Right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) loans

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

The Immigration Loans Program (ILP) Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) Loan can be accessed by eligible loan recipients—that is, mainly clients selected under a complementary pathways program—to cover the cost of the RPRF. This loan is one of the 4 types of loans offered under the ILP.

The RPRF is initially covered on behalf of the permanent residence applicants and added to the loan recipient’s ILP loan. Resettlement clients are exempt from paying the RPRF.

Note: The Loan for Transportation to Canada can’t be provided in the form of cash or a money transfer. Instead, IOM covers these expenses upfront, invoices IRCC, and the costs are placed on the loan recipient’s ILP loan account.

For definitions of terms used in these instructions, see the ILP Glossary.

Requesting access to the loan

When asked by the IRCC office processing their application to pay the RPRF, clients may request to access the RPRF Loan.

Authorizing the issuance of the loan

Only officers with designated authority can issue ILP loans. The portion of the Instrument of Designation and Delegation that relates to section 289 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), lists all officers who are authorized to issue all types of ILP loans. International Platform (IP) migration officers are typically responsible for issuing the RPRF Loan.

By authorizing the issuance of this loan, the designated officer certifies that

section 289 of the IRPR has been complied with
they are satisfied that the loan recipient(s)
- has/have a demonstrated need for this loan
- has/have the ability to repay this loan
the agreement was explained to the loan recipient(s) in a language they understand

Assessing the need for the loan

Loan recipients with a protection need

Like resettlement clients, the following loan recipients may have protection needs:

Loan recipients selected under a temporary public policy for permanent residence (where a decision is made to offer loans)
Loan recipients selected under complementary pathways programs (such as the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot)

All loan recipients confirm their need for the loan by signing the Loan Recipient Declaration section of the RPRF Loan Agreement (IMM 0503). A separate assessment of need for loan not required for loan recipients with a protection need.

Other loan recipients

Assessment of need for a loan required:

When assessing other loan recipients’ need for a loan, the designated officer should consider that funds under the ILP are limited and that the ILP is designed to be a lender of last resort. As such, the RPRF Loan should only be issued to these applicants if

the immigration program under which they are applying does not require proof of sufficient funds and/or secured employment in Canada
they provides proof they were denied access to a loan from a traditional lending institution, such as a bank

Assessing the ability to repay the loan

All loan recipients

Assessment of ability to repay required:

After assessing that the applicant needs a loan, the designated officer must assess their ability to repay it. The designated officer should consider that RPRF loans are typically for low amounts and that the repayment terms for immigration loans have been designed to reduce the financial burden on loan recipients:

repayments on the RPRF Loan begin 12 months after it is issued
monthly repayment amounts are minimized, with loan repayment periods of 3 to 8 years based on the total ILP loan amount
ILP loans are interest-free

The following may also be considered:

Financial support: Financial support to be received from an anchor/relative in Canada
Employment
- secured employment in Canada
- intention or ability to participate in the labour market once in Canada
- employment history, educational background and/or transferable skills expected to help secure employment within 1 to 2 years
- knowledge of 1 or both official languages
- employment/employability of spouse
Possession of assets: Stocks and bonds, real estate, savings, a registered retirement savings plan or other securities (in more than a nominal quantity) that could be liquidated or used as collateral to obtain a loan from a mainstream financial institution

Note: The loan recipient may need an ILP loan even though they have savings. If this is the case, the demonstrated ability to save may be interpreted as a potential ability to repay the loan.
Loan recipients with high needs or requiring support in Canada: Loan recipients may face challenges in repaying their loan if multiple compounding factors apply, such those listed in the instructions on RAP contributions.
Beneficiaries:
- number of individuals for whom costs will be incurred and added to this loan
- number of minor children who are eligible for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) (and applicable provincial or territorial child benefit)
Loan recipients who already have an ILP loan and who are applying on behalf of family members outside Canada must have an ILP loan account in good standing to be approved for an additional loan:
- Contact IRCC Collection Services (or call toll-free 1-800-667-7301) to verify if the loan recipient has any other existing ILP loan and if they are in good standing.
- If a loan recipient misses 3 or more consecutive monthly payments, they are considered in default. If this is the case, the designated officers must not approve a new ILP loan unless the recipient has taken action and Collection Services has confirmed that their ILP account is in good standing.

Counselling loan recipients

Before the loan recipient signs the agreement, the designated officer must review with them the main terms and conditions of the loan to help them understand the agreement they are about to sign. Loan recipients must be provided with the RPRF Loan Information Sheet (PDF, 143 KB). Loan recipients may also find the full terms of the RPRF Loan Agreement, available in French and English.

Official language preference: The loan recipient may sign the loan agreement in the official language of their choice. Please use the English or French version of the RPRF Loan Agreement according to their preference.

Loan counselling script to be read to the loan recipient(s)

We will be using the following terms:
- Loan recipient: Can access this loan on behalf of themselves only, themselves and their dependants, or their dependants only.
  - Note: Dependants are referred to as beneficiaries in the loan agreement
- Co-signer: An adult dependant, such as your spouse, who chooses to co-sign your loan.
  - Including a co-signer on the loan is entirely optional
  - If you don’t repay your loan, the co-signer will become responsible for it
This loan can cover the cost of the RPRF for you and your spouse (if applicable).
There is no interest on this loan.
You must start repaying this loan 1 year after it is issued. Depending on your total Immigration Loans Program (ILP) loan amount, you will have 3 to 8 years to repay your loan.
You must inform IRCC Collection Services of any change to your email address and/or residential address within 10 days. If not, you may miss your first monthly payments and any other important information related to your loan that needs to be communicated to you.
By signing this agreement, you are confirming that
1. you need this loan as you have no other means available to you to cover these costs
2. you agree to the terms of this agreement
3. this agreement was explained to you in a language you understand
Only share item #7 if there is a co-signer to the loan.
As a co-signer to this agreement, you are confirming that
1. if the loan recipient doesn’t repay this loan, you will become responsible for it
2. you agree to the terms of this agreement
3. this agreement was explained to you in a language you understand

Completing and signing the loan agreement

Key reminders

Minors
- For clients under the age of 18, the loan agreement must be signed by the minor’s parent or intended guardian, wherever possible.
- In exceptional circumstances, minors who are not travelling with their parent or intended guardian may be able to sign an ILP agreement. Designated officers reviewing such cases should contact the RFH Loans Team to confirm the correct approach.
Official language preference
- Please use the English or French version of the RPRF Loan Agreement according to the official language preference of the loan recipient(s).

In-person processing

After counselling the loan recipient on the RPRF Loan Agreement, the designated officer completes a hard copy of the agreement, or completes all fields of the agreement before printing it:
- Loan recipient: full name, IRCC application number, unique client identifier (UCI) and email
- Co-signer (optional): full name, UCI and email address can be added only if they wish to co-sign the loan
- Indicate if the loan recipient is accessing a loan on behalf of
  - themselves only
  - themselves and their beneficiaries
  - their beneficiaries only
- If “the loan recipient’s beneficiaries only” is selected, indicate the beneficiaries’ IRCC application number(s)
- Loan amount
  - total number of loan beneficiaries: The RPRF applies to the PA and their spouse
  - indicate the total loan amount
The agreement is signed by the loan recipient(s) first, and then by the designated officer.

Designated officer name and signature: For privacy and security reasons, the designated officer may choose to include their GCMS ID instead of their name, and to sign with a wet or electronic signature instead of a digital signature, so that their name does not to appear on the loan agreement.
The designated officer provides a copy of the signed loan agreement to the loan recipient(s) for their own records.

Remote processing

The designated officer completes all fields in the RPRF Loan Agreement, as per step 1 above.
The designated officer signs and saves the completed agreement document and emails it to the loan recipient.
The loan recipient adds their digital or wet signature.
The loan recipient saves, scans or takes a clear picture of the signed agreement and returns it to IRCC.

Signature options for loan recipient: If it is not feasible for the loan recipient to provide a digital signature, or a scanned copy or clear picture of the signed agreement, the loan recipient replies by email to IRCC, attaching the loan agreement, with the following declaration in the body of the email: “I am unable to return a signed agreement; however, I understand and agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the RPRF Loan Agreement.” This email should be saved with the completed RPRF Loan Agreement.

Documenting the loan agreement

A fully signed copy of the loan agreement must also be provided to the loan recipient for their own records when operationally feasible.

Signed copy for the loan recipient: The signed loan agreement is an important document for the loan recipient to retain, as it is proof of their commitment to repay the loan. The loan recipient should therefore retain a fully signed copy of the loan document.

Cancelling the loan

The RPRF Loan must be cancelled if the PA does not become a permanent resident in Canada. If a client has accessed the RPRF Loan and their application is later withdrawn, refused or cancelled, the officer processing the case must notify LAR to have the loan cancelled.

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2026-09-18