Canada’s April 1 immigration changes: what each one means for your application

By Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319 | Last Updated: April 2026

Eight Canadian immigration changes took effect between March 31 and April 1, 2026. They cover passport fees, a new 30-day processing guarantee, citizenship costs, super visa income rules, PNP eligibility authority, settlement service time limits, rural TFW access, and the SINP application fee. This article breaks down each change and tells you whether it affects your situation right now.

Eight changes that took effect on March 31 and April 1, 2026

The past few days brought more immigration changes than any single week in recent memory. Some are minor fee adjustments. Others shift how applications get assessed at a structural level. Here is what changed, when, and who it affects.

One note before diving in: a ninth change comes April 30, when permanent residence fees increase. That deadline is covered at the end.

Passport fees are up and a 30-day processing guarantee is now in place

What the new passport fees are

Starting March 31, 2026, Canadians are paying more for their passports for the first time since 2013. A regular 10-year adult passport from within Canada now costs $163.50, up from $160. A five-year adult passport costs $122.50, up from $120.

The increase applies to all passport types and travel documents, both inside Canada and abroad. IRCC attributes it to inflation and higher production costs for secure travel documents.

How the 30-day processing guarantee works

Effective April 1, 2026, passport applicants have a new guarantee: if processing takes longer than 30 business days from the date IRCC receives a complete application, the applicant receives a full refund of the passport fee automatically. No request required.

Processing time is measured from receipt of the complete application to when the passport is printed and verified. Mailing time is excluded from the count.

What counts as a complete application under the new rules

A complete application requires a filled-out form, all required supporting documents (including a passport photo), and payment. If anything is missing when the application arrives, the 30-day clock does not start. For most applicants, the guarantee is straightforward. The edge cases to watch are applications returned for missing documents.

Citizenship and permanent residence fees are both increasing

Right of citizenship fee: what changed on March 31

The right of citizenship fee increased on March 31, 2026, from $119.75 to $123, a $3.25 increase. This applies to all citizenship applications filed on or after that date. The adult citizenship grant application processing fee stays at $530.

The right of citizenship fee adjusts annually in line with a statutory formula. This increase is not discretionary.

Permanent residence application fees: what changes on April 30

A larger fee increase takes effect on April 30, 2026. All permanent residence application fees will rise across the board on that date. If your PR application is ready and you are deciding when to submit, April 30 is the deadline that matters.

Read AIA’s full guide to Express Entry for context on how the new fees fit into your application costs and timeline.

Super visa income requirements are now more flexible

What the super visa is and who it helps

The super visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit Canada for up to five consecutive years per entry, on a visa valid for up to 10 years. To sponsor a parent or grandparent, the host in Canada must meet a minimum household income threshold.

As of March 31, 2026, there are two new ways to meet that threshold.

Two new ways to meet the minimum income threshold

The first is an extended income assessment window. The host (and co-signer, if applicable) can now qualify by meeting the income threshold in either of the two taxation years before the application date. Previously, only the most recent tax year counted.

The second is a parental income supplement. If the host meets part of the required threshold but falls short, the visiting parent’s or grandparent’s income can be added to bridge the gap.

For families where the host’s income dropped in the most recent year (job change, parental leave, business downturn), the previous year’s return may now be enough to qualify. For families where the visiting parent has documented income, that income can now contribute directly. Both options are new as of March 31.

Review the full super visa requirements on canada.ca to confirm the current income thresholds for your household size.

Who benefits most from the extended income assessment

The extended window helps hosts whose income fluctuates year to year. The parental supplement helps families where the visiting parent has a pension, rental income, or other documented earnings. Both changes are temporary public policy measures, not permanent residence pathways.

Provinces now hold sole authority over PNP intent to reside

What changed on March 30, 2026

Before March 30, 2026, IRCC officers could independently assess whether a provincial nominee intended to reside in the nominating province and whether they could become economically established in Canada. A federal officer could disagree with the province and refuse the application on those grounds.

That authority no longer exists. A valid provincial nomination certificate is now conclusive evidence that both criteria have been met. IRCC officers cannot conduct their own separate assessment or override the province’s determination.

What this means if your PNP application is already in processing

If you submitted a PNP application before March 30 but it has not yet passed the eligibility stage, IRCC will process it under the new rules. The province’s nomination stands. IRCC will still verify your identity, check your nomination certificate, assess admissibility, and (for enhanced PNP applicants) confirm Express Entry program eligibility. It will not re-examine your intent to reside or economic establishment.

Applications that have already cleared the eligibility stage are not affected.

Settlement services for economic immigrants now have a time limit

Who is affected and when the clock starts

As of April 1, 2026, economic class permanent residents can access federally funded settlement services for up to six years after receiving PR status. Before this change, economic immigrants could access these services at any point between landing and becoming a citizen.

The six-year limit applies to current and new economic class permanent residents, their accompanying spouses, and eligible temporary residents in this category.

The 2027 tightening: why acting sooner matters

The limit drops further on April 1, 2027, to five years after PR status. If you are an economic immigrant who uses or plans to use federally funded settlement services, the window is shrinking in two steps. Services available today may not be available at the same terms in 12 months.

Rural employers can now hire more temporary foreign workers

What the new workforce percentage limits allow

From April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, rural employers in participating provinces and territories can hire low-wage temporary foreign workers at up to 15% of their total workforce, up from the previous cap of 10%. They can also maintain their current number of low-wage TFWs regardless of that percentage.

This is a temporary measure tied to rural labour market gaps. It does not apply to urban employers.

Which provinces are participating and what employers need to do

The measure applies only to provinces and territories that opt in. If you are a foreign worker considering a rural position, or an employer planning to use the expanded access, confirm with Employment and Social Development Canada whether your province has opted in before proceeding.

SINP applicants now face a $500 application fee

What the fee covers and when it applies

Effective April 1, 2026, Saskatchewan is extending its $500 application fee and $250 second review fee to all worker applicants across all SINP categories. Previously, not all categories required these fees.

The second review fee applies when SINP deems an application ineligible and the applicant believes an error was made in how the file was assessed.

Read AIA’s full SINP guide for a breakdown of which SINP streams apply to your situation and what the application process involves.

How to avoid paying it if your application is ready now

Applications submitted before April 1, 2026 are not subject to the new fees. If your SINP application was ready before that date and you have already submitted, you are under the old structure. If you missed that window, the $500 fee applies going forward.

What to do before April 30

April 30, 2026 is the next deadline that matters for most active applicants. PR fees increase on that date. If your permanent residence application is ready and your file is complete, submitting before April 30 locks in the current fee structure.

If you are a super visa sponsor who was previously short of the income threshold, the March 31 changes are worth revisiting. The extended assessment window and parental income supplement are both already in effect.

If you have questions about how these changes apply to your specific file, Book Your Strategy Assessment to go through it in detail.

Frequently asked questions

What immigration changes took effect April 1, 2026 in Canada?

Eight changes took effect on March 31 or April 1, 2026: passport fee increases with a new 30-day processing guarantee, a higher right of citizenship fee, more flexible super visa income requirements, a shift in PNP eligibility authority to provinces, a time limit on settlement services for economic immigrants, expanded rural TFW access, and a new SINP application fee.

How does the new super visa income flexibility work in 2026?

Since March 31, 2026, hosts can meet the super visa income threshold using income from either of the two preceding tax years, not just the most recent one. They can also add the visiting parent’s or grandparent’s income to bridge a shortfall in household income.

What is the new SINP application fee and when does it apply?

As of April 1, 2026, all SINP worker applicants across all categories pay a $500 application fee. A separate $250 second review fee applies if an ineligible determination is disputed. Applications submitted before April 1 are not subject to these fees.

Does the PNP eligibility change affect my application if it is already in processing?

Yes, if your application has not yet passed the eligibility stage. Under the framework in place since March 30, 2026, a valid provincial nomination certificate is treated as conclusive evidence of your intent to reside and ability to become economically established. IRCC will not independently reassess those factors.

When are Canadian permanent residence fees increasing in 2026?

PR application fees increase on April 30, 2026. Applications submitted before that date fall under the current fee structure.