How much do you need to immigrate to Canada?

When it comes to immigration costs, Canada is still quite affordable when compared to other popular immigration destinations such as Australia, as we talked here.

But, the exact answer to that question is always: it depends.

The amount of money you need to immigrate to Canada depends on the size of your family and the type of immigration program you will apply for. In addition, it involves settlement funds, processing fees, translation of necessary documents and other expenses, including, for example if you are bringing your pet.

To illustrate, we are going to present you some average costs of each stage and, as we have previously mentioned, they will vary according to the personal choices of each individual or family.

If you are thinking about moving to Canada, now it's the time to start saving as much money as you can. 

For a candidate to be accepted in the Express Entry System, he/she must first meet the criteria established by one of the immigration programs.

Starting with the English

- The cost to take the CELPIP General Test in Canada is CAD $ 280 + taxes. For the IELTS General Test the fee is CAD$ 300 + taxes. Availability and prices vary according to the country.

You may also need to validate your diplomas by an institution accredited by the Canadian government. One of them is the World Education Services (WES). The fee is about CAD$ 220 for a diploma validation and, if more than one is required, a CAD$ 100 fee is charged for each additional unit. The amount includes basic delivery and taxes.

Medical exams

- This procedure is mandatory not only for Express Entry and PNPs but also for cases of temporary residence applications (like study or work visas). They are performed only by doctors accredited by the Canadian government.

The charged amounts ​​vary according to the doctor, the city and country, as well as the required exams - usually a chest X-ray, blood work and urine test. The best choice is to contact the nearest accredited specialist and ask about the prices.

After submitting your profile and receiving the Invitation to Apply (ITA), the candidate needs to send the documents and evidence that attests the veracity of the data informed on the profile. 

The cost amount for translations also varies widely, with several factors of influence, especially the cost of the translator. However, it is recommended to save about CAD $350 to CAD$ 450 for these expenses.

If you don't have a job in Canada by the time of your move, you will need your savings for the first months while settling into your new life. We recommend you to have a 6-month savings amount, considering the expenses for your whole and no work.

If you don't have an idea of what your costs will be, contact our team for financial planning. Our team of specialists will provide you with a tailored and complete plan for your first year in Canada!

Once you arrive in Canada, you will need to pay for basic needs like groceries, rent, transportation and utilities.

To ensure that you don’t run out of money before you’ve received your first paycheck, the Canadian government requires that all permanent resident applicants have an adequate amount of savings as indicated such as:

Number of the Family Members:

1 - CAD$ 12,960

2 - CAD$ 16,135

3 - CAD$19,836

4 - CAD$ 24,083

5 - CAD$ 27,315

6 - CAD$ 30,806

7 - CAD$ 34,299

Adding CAD$3,492 additional family members.

Express Entry Processing Fees

There is no cost to creating an Express Entry profile. It’s only when you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submit a complete application that you’ll need to pay a CAD$ 825 processing fee per adult. And if you have kids, you’ll need to pay an additional CAD $225 per dependent child accompanying you to Canada.

Also, the Canadian Government will charge you CAD $ 500 per adult in the couple for the Right of Permanent Resident. Children do not have to pay for this fee.

Processing Fees and Settlement Funds for PNP Candidates

Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs) are immigration pathways designed and managed by the 11 participating provincial and territorial governments. Candidates apply to a PNP in hopes of achieving a nomination that significantly increases their chances of immigrating to Canada.

Provincial application or processing fees are determined by each province and territory. They are added on top of the federal immigration fees that successful provincial nominees pay to apply for permanent residence. 

The costs for the PNP applications are fixes for the whole family:

• Alberta (AINP) - CAD$ 500

• British Columbia (BC PNP) - CAD$ 1,150

• Manitoba (MPNP) - CAD$ 500

• New Brunswick (MBPNP) - CAD$ 250

• Newfoundland and Labrador (NLPNP) - CAD$ 250

• Nova Scotia (NSNP) - CAD$ 0

• Ontario (OINP) - CAD$ 1,500 ou CAD$ 2,000

• Prince Edward Island (PEIPNP) - CAD$ 300

• Saskatchewan (SINP) - CAD$ 350

How to prove income:

There are several ways to prove income to live in Canada. 

You can issue:

> Proof of funds from a Canadian bank account in your name;

> Certificate of Guaranteed Investment (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution;

> Proof of a student loan from a bank;

> Vouchers issued by your bank for the past four months;

> Bank statement that can be converted to Canadian dollars.

> Proof of payment of your tuition and housing;

> Sponsorship letter;

For more information, watch the video:

Choosing to apply with us makes the process a lot easier, and most importantly increases your chances of success!

There is a lot to think and do during an immigration process. Hiring one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant will allow you to sit back and relax knowing your immigration application is in the professional and trusted hands! 

Count on us!