Canada Waives Immigration Fees for Indigenous Families

Canada has implemented a new public policy that waives immigration application and biometrics fees for specific Indigenous peoples and their family members crossing international borders. The policy, published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), targets First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities affected by borders with Greenland (Denmark).

It applies to Indigenous individuals who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered under the Indian Act, provided they have a close family member in Canada with one of those statuses. Qualifying relatives include spouses, children, parents, and siblings.

The exemption covers processing fees for temporary resident visa applications, work permits, and study permits, as well as biometrics collection fees. This initiative stems from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which received Royal Assent in 2021, and is part of a broader effort to reform immigration policies affecting Indigenous communities.