Breaking Down the Costs: How much money do you need for Express Entry

Express Entry is a popular program for skilled workers who wish to settle in Canada permanently. It comprises three main streams: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). 

Application Fee

The application fee for the principal applicant is $1,325, which includes the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. This fee is broken down as a Processing fee ($850) and a right of permanent residence fee ($515). If the application includes a spouse, they will also have to pay the above fee. For each dependent child on the application, the cost is $230.

Here is a chart to break it down.

When applying for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry, there are no government fees required to submit your initial profile. The fees are only applicable when you receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence. At that stage, you will be required to pay the government processing fees. The government processing fees for Express Entry include the application fee and the right of permanent residence fee. 

There are however other fees that will need to be paid to complete the application. The fees include the following:

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

To prove the equivalency of your educational credentials, you’ll need to obtain an ECA from a designated organization, such as the World Education Services (WES). The cost for an ECA is approximately $200.

Language tests (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF)

Language proficiency is an important factor in the Canadian immigration process as it demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively in English or French, the official language of Canada. The most commonly accepted language tests by Canadian immigration authorities are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF), and the Test de connaissance du français (TCF). The cost to take a language test is about $300 per person.

Biometrics

As part of the Express Entry application, you will be required to provide biometric information, which includes fingerprints and a digital photograph. Biometrics are collected to establish your identity and verify your admissibility to Canada. The biometric fee for individuals is $85. If you are applying as a family together, the fee is $170 for the family. 

It’s important to note that biometrics are typically valid for a period of 10 years, so if you have previously provided biometrics for a Canadian visa or permit, you may not need to provide them again for subsequent applications.

Medical Examination

As part of the Express Entry application, you and your accompanying family members will be required to undergo a medical examination to assess your health and admissibility to Canada.

The medical examination must be conducted by a designated panel physician approved by the Government of Canada. The cost of the medical examination varies depending on the country, the physician, and the complexity of the examination. Generally, the fee ranges from $100 to $500 per person, excluding any additional tests or vaccinations that may be required.

Police Clearance Certificates

Applicants are required to provide police clearance certificates or records from each country or territory where they have resided for a certain period of time. These certificates help establish that applicants have a good character and do not pose a risk to Canadian society. As part of this process, you will need to pay for Certificate Issuance Fee, Translation and Notarization, and Delivery and Courier Fees. The average cost for this is $250 per person. 

Settlement Funds

Each applicant has to show sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members upon arrival in Canada. These funds are commonly referred to as settlement funds. You do not need to show settlement funds if you are applying with the Canadian Experience Class or if you have a letter of employment. The specific amount of settlement funds required depends on the size of your family.

Here are the minimum settlement fund requirements based on family size: 

• 1 person (single applicant): $12,960 

• 2 persons:  $16,135 

• 3 persons: $19,836 

• 4 persons: $24,083 

• 5 persons: $27,315 

• 6 persons: $30,806 

• 7 persons or more: $34,299

The settlement funds are intended to cover living expenses such as accommodation, food, transportation, utilities, and other necessities. These funds can be in the form of cash, savings, liquid assets, or a combination thereof. It’s important to provide evidence of these funds through bank statements, investment statements, or other official financial documents.

Provincial Nominee Program

Applying through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows individuals to seek immigration opportunities based on their skills and qualifications in a specific province or territory in Canada. Apart from the general immigration fees, applicants under the PNP are required to pay additional application fees determined by the province they are applying to. Here is an overview of the provincial fees:

Having covered the costs associated with the Express Entry and PNP route, let’s now break them down in a chart format.

As we can see by the chart above, for individuals going through this journey individually, you can expect to spend around $16,057. If you’re planning to immigrate to Canada with your family of four, the total expenses can reach approximately $31,324. Keep in mind that these numbers only cover the Express Entry process itself and don’t include any additional fees for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) or the assistance of immigration consultants.