-exempt countries (they use the $7 eTA instead)

Exempt from biometrics:

• Children under 14
• Adults 79 and older
• Diplomats and official visa holders
• US visa holders transiting through Canada

Family pricing (genuinely useful):

• Visa fee cap: $500 for families of 5+ applying together
• Biometrics cap: $170 for families of 2+ applying together
• A family of 6 pays $500 + $170 = $670 in government fees, compared to $1,110 if everyone paid individually

Refugees and protected persons: Fee exemptions and loans are available through specific IRCC programs for refugees. This doesn't apply to visitor visas.

Budget Planning: Realistic Total Costs

Standard Visitor Visa, single adult:

Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children over 14):

Super Visa (parent/grandparent), single applicant:

The Super Visa costs are significantly higher because of the mandatory Canadian medical insurance requirement. Shop around — premiums vary substantially between insurers.

What Happens If Your Visa Is Refused

Canada's refusal policy on fees is similar to most countries: the application processing fee is non-refundable.

What you get back:

• Nothing. The $100 visa fee and $85 biometrics fee are gone.
• VFS service charges are also non-refundable.

What you can do:

Request GCMS Notes:

This is something unique to Canada and extremely useful. Under the Access to Information Act, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can request your Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes — the internal file the officer reviewed when making their decision. If you have a friend or family member in Canada, they can request these notes on your behalf (with your consent). The notes typically reveal exactly why you were refused, in much more detail than the generic refusal letter. There's a $5 fee for the request, and it takes 30-60 days.

Reapply:

There is no waiting period. You can reapply immediately with a stronger application. Each reapplication requires full payment of all fees. If your GCMS notes reveal the issue (insufficient funds, weak travel history, unconvincing purpose of visit), address those specific points.

Judicial Review:

In rare cases, applicants can seek judicial review at the Federal Court of Canada. This is expensive (legal fees of $5,000+), slow, and generally only pursued when there's a clear procedural error. Not practical for standard visitor visa refusals.

Biometrics reuse:

If your biometrics are still valid (within 10 years), you won't need to pay the $85 again for a reapplication. IRCC will use the biometrics already on file. This is one small saving on a reapplication.