Maple News reports that the Government of Canada has officially increased the citizenship fees for adult applicants, a move that took effect at midnight on March 31, 2025. The right of citizenship fee has risen from $100 to $119.75 for permanent residents aged 18 and older who are applying for Canadian citizenship.
Applicants who submitted a complete online application before the cutoff date and paid the previous $100 fee are not impacted by this hike. However, those who filed paper-based applications before March 31 may be required to pay the difference, depending on the status of their submission.
Under the new fee structure, adult applicants must now pay a total of $649.75—comprised of a $530 processing fee and the newly adjusted $119.75 right of citizenship fee. This represents a modest increase from the previous total of $630. The additional fee also applies to stateless adults born to a Canadian parent.
Meanwhile, minor applicants—those under the age of 18—continue to pay only a $100 processing fee, which remains unchanged. This fee structure aims to balance administrative costs while ensuring affordability in specific cases such as for minors.
To become a Canadian citizen through naturalization, individuals must fulfill several criteria outlined in the Canadian Citizenship Act. This includes holding permanent resident status, residing in Canada for at least 1,095 days within the past five years, filing income taxes (if applicable), passing a citizenship test for those aged 18 to 54, and demonstrating language proficiency in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4.
Minors are generally exempt from the physical presence requirement and are not required to take the citizenship test. Once approved, applicants must attend a citizenship ceremony either virtually or in person, where individuals aged 14 and above must take the Oath of Citizenship.
As of now, the average processing time for citizenship applications is about eight months—though timelines may vary based on individual circumstances and documentation completeness. Those considering applying should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements to avoid processing delays or additional costs.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report any further changes to Canadian immigration and citizenship policies, ensuring you have the latest updates to make informed decisions on your journey to becoming a Canadian citizen.