the CanadaVisa Team - 20 February, 2018
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced today that it is lowering the processing fee for minors applying for citizenship who do not have a Canadian parent or a permanent resident parent applying at the same time as them.
The fee has been reduced from $530 to $100, which brings it in line with processing fees for minors with a Canadian parent or a parent who is applying for citizenship at the same time.
The announcement follows an amendment to Canada’s Citizenship Act that came into effect in June 2017 that removed the requirement that one must be 18 years old to apply for a grant of citizenship under subsection 5(1), making it easier for minors to apply for citizenship on their own behalf.
“The reduction in citizenship fees will help more minors, including immigrant children in the child welfare system or in the care of the state, acquire Canadian citizenship,” the release reads.
Anyone who paid $530 fee on behalf of a minor on or after June 19, 2017, will be reimbursed the difference of $430.
IRCC said it will contact applicants who are entitled to the refund to outline the process for being reimbursed.
