Backgrounder - Payment of fees through the Internet

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has developed a service which allows clients to pay fees for services online through the Internet. Available since May 25, 2004, it is the fourth online service offered by the Department in support of the Government of Canada’s Government On-Line (GOL) initiative.

The federal government is committed to making Canada the most connected nation in the world by the end of this year. It will improve the quality of interactions between Canadians and their government by allowing Canadian residents and overseas clients access to information and services at the time and place most convenient to them.

CIC’s case processing centres in Canada receive about 750,000 applications a year for citizenship and immigration services. The fees for these services generate approximately $150 million a year. In the past, clients were required to go to an established Canadian financial institution, pay the fees in person, and submit their immigration or citizenship application to a case processing centre (CPC).

During the trial period, more than 20,000 clients have taken advantage of the option to pay for the service online using a credit card, at any time of day, any day of the week. The service is available to clients who process their applications through a CPC in Canada, and for the following applications and services.

Citizenship

• Adult grant and right of citizenship for people 18 years old and older
• Grant of citizenship for people under 18 years of age
• Retention of citizenship
• Renunciation of citizenship
• Resumption of citizenship
• Certificate of citizenship
• Search of records of citizenship

Immigration

• Right of permanent residence
• Sponsorship application
• Permanent resident visa—family class—principal applicant
• Permanent resident visa—family class—principal applicant under 22 years of age who is not a spouse or a common-law partner
• Permanent resident visa—family class—family member under 22 years of age who is not a spouse or a common-law partner
• Permanent resident visa—family class—family member 22 years old or older or who is a spouse or a common-law partner
• Permanent residence—spouse or common–law partner in Canada class—principal applicant
• Permanent residence—live-in caregiver, protected person or Section 25 application—principal applicant
• Permanent residence—family member 22 years old or older or who is a spouse or a common-law partner
• Permanent residence—family member under 22 years of age who is not a spouse or a common-law partner
• Permanent residence—member of the permit holders class
• Temporary resident permit
• Extension of authorization to remain in Canada
• Restoration of temporary resident status
• Study permit
• Work permit
• Permanent resident card—new or replacement

The Department worked diligently to create a secure infrastructure for online transactions to limit access to sensitive information. The CIC website offers the same level of security as Canadian banks. This ensures that the financial information provided by clients will be kept secure, making this a safe alternative method of paying fees.

Although the system is currently available only to applicants who apply through a CPC in Canada, once the Department has established a common system, the payment of fees through the Internet will be expanded to include other in-Canada services and services to clients in foreign countries.

For more information on CIC’s online services, visit the Department’s website at https://eservices.cic.gc.ca/ols/ols.do.