Don't panic if you underpaid your Canada immigration fees—here's the fix
On This Page You Will Find:
- Step-by-step instructions to resolve underpayment without application rejection
- Exactly how IRCC handles fee differences and what they'll ask you to do
- The specific online payment process that ensures your receipt gets processed correctly
- Recent 2026 fee changes that might affect your application
- Pro tips to avoid delays when submitting your additional payment
Summary:
Discovering you've underpaid your Canada immigration application fees can feel like a nightmare, but here's the relief you need: IRCC won't reject your application. Instead, they'll send you clear instructions to pay the difference through their online system. This guide walks you through the exact process thousands of applicants use successfully, including how to calculate what you owe, navigate IRCC's payment portal, and submit your receipt properly. With recent fee increases effective December 2025, understanding this process could save your application and months of delays.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- IRCC won't reject complete applications for underpayment—they'll request the difference
- You must use IRCC's online payment tool and select "Make an additional payment or pay other fees"
- One receipt covers multiple fees if paid in a single transaction
- Recent fee increases (December 2025) primarily affect inadmissibility and IEC applications
- Following IRCC's receipt submission instructions exactly prevents processing delays
Maria Santos stared at the email from IRCC with her heart racing. After months of preparing her permanent residence application, she'd just learned that immigration fees had increased after she'd mailed her documents. "Does this mean they'll reject everything?" she wondered, imagining having to start the entire process over.
If you're facing this same situation, here's what you need to know: you're not alone, and your application isn't doomed.
What Actually Happens When You Underpay
Contrary to what many applicants fear, IRCC has a straightforward policy for handling underpayments. If you mailed a complete application before fee changes took effect, they'll accept your submission and simply request the difference.
The process works differently depending on how you submitted:
For mailed applications: IRCC will send you a formal request letter detailing exactly how much additional payment you owe, along with specific instructions for submitting your receipt.
For online applications: You must pay the current fees at the time of submission, so underpayment typically isn't possible through the online portal.
This system exists because IRCC recognizes that fee changes can occur between when applicants prepare their submissions and when the department processes them. Rather than penalizing applicants for timing beyond their control, they've created this straightforward resolution process.
Your Step-by-Step Payment Process
When you receive IRCC's payment request, follow these exact steps to avoid delays:
Step 1: Calculate Your Exact Amount
Don't guess at what you owe. IRCC's request letter will specify the fee difference for each service, but double-check their math. If you're applying for multiple services or including family members, each person's fees may have changed by different amounts.
For example, if the principal applicant fee increased from $825 to $850, and your spouse's fee rose from $825 to $850, you'd owe $50 total ($25 × 2 people).
Step 2: Access IRCC's Online Payment Portal
Navigate to IRCC's official payment website and select "Make an additional payment or pay other fees" from the category dropdown. This specific category ensures your payment gets coded correctly in their system.
Avoid using other payment categories, even if they seem similar. Using the wrong category can delay processing while IRCC staff manually reassign your payment.
Step 3: Enter Payment Details Correctly
Input the total difference amount you calculated in Step 1. Under "Quantity," enter the total dollar amount you owe, not the number of applications or people.
If you owe fees for multiple services, you can either:
- Pay everything in one transaction (resulting in one receipt)
- Make separate payments for each service (resulting in multiple receipts)
Most applicants find the single-payment approach simpler for record-keeping.
Step 4: Complete and Document Your Payment
After processing your payment, you'll receive a receipt immediately. Save this receipt in multiple formats (PDF download, screenshot, printed copy) since you'll need to submit it exactly as IRCC specifies in their request letter.
The receipt will show your payment confirmation number, amount paid, and transaction date—all crucial information for IRCC's processing.
Step 5: Submit Your Receipt Properly
This step trips up many applicants: you must follow IRCC's submission instructions precisely. Their request letter will specify whether to:
- Upload the receipt through your online account
- Mail a physical copy to a specific address
- Email it to a designated processing center
Using the wrong submission method can add weeks to your processing time while IRCC staff locate and properly file your payment proof.
What the 2026 Fee Changes Mean for You
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada implemented significant fee increases effective December 1, 2025, primarily affecting two program areas:
Inadmissibility Applications: If you're dealing with criminal inadmissibility, medical inadmissibility, or other admissibility issues, expect higher processing fees for rehabilitation applications and temporary resident permits.
International Experience Canada (IEC): Young professionals applying for working holiday permits, young professionals programs, or international co-op internships will see increased participation fees.
These changes particularly impact applicants who submitted applications in November 2025 but had them processed after December 1st. If this describes your situation, you'll likely receive a payment difference request within 4-6 weeks of IRCC receiving your application.
Pro Tips to Avoid Payment Delays
Keep detailed records: Document every payment you make, including original application fees and any additional payments. This documentation proves invaluable if questions arise later in processing.
Don't wait to pay: IRCC typically gives you 30 days to submit additional payment. Paying immediately prevents your file from being set aside while waiting for fees.
Check your spam folder: Payment requests sometimes land in email spam folders. Set up email filters to ensure IRCC communications reach your inbox.
Consider paying slightly more: If you're unsure about exact amounts, IRCC will refund overpayments but can't process applications with underpayments. A few extra dollars can prevent additional back-and-forth.
Common Mistakes That Cause Delays
The biggest error applicants make is panicking and resubmitting their entire application. This creates duplicate files in IRCC's system and can actually slow down processing.
Another frequent mistake is trying to pay through third-party services or unofficial websites. Only use IRCC's official payment portal to ensure your payment gets properly credited to your file.
Finally, many applicants submit payment receipts to the wrong processing center or use outdated mailing addresses. Always use the specific instructions in your payment request letter, not general IRCC contact information.
What Happens After You Pay
Once IRCC receives your payment receipt, they'll update your file and continue processing your application normally. You won't receive a separate confirmation that they've received your additional payment—your next communication will typically be about the next stage of processing.
Processing times resume from where they left off when the payment request was issued. The additional payment process itself usually doesn't extend your overall processing timeline if you respond promptly.
Moving Forward With Confidence
Underpaying your immigration fees isn't the disaster it might initially seem. IRCC's established process handles these situations routinely, and thousands of applicants successfully resolve payment differences every year.
The key is responding promptly and following instructions exactly. By treating this as a minor administrative step rather than a major setback, you'll have your application back on track quickly and can focus on the exciting prospect of your Canadian future ahead.
FAQ
Q: What happens if I discover I've underpaid my Canada immigration fees after submitting my application?
Don't panic – IRCC won't reject your complete application for underpayment. Instead, they have a standard process where they'll send you a formal request letter detailing exactly how much additional payment you owe, along with specific instructions for submitting your receipt. This typically happens 4-6 weeks after IRCC receives your mailed application. The letter will break down the fee difference for each service and family member included in your application. For example, if principal applicant fees increased from $825 to $850 and your spouse's fees had the same increase, you'd owe $50 total. Your application will be temporarily paused while they wait for the additional payment, but processing resumes normally once they receive your payment receipt following their exact submission instructions.
Q: How do I make the additional payment through IRCC's system correctly?
Access IRCC's official payment portal and select "Make an additional payment or pay other fees" from the category dropdown – this specific category is crucial for proper system coding. Enter the total difference amount you owe under payment details, and for "Quantity," input the total dollar amount, not the number of applications or people. You can pay everything in one transaction for a single receipt, or make separate payments for each service. After payment, you'll receive an immediate receipt showing your confirmation number, amount paid, and transaction date. Save this receipt in multiple formats (PDF, screenshot, printed copy) since you'll need to submit it exactly as specified in IRCC's request letter. Never use third-party payment services or unofficial websites, as this can prevent proper crediting to your file.
Q: What are the recent fee changes that might affect my application?
IRCC implemented significant fee increases effective December 1, 2025, primarily affecting inadmissibility applications and International Experience Canada (IEC) programs. If you're dealing with criminal or medical inadmissibility issues, expect higher processing fees for rehabilitation applications and temporary resident permits. Young professionals applying for working holiday permits, young professionals programs, or international co-op internships through IEC will see increased participation fees. These changes particularly impact applicants who submitted applications in November 2025 but had them processed after December 1st. If you submitted before the deadline but processing began after the fee increase date, you'll likely receive a payment difference request within 4-6 weeks. The key is that mailed applications are accepted at the fees in effect when you submitted, not when IRCC processes them.
Q: How should I submit my payment receipt to avoid processing delays?
Follow IRCC's submission instructions in your payment request letter exactly – this is where many applicants make costly mistakes. The letter will specify whether to upload the receipt through your online account, mail a physical copy to a specific address, or email it to a designated processing center. Using the wrong submission method can add weeks to processing while staff locate and properly file your payment proof. Never use general IRCC contact information or outdated addresses; only use the specific instructions in your request letter. Set up email filters to ensure IRCC communications reach your inbox, as payment requests sometimes land in spam folders. Keep detailed records of when and how you submitted your receipt, including confirmation numbers if uploading online or tracking information if mailing physical copies.
Q: What common mistakes should I avoid when dealing with underpayment issues?
The biggest mistake is panicking and resubmitting your entire application, which creates duplicate files and actually slows processing. Never try to pay through third-party services or unofficial websites – only use IRCC's official payment portal. Don't guess at amounts owed; use the exact figures in IRCC's request letter and double-check their calculations. Avoid using wrong payment categories in the online system, even if they seem similar, as this delays processing while staff manually reassign payments. Don't wait to pay – you typically have 30 days, but paying immediately prevents your file from being set aside. Finally, resist the urge to contact IRCC repeatedly asking for updates after submitting your payment receipt. Processing resumes automatically once they receive your payment, and your next communication will be about the next processing stage, not payment confirmation.
Q: How long does the additional payment process take and will it delay my overall application?
Once IRCC receives your payment receipt, they'll update your file and continue processing normally without sending separate confirmation of payment receipt. The additional payment process itself usually doesn't extend your overall processing timeline if you respond promptly to their request. Processing times resume from where they left off when the payment request was issued, not from the beginning. Most applicants who respond within 1-2 weeks of receiving the payment request see minimal impact on their total processing time. However, delays in responding can cause your file to be set aside, potentially adding several weeks or months to processing. IRCC typically processes payment updates within 2-3 business days of receiving your receipt through their specified submission method. Your next communication will be about document requests, interviews, or decisions rather than payment confirmation, so don't expect acknowledgment that they've received your additional payment.
