Underpaid Your Canada Immigration Fee? Here's What to Do

Underpaid your immigration fee? Fix it fast with these official IRCC solutions

On This Page You Will Find:

• The exact steps to fix an underpayment before IRCC rejects your application
• How to submit multiple payment receipts that IRCC will actually accept
• The fastest way to request a refund if you need to start over
• Critical fee changes from 2026 that caught thousands of applicants off guard
• Email templates and contact information to resolve payment issues quickly

Summary:

Discovering you've underpaid your Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) application fee doesn't have to derail your Canadian dream. With recent fee increases in March and April 2026—affecting citizenship, permanent residence, and sponsorship applications—thousands of applicants have found themselves in this exact situation. The good news? IRCC offers two straightforward solutions: make an additional payment and submit both receipts together, or request a refund and pay the correct amount. This guide walks you through both options step-by-step, including the specific email address for refund requests, what information you must include, and how to verify current fees so this never happens again. Whether you're $50 short or need to completely restart your payment, you'll know exactly what to do within the next five minutes.

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🔑 Key Takeaways:

• IRCC accepts multiple payment receipts for a single application as long as they total the correct amount
• You can make an additional payment online immediately—no need to withdraw your application
• Refund requests require your receipt number, transaction date, amount, and reason sent to IRCC.FINRefunds-RemboursementsFIN.IRCC@CIC.GC.CA
• Citizenship fees increased March 31, 2026, while permanent residence and sponsorship fees jumped April 30, 2026
• Credit card and prepaid card refunds return to the original payment method automatically

Maria Torres stared at the email from IRCC with her heart sinking. After months of gathering documents for her permanent residence application, she'd finally submitted everything—only to realize she'd paid based on outdated fee information from January 2026. The April 30 fee increase meant she was $85 short. Would she have to start over? Would this delay her application by months?

If you've found yourself in Maria's position, take a breath. You have options, and neither one requires withdrawing your application or losing significant time.

Understanding Why This Happens (And Why It's More Common in 2026)

The confusion around IRCC payment amounts spiked dramatically in early 2026 due to two major fee increases. Citizenship application fees increased on March 31, 2026, catching applicants who had started their paperwork weeks earlier using old fee schedules. Then, just a month later on April 30, 2026, permanent residence and sponsorship fees increased across the board.

This means if you researched fees in January or February 2026 and didn't double-check before submitting your payment in May, you likely underpaid. You're not alone—immigration consultants report this as one of the most common application errors in 2026.

The stakes matter because IRCC won't process incomplete applications. An underpayment technically makes your application incomplete, which could result in it being returned to you, costing valuable processing time.

Option 1: Make an Additional Payment (The Fastest Solution)

This is the approach most immigration experts recommend because it's quick, straightforward, and doesn't require waiting for a refund to process.

Here's exactly how it works:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) explicitly allows applicants to submit more than one payment receipt for the same application, provided the total equals the required fee amount. This means you can pay the difference immediately without canceling your original payment.

Step-by-step process:

1. Calculate the exact shortfall. Go to the official IRCC fee page and verify the current fee for your specific application type. Subtract what you've already paid from this amount.

2. Make the additional payment online. Use the same IRCC online payment system you used originally. The system will generate a new receipt with a different transaction number.

3. Print both receipts. You'll need the original receipt showing your first payment and the new receipt showing your additional payment.

4. Include both receipts with your application. If you've already submitted your application, contact IRCC through your online account or the web form to submit the additional receipt. If you haven't submitted yet, include both receipts with your complete application package.

What this looks like in practice:

Let's say the correct fee is $1,365, but you paid $1,280. You would:

• Make an additional online payment of $85
• Print the receipt for the $85 payment
• Submit it along with your original $1,280 receipt
• Total: $1,280 + $85 = $1,365 ✓

IRCC's payment system will recognize both transaction numbers and credit your application with the full amount.

Option 2: Request a Refund and Pay Again

If you prefer a clean slate—or if your underpayment is substantial enough that you'd rather start fresh—requesting a refund is your second option.

When this option makes more sense:

• You significantly underpaid (more than 20% of the total fee)
• You paid for the wrong application type entirely
• You want a single receipt for record-keeping purposes
• You're not in a time-sensitive situation

The refund process has two pathways:

Online Refund Request (Fastest)

If you have your receipt number, you can request a refund through IRCC's online system. After you submit the request, IRCC will contact you if they need additional information and provide updates on your refund status.

For credit card or prepaid card payments, the refund automatically returns to the same card you used for the original payment. This typically takes 5-10 business days after IRCC processes your request.

Email Refund Request (Alternative Method)

You can also submit a refund request by email to: IRCC.FINRefunds-RemboursementsFIN.IRCC@CIC.GC.CA

Your email must include:

• Your full legal name (as it appears on your application)
• Your current mailing address
• Your receipt number (found on your payment confirmation)
• The date of the transaction
• The payment amount
• A clear reason for the refund request

Sample email template:

Subject: Refund Request - Receipt #[Your Receipt Number]

Dear IRCC Finance Team,

I am requesting a refund for the following payment:

Full Name: [Your Legal Name]
Current Address: [Your Complete Address]
Receipt Number: [Your Receipt Number]
Transaction Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Amount Paid: $[Amount]
Reason for Refund: Underpayment due to fee increase; will submit correct payment amount

Please process this refund and confirm receipt of this request.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

After receiving your refund confirmation (or while waiting for the refund to process), make a new payment for the correct amount and include that receipt with your application.

Verifying Current Fees: Never Underpay Again

The 2026 fee increases highlighted a critical lesson: always verify fees immediately before paying, not when you start gathering documents.

Fee verification checklist:

✓ Check the official IRCC website on the day you plan to pay
✓ Look for a "Last updated" date on the fee page
✓ Calculate the total for all components (processing fees, right of permanent residence fee, biometrics, etc.)
✓ Screenshot or print the fee schedule for your records
✓ If applying through a representative, confirm they're using current fees

Common fee components for permanent residence applications:

Fee Component	What It Covers	Typical Range
Principal applicant processing fee	Your application assessment	$850-$1,365
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)	Paid before receiving PR status	$515
Biometrics fee	Fingerprints and photo	$85 per person
Dependent processing fees	Each family member included	Varies by age
Third-party fees	Medical exams, police certificates	$200-$500+

Note: These ranges reflect post-April 2026 increases and are for reference only. Always verify current amounts on the official IRCC website.

What Happens After You Fix the Payment

Once you've submitted the correct total amount (whether through additional payment or refund-and-repay), IRCC will process your application normally.

Timeline expectations:

• If you caught the underpayment before submitting your application: No delay. Include the correct receipt(s) and submit as planned.

• If you submitted with an underpayment and added a payment quickly: Minimal delay, typically 2-4 weeks while IRCC matches the additional receipt to your file.

• If you requested a refund: Expect 2-3 weeks for refund processing, plus whatever time it takes you to make the new payment and resubmit.

The key is acting quickly. The moment you realize you've underpaid, make the additional payment or start the refund process. Don't wait for IRCC to contact you—by then, they may have already returned your application as incomplete.

Special Considerations for Different Application Types

The payment correction process works the same way across application types, but timing considerations differ:

Citizenship applications: These typically have longer processing times (12-18 months), so a 2-3 week delay for payment correction has minimal impact on your overall timeline.

Permanent residence applications: Processing times vary widely by program (6-12 months for Express Entry, 15-24 months for family sponsorship). Every week counts, making the additional payment option more attractive than waiting for a refund.

Sponsorship applications: These involve two fees—the sponsorship fee and the principal applicant fee. Make sure you've paid both correctly. If you underpaid on either component, the additional payment option lets you fix one without affecting the other.

Work or study permits: These have much shorter processing times (weeks to a few months), making speed critical. Use the additional payment method unless your underpayment is substantial.

Preventing Payment Errors: Pro Tips

Beyond verifying current fees, these strategies prevent payment problems:

Use IRCC's fee calculator tools. For complex applications with multiple family members, IRCC provides calculators that automatically total all components based on your specific situation.

Pay all fees at once when possible. Some applicants try to delay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) until later in the process, but this creates opportunities for confusion. If you can afford it, pay everything upfront.

Keep digital and physical copies of all receipts. Store them in multiple locations—your email, cloud storage, and a physical folder. You'll need them if IRCC requests confirmation.

Set a calendar reminder to check fees. If you're gathering documents over several weeks or months, set a reminder to verify fees haven't changed before you pay.

When in doubt, pay slightly more. While IRCC doesn't provide change for overpayments, they do process refunds for excess amounts. It's easier to get a small refund than to deal with an underpayment.

Common Questions About Payment Corrections

Can I pay in cash?
No. IRCC only accepts online payments, credit cards, prepaid cards, and certified checks or money orders for certain application types. Cash payments are never accepted.

What if I paid the old fee amount but haven't submitted my application yet?
Request a refund, wait for it to process, then pay the correct current amount. Since you haven't submitted yet, there's no application to delay.

Will this affect my application processing time?
Minimally, if you act quickly. The additional payment option typically adds only 2-4 weeks while IRCC matches receipts to your file.

Can I use a different payment method for the additional payment?
Yes. Your first payment might have been by credit card and your additional payment by prepaid card—IRCC accepts this as long as both receipts are valid.

What if I overpaid instead of underpaid?
IRCC will process a refund for the excess amount. Include a note with your application explaining the overpayment and requesting a refund for the specific excess amount.

Your Next Steps

If you've underpaid your IRCC application fee, here's your action plan for the next 24 hours:

1. Verify the correct fee on the official IRCC website today
2. Calculate your shortfall (correct amount minus what you paid)
3. Choose your approach: additional payment (faster) or refund (cleaner)
4. Take action immediately: make the payment or send the refund request email
5. Document everything: save all receipts, confirmation emails, and correspondence
6. Follow up: if requesting a refund by email, follow up after 5 business days if you haven't received confirmation

The payment issue you're facing is fixable, common, and won't derail your Canadian immigration journey if you address it promptly. Thousands of applicants successfully corrected payment errors in 2026 and moved forward with their applications without significant delays.

Your Canadian future is still on track—you just need to add one more receipt to your file.

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