Remission of Permanent Resident Fee for Afghans

Summary#

The Fee Paid or Payable for the Acquisition of Permanent Resident Status (Afghanistan) Remission Order was made on March 30, 2026 and published in the Canada Gazette on April 8, 2026. It cancels (remits) the right‑of‑permanent‑residence fee for certain Afghan nationals whose permanent‑resident applications were approved under three specific temporary public policies.

What it does#

• Remits the right‑of‑permanent‑residence fee for Afghan nationals approved under these temporary public policies:
  • Temporary public policy signed October 28, 2023 (additional intake cap increase).
  • Temporary public policy signed September 11, 2023 (extended families of former language and cultural advisors — extension).
  • Temporary public policy signed March 3, 2025 (special policy under section 25.2).
• Uses authority under the Financial Administration Act so the government can legally waive those fees because the Minister alone did not have that power in these emergency measures.
• Reports the cost of these remissions in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s annual fees and public accounts.
• The government estimates total foregone revenue of up to $73,175. The breakdown in the order is:
  • For the policy of October 28, 2023: fee $575 (FY 2025–2026) for 2 people and fee $600 (FY 2026–2027) for 65 people; total $40,150.
  • For the policy of September 11, 2023: fee $575 (FY 2025–2026) for 47 people; total $27,025.
  • For the policy of March 3, 2025: fee $600 (FY 2026–2027) for 10 people; total $6,000.

Who's affected#

• Afghan nationals whose applications for permanent residence were or will be approved under the three named temporary public policies.
• The measure is narrowly targeted to those groups listed in the order; it does not say it applies to other immigration streams.
• The federal government bears the small fiscal cost (foregone fee revenue).

Why it matters#

• For the affected Afghan newcomers, this removes a direct cost when their permanent‑resident status is granted. It reduces a financial burden at a time when many were relocated because they faced security risks.
• For the public, the cost is small — $73,175 at most — and is accounted for in IRCC’s public reporting.
• The order clarifies a legal gap: special immigration measures taken for crisis situations sometimes require an Order in Council so fees can be formally waived.