What to Know About Sending Money to Canada for Immigration Processing and Document Requirements

Money and immigration go hand in hand, and not in a fun way. You’re trying to build a new life, and instead you’re sitting there at midnight comparing exchange rates and wondering if your bank will randomly block your payment to Canada.

If you’re paying Canadian immigration fees or moving settlement funds, you’re dealing with two separate but connected problems: getting the money across borders properly, and proving to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you did it correctly. Miss either piece and you risk delays, refusals, or endless back‑and‑forth.

Let’s break this down like someone who’s actually done this before, not like a glossy brochure.

1. The Main Types of Canadian Immigration Fees You’ll Deal With

Start here. Before you move a single dollar, know what you’re actually paying for, and when it’s due. Different applications stack fees in different ways.

Typical IRCC and related fees you’ll see:

• Application processing fees – For PR, work permit, study permit, visitor visa, citizenship, etc.
• Biometrics fee – Fingerprints and photo, usually paid with or right after the main application.
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) – Bigger PR fee that can be paid upfront or later in the process.
• Provincial fees (PNP) – If you’re going through a Provincial Nominee Program.
• VAC / VFS service fees – For biometrics appointments, passport courier after Passport Request, SMS updates, etc.
• Other stuff – Medical exam fees, police clearances, language tests, ECAs, all paid to third‑party providers, not IRCC.

For permanent residence, the rough flow usually looks like this:

1. You submit your application + pay processing fee (and often biometrics fee).
2. You attend biometrics, maybe medicals.
3. IRCC does eligibility, background, security checks.
4. RPRF is either already paid or requested later.
5. Near the end, if things go well, you get a Passport Request (PPR) and then Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR).

A lot of people assume that once they’ve paid everything, especially RPRF or after they get PPR, they’re 100% approved. That’s not how IRCC works. If you want a clean breakdown of what PPR actually means, and why it’s not a magic “you can’t be refused now” letter, have a look at Sutton Law’s detailed explanation of what PPR is in the Canada immigration process before you start sending passports and extra payments for VFS and couriers.

Because when real money’s involved, guessing is a bad strategy.

2. How IRCC Actually Lets You Pay Fees from Outside Canada

Here’s where people overcomplicate things. IRCC doesn’t want your bank wire, Western Union, or random remittance to an account number. They want structured, traceable payments linked to your application.

For most modern applications, IRCC accepts:

• Online card payments through the IRCC portal (credit card, some debit or prepaid cards, often Visa or Mastercard).
• Online bank payments in Canada for certain types of applications (if someone in Canada is helping and has the right card/account).
• Bank draft / money order in Canadian dollars – only in limited, older‑style paper applications where IRCC explicitly says so.

Methods IRCC does not accept for paying government fees:

• Cash sent by mail. Obviously.
• International bank transfer directly to IRCC (no generic SWIFT to “Government of Canada” accounts).
• Random transfers to “agents” or “consultants” who promise they’ll forward the fees to IRCC.

If your card is issued outside Canada, the usual problems kick in: currency conversion, 3D Secure, and your bank’s fraud filters freaking out over a Government of Canada charge. So you prep for that.

3. Step‑by‑Step: Paying IRCC Fees from Abroad (Without Losing Your Mind)

Let’s walk through what this actually looks like for a typical online application.

Step 1: Set up or sign into your IRCC account

You’ll either use a GCKey login or sign‑in partner (for those already in Canada). Once you’re in, your online account (MyCIC) is where you:

• Start your application.
• Upload documents.
• Pay fees.
• See messages like biometrics requests, medical requests, or PPR.

No random external payment links. Always log into your account first.

Step 2: Pick the correct fee category and amount

Misclicks here are more common than people admit. Paying the wrong fee or amount can get an application returned or stalled.

Check:

• You’ve selected the right program (PR vs study vs work).
• You’ve included all dependants (spouse, kids).
• You’re including biometrics if needed.
• You know whether you’re paying RPRF now or later.

Don’t guess the fee from some old blog post; always cross‑check the current official Government of Canada fee list before paying. Fees change, and they don’t change in your favour.

Step 3: Pay with a card that won’t freak out

Use a card that supports international online transactions and CAD charges. That sounds basic. It still trips people up.

Quick checklist before you hit “pay”:

• Tell your bank you’re about to make an international online payment in Canadian dollars to a government site.
• Make sure your card has enough room for the full amount plus any bank FX markup.
• Enable 3D Secure / OTP if your bank requires it.

If your bank blocks the first attempt, don’t just spam it three more times. Call them, fix the issue, then try once.

Step 4: Save your receipt like your life depends on it

Once payment goes through, IRCC generates a proper receipt, not just a “thanks” page. Usually a PDF with:

• Receipt number.
• Amount in CAD.
• Date of payment.
• Your name and maybe your UCI or other reference.

Save it in at least three places: your computer, cloud storage, and email. Print it if you’re the paper type. Losing it later when IRCC says “we can’t find your payment” is a great way to ruin a week.

Step 5: Link the receipt to your file properly

In many online applications, the payment is automatically linked to your application number because it’s all inside the same account. Still, any time IRCC asks for proof of payment, upload the receipt in the correct upload slot or under “Client information.”

For paper or mixed applications, you may need to:

• Write your UCI and application/file number on the receipt.
• Include a printed copy in the package.
• Keep a copy for any future dispute or refund request.

Sloppy linking = delays. Simple as that.

4. VACs, VFS Global, and Those Extra Fees Nobody Warned You About

IRCC fees and Visa Application Centre (VAC) / VFS Global fees are not the same thing. People mix them up constantly.

Think of it this way:

• IRCC fees – Government of Canada; application, biometrics, RPRF, etc.
• VAC/VFS fees – Private service provider; biometrics collection, passport courier, SMS updates, photocopying, optional services.

Common VAC/VFS payments:

• Biometrics service fee (sometimes bundled with IRCC biometrics fee instructions).
• Courier fee for sending your passport after you receive PPR.
• Local service charges if you pay in person (cash, local card, bank slip, etc.).

Each VAC/VFS location has its own accepted payment methods, some allow online payment in local currency, some want cash at a partner bank, some take cards onsite. Always read the fee and payment section for your country’s VAC page, not just generic advice from a forum.

5. Sending Money to Canada vs. Paying IRCC: Two Totally Different Things

This part confuses almost everyone at first. Paying IRCC is one thing. Sending money to yourself or your family in Canada is another.

IRCC fees usually get paid by:

• A card online through IRCC’s system.
• Very occasionally, a bank draft/money order if IRCC specifically allows it.

Settlement funds and proof of funds, on the other hand, are usually sitting in bank accounts under your name (or spouse’s name), either in Canada or abroad. To move settlement funds to Canada, people commonly use:

• Bank wire / SWIFT transfer to their own Canadian bank account.
• Licensed online transfer services (Wise, Remitly, Western Union, etc.).
• Bank drafts they physically carry when landing (declared at the border if large).

These transfers don’t go to IRCC; they go to you. IRCC only cares that you can show:

• That the funds exist.
• That they’re under your control.
• That they’re legitimate in origin.

Don’t send money to a stranger’s account because they promised they’ll “handle all payments and proof of funds” for you. That story usually ends badly.

6. Document Checklist: Proving You Paid What You Were Supposed to Pay

IRCC’s systems aren’t perfect. Payments get lost, misapplied, or questioned. You handle that by keeping an embarrassing amount of documentation.

For each fee you pay (IRCC, VAC, test centre, etc.), keep:

• Official receipt from the website or centre.
• Bank or card statement showing the charge and date.
• Screenshots of payment confirmation pages and email confirmations.
• Any reference numbers (UCI, application number, receipt ID) written down in one place.

When paying online IRCC fees, have on hand:

• Your passport details (exactly as in your application).
• Your IRCC account email, UCI, and application number (if already assigned).
• Billing address that matches what your bank expects.

If IRCC later claims fees are missing or incomplete, you send them:

• The IRCC receipt PDF.
• Screenshot of the payment page or email.
• Bank / card statement proving the charge went through.

Paper trail wins arguments. Especially with governments.

7. Proof of Funds vs. Paying Fees: Totally Different Rules

Proof of funds trips up as many people as the actual payments. IRCC treats “do you have enough money to settle” very differently from “did you pay your fees.”

For programs like Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, some PNPs), IRCC expects:

• Enough funds based on family size (published annually by IRCC).
• Money that is:

• Available and unencumbered.
• Transferable to Canada.
• Not borrowed just to fake funds (e.g., short‑term loans dressed up as savings).

Typical documents they want to see:

• Official bank letters with:

• Your name.
• Account numbers.
• Current balance and average balance over last 6 months.

• 6 months of bank statements.
• Investment statements (fixed deposits, mutual funds, etc.).

If the money came from somewhere unusual, sale of property, big gift from a parent, business income spike, you don’t hide that. You document it.

Examples of supporting documents for source of funds:

• Property sale agreement + proof of payment received into your account.
• Gift deed/letter from parents, with their bank statement showing the transfer.
• Business financials and dividends credited to your personal account.

Large, sudden deposits with no explanation are guaranteed to raise eyebrows. IRCC isn’t only checking if you’re rich enough; they’re checking if the money’s clean and genuinely yours.

8. Common Money & Payment Problems, and How to Fix Them Fast

Stuff goes wrong. The goal is to not panic and not make it worse.

Problem 1: Card declined when paying IRCC

Most of the time, it’s your bank, not IRCC.

What to do:

• Call your bank, tell them it’s a legitimate online Canadian government transaction.
• Verify your daily limit and international usage settings.
• Try again once, not 10 times.
• If it still fails, use another card (yours or a trusted sponsor’s).

Problem 2: You paid the wrong amount or wrong fee

This one is annoying but fixable.

Typical options:

• Pay the correct fee again and then request a refund for the incorrect one.
• Explain in a webform message or letter of explanation, attaching both receipts.
• For PNP and other provincial fees, follow the province’s specific refund/adjustment process.

Sitting and hoping IRCC “figures it out” rarely works.

Problem 3: IRCC says your fees are missing

You know you paid. They say you didn’t. Classic.

Respond with:

• IRCC payment receipt.
• Bank/card statement showing charge and date.
• Any application or UCI numbers you had at the time of payment.

Make the link between the payment and your file so obvious a tired officer can’t miss it.

Problem 4: Transfer to Canada delayed or held

Settlement funds stuck in limbo when you’re near a deadline? Nasty situation.

Possible causes:

• Bank compliance / anti‑money laundering checks on large transfers.
• Missing documentation requested by the bank.
• Using a sketchy remittance provider that got flagged.

Best move:

• Call the bank or provider immediately, ask what exactly they need.
• Provide source of funds docs (salary slips, property sale, etc.).
• Avoid last‑minute, same‑day transfers near IRCC deadlines.

Build a time buffer into everything money‑related. Things that “usually take 1–2 days” occasionally take 7–10 when compliance gets involved.

9. Refunds and What Happens to Your Money if the Application Goes Sideways

People hate reading about refunds because it forces them to think about refusal. Better to think about it now than while you’re emotional and rushed.

General pattern (always verify against current IRCC rules):

• Application processing fees – Typically non‑refundable once IRCC starts processing.
• Biometrics fee – Sometimes refundable if biometrics weren’t taken and the application never really started.
• RPRF – Often refundable if PR isn’t granted (e.g., refusal before visa issuance or if you withdraw in time).

To ask for a refund, you usually:

• Use IRCC’s online refund request or webform.
• Provide receipt numbers, UCI, application number.
• Wait. And then wait some more.

For provincial fees, VAC fees, test fees, etc., their own separate refund rules apply. Some are generous, some are brutal.

10. Security, Scams, and Not Losing Money to “Helpful” Middlemen

Any time you’re moving large amounts of money or paying government fees, scammers appear like clockwork. Some are obvious, some are subtle.

Huge red flags:

• Someone asking you to transfer IRCC fees to their personal bank account or PayPal.
• Emails “from IRCC” asking you to pay to a non‑government account or sketchy payment link.
• Agents promising a guaranteed visa if you send them extra “priority” fees in cash.

How to keep yourself safe:

• Only pay IRCC fees through official Government of Canada pages accessed from your IRCC account or the official website.
• Type URLs yourself or use trusted bookmarks; don’t blindly click links in random emails.
• When using a money transfer service, confirm it’s licensed and widely known in your country.

Paranoia is cheap. Losing your savings to a fake “immigration consultant” is not.

11. When a Lawyer Actually Helps with Money and Documents

Not every person needs a lawyer for fee payments. You can absolutely DIY if your case is straightforward and you’re detail‑oriented.

But certain situations justify professional help:

• Complicated sources of funds (business income, multiple countries, old property sales, large gifts).
• Previous refusals tied to funds, documents, or “insufficient evidence.”
• Confusion around what a PPR really means, what to pay at that stage, and how not to mess up finalization.
• Large family applications with multiple payers, joint accounts, and cross‑border assets.

Good immigration lawyers won’t just fill forms; they’ll help you:

• Confirm the correct fee amounts and timing.
• Organize payment receipts and financial documents in a way officers can follow.
• Respond quickly if IRCC questions your payments or proof of funds.
• Evaluate options, appeal, reapply, or challenge, if a refusal hits after you’ve already paid significant fees.

End of the day, sending money to Canada for immigration isn’t just about “does it arrive.” It’s about traceability, timing, and being able to prove every step cleanly on paper. You control a lot of that by planning payments early, choosing sane transfer methods, and treating every receipt like gold.