Evaluating the benefits and costs of filing an application

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Evaluating the benefits and costs of filing an application

Immigrating to Canada is a big decision that brings with it an all-round high standard of living. A 2020 study by Immigration Canada found that 95 percent of applicants who received permanent residency through Express Entry were employed at a high income level in Canada. Of these, 83 percent were employed in their major, and almost half were employed in occupations that typically required a university degree. In addition, successful applicants earned higher salaries than the average Canadian worker.

With this in mind, it is important to note that applying for Express Entry has costs that applicants must bear in order to successfully participate in the program.

After submitting their profile through Express Entry, and receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), applicants are one step closer to immigrating to Canada under Permanent Residency (PR).

Required documents

After receiving the invitation to apply, you have 60 days to submit a large number of other documents to complete your application for permanent residence.

These documents are:

Copy of valid passport;
a copy of birth certificate;
documents that prove work history;
medical examination performed by a certified physician; and
Certificate of no bad background.

In addition to these documents, depending on which Express Entry route you have chosen, other documents may be required. These can include, but may not be limited to: 

certificate from the employer;

Transcripts obtained in the university;
proof of family relationship(s) in Canada;
Copies of work contracts and/or salary slips; and
Income tax documents.

Depending on which Express Entry route you applied for, these documents can be slightly different.

Express Entry application fees:

The bulk of the fees here are usually charged for the Immigration Medical Examination (IME). The immigration medical test is a standardized medical examination that must be performed by a certified physician (searchable through the immigration directory). All charges related hereunder (including additional tests or treatments if needed) must be paid in advance. Medical examination/test results are valid for up to 12 months.

While the exact cost of an immigration medical test may vary slightly, they all follow roughly the same pricing scheme, stratified by the age of the applicant, which is $180 CAD for those aged 15-64.

Cost of background check: Fees for background check and fingerprinting are usually between $30 and $35.

Fee after receiving permanent residence (PR): After receiving permanent residence, you are required to pay a permanent residence fee of $515 per applicant.

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