Processing fee refunds

There are, however, provisions to issue refunds in the following circumstances:

Fees paid in error; or
in excess (such as RPRF following the reduction announcement)

It is the Department's policy that fees shall be refunded where they have been collected in error or in excess.

Application not processed

Fees for service shall be refunded if an application has not been processed and when the client has formally indicated that they wish to withdraw the application or when the client has decided not to submit the application.

Right not granted or not exercised

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) or Right of Citizenship Fee (ROCF) shall be refunded if the right is not granted or is not exercised.

Multiple applications

Fees for the submission of multiple applications for the same service shall be refunded as clients can only submit a single application per requested service.

Status cannot be obtained

As per the Citizenship Regulations, if a Canadian citizen submits an application for a status that cannot be obtained (e.g.: application for grant of citizenship when the person is already a citizen), the fee(s) shall be refunded.

Service cannot be obtained

As per the Immigration Regulations, if a person submits an application for which the service cannot be granted because of their status (e.g.: an application for permanent residence received from a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen), the fee(s) shall be refunded.

Fee exempt

When, for either a citizenship or immigration application, a fee was accepted and it is subsequently discovered that the client is fee exempt, all processing fees shall be refunded.

Applicant for a citizenship application received incorrect information

When the applicant applied for a proof or a grant of citizenship on the basis of receiving incorrect information by CIC officials. (Documentation supporting the error must be provided.)

Applicant for a citizenship application dies (proof or grant)

The applicant dies before a decision is made or a proof certificate issued. (The refund request must come from a spouse/CLP, parent, or executor and include a copy of the death certificate. The refund is paid to the applicant's estate.)