Can You Get H&C Application Fees Waived or Reduced? What IRCC Says (2026)
The short answer: On the IRCC pages we reviewed, there is no general fee waiver or reduction for humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applicants. The exemptions IRCC lists apply to the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) for certain people, not to the processing fee. According to IRCC, if you have paid the RPRF it is refunded if you withdraw or IRCC refuses your application, and it is the only fee that can be refunded once processing starts. Check IRCC's fee list for your own situation before you pay.
Which government fees apply to an H&C application?
IRCC lists H&C fees on its fee list. Per IRCC's Guide 5291, the fees are set out per person for the principal applicant, a spouse or partner, and each dependent child, and biometrics are charged per person with a family maximum. IRCC's H&C page says your fees usually include processing fees for you and anyone you add, the RPRF, biometrics, and third-party fees. Amounts change, so use IRCC's current list. For a full breakdown, see H&C application cost and fees and how to apply, forms and fees.
Does IRCC waive or reduce fees for H&C applicants?
We did not find a general fee waiver for H&C applicants on the IRCC pages we read, and IRCC's fee manual says inland H&C applicants have no fee exemptions. IRCC's H&C page says the application is a request for an exemption from an IRPA requirement, not from fees. The same page says the "cost and inconvenience of returning to your home country" is not, by itself, a sufficient reason.
The exemptions IRCC does list are narrow:
The RPRF only. IRCC's fee list says the RPRF does not apply to "protected persons, including applicants eligible on humanitarian and compassionate grounds." However, Guide 5291 and IRCC's fee manual exempt only dependent children, a principal applicant who is the dependent child of a permanent resident or citizen, and protected persons. Guide 5291 says you must pay the RPRF before you become a permanent resident. Do not assume you are exempt. Confirm with IRCC or a regulated representative.
Biometrics. Guide 5291 says Canadian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from giving biometrics.
If you are asked to pay the processing fee, the page we reviewed does not offer a way around it. Not paying the full fee has a consequence: Guide 5291 says IRCC will return an application where the fees are not fully paid.
Can I pay in instalments or get a loan?
We found no instalment plan or deferral for IRCC's government fees on the pages we read. The processing fee must be included with your application, and IRCC says to pay online.
IRCC does run a loan program for the RPRF. Guide 5291 says loans are approved "on the basis of need and the applicant's ability to repay," and that "loans are not available to cover processing fees." IRCC's loan guide adds that the loan option "is not available to cover the cost of the processing fees." Guide 5351 is for people in Canada who must pay the RPRF, so it matters only if no exemption applies to you.
What happens to fees if I withdraw or am refused?
IRCC's help centre says that in most cases, application fees cannot be refunded once IRCC starts processing. The exception is the RPRF. According to IRCC's fee list: "We will refund the RPRF if you withdraw or we refuse your application." It also says the RPRF is the only fee IRCC can refund after processing starts.
IRCC says application fees generally can't be refunded once processing starts, and it lists the RPRF as an exception. Keep this in mind when you decide whether and when to apply. See what to do if your H&C application is refused and reapplying after a refusal.
How do I avoid paying someone who promises a waiver?
IRCC's guidance on online and telephone scams says IRCC employees will never ask you to deposit money into a personal bank account or use a private money transfer service, and "We will never ask you for any sort of payment by telephone." IRCC also says not to pay for offers of guaranteed entry or faster processing.
Practical rules:
Pay only through IRCC's official online payment channel. IRCC says its fees are paid to the "Receiver General for Canada."
Keep your receipt. Guide 5291 calls it your proof of payment.
Be careful of anyone who says they can get your IRCC fees waived, reduced or "expedited" for a payment.
Get forms and guides from canada.ca. Do not pay a third party for access to them.
What costs are not government fees?
Fees paid to IRCC are separate from other costs you may face, such as medical exams, police certificates, translations, document copies and courier costs. Professional fees, if you hire a representative, are also separate from government fees, so ask your representative. Third-party costs can add up, so plan for them early. See the H&C documents checklist, the guide to H&C and the H&C hub.
Who does this affect?
People in Canada thinking about an H&C application on a tight budget
Applicants who withdraw or receive a refusal and want to know what is refunded
Anyone who has been offered a "waiver" by a third party
What should you do?
Open IRCC's current fee list and write down every fee for each person on your application.
Check whether any RPRF exemption applies to you, and confirm it with IRCC or a regulated representative.
If cost is the barrier, look at IRCC's RPRF loan guide, remembering that processing fees are not covered.
Pay only through IRCC's official channels and save every receipt.
Budget separately for medical, police, translation and other non-government costs.
Decide on timing with advice, because most fees are not refunded once processing starts.
Not sure what you will owe? E-Pathway Immigration, led by Domonic Cheung, RCIC (R711344) in Vancouver, can review your situation and your options. Book a case review.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an H&C fee waiver?
On the IRCC pages we reviewed, there is no general fee waiver for H&C applicants. IRCC lists RPRF exemptions for certain people only.
Can I pay my H&C fees in instalments?
We found no instalment plan for IRCC's government fees. IRCC offers a loan for the RPRF based on need and ability to repay, but not for processing fees.
Do I get my money back if my H&C application is refused?
IRCC says it will refund the RPRF, if you have paid it, when your application is refused or withdrawn. It says that is the only fee it can refund after processing starts.
Can someone get my IRCC fees waived for a payment?
Be very careful. IRCC says not to pay for offers of guaranteed entry or faster processing, and employees never ask for payment by telephone.
Are medical exams and police certificates included in the government fee?
No. Those are separate costs paid to the provider. Check IRCC's page for what is required in your case.
Key takeaways
On the IRCC pages we reviewed, there is no general fee waiver for H&C applicants.
Listed exemptions concern the RPRF, not the processing fee, and they are narrow.
The RPRF, if paid, is refundable if you withdraw or are refused; other fees generally are not.
Most H&C applicants should expect the RPRF to be payable unless an exemption clearly applies.
Pay only through IRCC's official online channel and ignore waiver offers.
The bottom line
Fees are hard to avoid, but they are easy to plan for if you know the rules. Confirm every amount on IRCC's pages, budget for non-government costs, and take advice on timing before you pay.
Questions about your situation? E-Pathway Immigration, led by Domonic Cheung, RCIC (R711344) in Vancouver, can review your situation. Book a case review.
Last reviewed: November 2026
Sources: IRCC, Humanitarian and compassionate considerations; IRCC, Guide 5291; IRCC, Fee list; IRCC, Refund help centre answer; IRCC, Guide 5351, RPRF loan; IRCC, Online and telephone immigration scams.
This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create a client relationship. Immigration options and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified representative for advice about your situation.
About the author
Domonic Cheung is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), licence R711344, with E-Pathway Immigration in Vancouver, BC. You can verify his licence on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) public register.
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