Chapter CP 1 - Citizenship Lines of Business

Section 3 - Fees and Refunds

3.1 This section is about

• fees and refunds for citizenship services

Related topics:

• Abandonment and withdrawal of applications

3.2 Authorities

3.3 All applications must include full fee

Accept only applications with the complete fee as specified on the fee schedule at the end of this section. Return applications that do not include the full fee, or that do not have the correct fee.

The fee for services in Canada are paid to a bank before the applicant mails the application to CPC-Sydney. This method of payment is called "HPM". See section 3.5 for method of payment for clients residing outside Canada.

3.4 HPM Payment

A new process for the payment of citizenship fees was introduced in June, 1998. The initiative is called Handling of Public Money (HPM). HPM allows the three CPCs to accept payment for citizenship and immigration services through a ‘direct deposit’ system. Local offices and CPCs no longer handle negotiables (money orders, cheques, cash, credit card payments). The fees are paid to a financial institution which then transfers the funds to the federal government.

HPM does not apply to missions abroad.

Kit Distribution

Citizenship kits issued through the DOCUPOST system (with the exception of the Application for a Citizenship Certificate from Outside Canada) include the HPM receipt that must be stamped by the financial institution, as well a detailed instruction on how to pay using the HPM process.

As the HPM receipt must be an original with a unique receipt number, it cannot currently be obtained from the Internet. Individuals obtaining their kits from the Internet will have to contact a Call Centre agent to order a receipt. Internet-generated kits will eventually include the HPM receipt.

What Exactly is the HPM Process?

Under an agreement concluded with chartered banks, clients pay their fees directly at a designated financial institution. The bank informs CIC of the transactions electronically.

With the payment of fees at designated financial institutions, the client is no longer obligated to obtain a certified cheque, a money order, or any other certified financial instrument as means of payment for services provided by CPC Sydney.

Questions And Answers

What types of Receipts are used?

Receipt no. 10 (IMM 5401) is included in each application kit and is to be completed by the client. Any additional copies of form IMM 5401 can be obtained by requesting one from a Call Center agent.

Receipt no. 99(IMM 5412) is the Insufficient Fee Notice and is used when a client is required to pay additional fees for the services requested. This receipt is provided to the client by CPC Sydney along with instructions on the HPM method of payment.

What does the client do if there is no designated financial institution in his/her area?

The application kit informs clients about a mail-in service for the payment of fees in this situation. The service is provided by the National Bank of Canada in CIC’s name. The address is:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
P.O. Box 52
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 3E9

Upon payment to the address above, the client will receive a stamped HPM receipt from the National Bank of Canada to be attached to the application sent to CPC Sydney.

For detailed instructions on HPM payment, refer to the instructions attached to application kits.

3.4.1 Applicant submits fees to the local office - urgent cases

In rare instances, an applicant may be required to pay the fee directly to a local office. Payment is received at the local office only in emergency situations and where the applicant is not able to obtain a receipt from a financial institution. In these cases:

• DO NOT use the HPM receipt. CPC Sydney will not be able to capture the information from the repository as there will be no information coming from the bank (and we have no capability to insert a new receipt).
• DO include a covering memo for CPC indicating that payment was received at the local office

3.5 Overseas payments

Clients applying for services from outside Canada do not use the HPM method of payment. Payment is made directly to the Canadian Mission which determines an acceptable method (cheque, money order, cash). The application processing fee is payable in Canadian funds only. Missions abroad may not accept convertible foreign currency.

3.6 Right to Citizenship Fee

In addition to the $100 processing fee, all 5(1) and 5(2)(b) applications must include the $100 Right to Citizenship fee.

3.7 Refunding the Right to Citizenship Fee

Refund the Right to Citizenship fee to applicants denied citizenship when the 180 day waiting period has ended and no appeal is filed. If there is an appeal, and it is denied, refund the fee. Do not refund the fee if the appeal is allowed and the person becomes a Canadian citizen.

3.8 Time for processing refund

CPC-S estimates that it takes one to three months from the time CPC-Sydney receives the file to process a Right to Citizenship fee refund. This is in addition to the six month hold (180 day waiting period) at the local office for files which are non-approved. Applications which are withdrawn may be sent immediately to CPC-S for a refund.

Refunds are mailed to the applicant’s last known address.

3.9 Application Processing Fee

Generally there is no refund of the application processing fee for either grants or proofs. The

application processing fee is only refunded if:

• the applicant dies before a decision was made by a citizenship official
• the applicant applied for a grant or proof of citizenship on the basis of incorrect information by CIC officials. This must be documented.

There is no transfer of the processing fee from a proof to a grant application and vice versa unless applicant was provided the wrong form.

3.10 No fee for Minors, no refund

As there is no Right to Citizenship fee for a minor’s application, there is no refund for applications made on behalf of minors that are denied citizenship. Do not refund the processing fee for applications made by or on behalf of minors if the minor’s parent is denied citizenship. The application processing fee for minors is not to be held pending a new application by a parent when the parents are denied citizenship.

The application processing fee for minors is not credited towards a later application when the parents are denied citizenship.

3.11 Credit for minors

3.12 Applicant applying again must pay fees again

An applicant who is denied citizenship can apply again. If an applicant applies again, all fees must be included with the new application.

3.13 Applicant appeals and applies again

If an applicant appeals a decision denying a grant of citizenship, the applicant can submit a second application while waiting for the Federal Court’s decision on the appeal. The applicant must pay the full fee for the second application.

3.14 Steps to follow if applicant appeals and applies again

Follow this procedure if an applicant submits a second application while waiting for a decision on an appeal:

3.15 Fee Schedule For Citizenship Services