After paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) begins the final stage of processing a permanent residence application. The RPRF confirms that the applicant has met the eligibility requirements and is ready for final approval. It is one of the last steps before an individual becomes a permanent resident of Canada.
When the RPRF is paid early in the application process, it can help speed up finalization once a decision is made. If the fee is paid later—after IRCC requests it—the processing time may extend slightly, since the file is placed on hold until payment is received. Once the fee is confirmed as paid, IRCC completes final background, medical, and admissibility checks to ensure there are no outstanding issues with the application.
For applicants inside Canada, the next step usually involves receiving a “Ready for Visa” or “Portal Invitation” email. This allows the applicant to confirm their presence in Canada and upload a photo through the Permanent Residence Portal to generate a digital Confirmation of Permanent Residence (eCOPR). For those outside Canada, the visa office typically requests the applicant’s passport and issues a permanent resident visa to travel to Canada.
Once the eCOPR or COPR is issued, the applicant officially becomes a permanent resident after landing—either virtually through the online portal (inside Canada) or in person at a Canadian port of entry (outside Canada). From that moment, they gain the rights and responsibilities of permanent residents, including access to healthcare and social benefits, the ability to live and work anywhere in Canada, and the eventual right to apply for citizenship after meeting residency requirements. The RPRF is therefore a crucial milestone that marks the transition from approval to actual permanent resident status.