If you’re planning a trip to the United States, take note—some travel between Canada and the U.S. just got more expensive. In addition to the $260 visa application fee, there’s now a $350 “integrity fee.”
A new U.S. travel visa rule took effect this week that could cost some Canadians up to $350 more before they even leave. The change stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the US government in July, which introduced a new “visa integrity fee” for certain travellers.
The fee takes effect on October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, and may apply to anyone applying for a U.S. travel visa, including some Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
What is the U.S. Visa Integrity Fee?
The integrity fee is a $250 (about $350 CAD) fee charged to anyone obtaining a non-immigrant visa to the U.S. It’s in addition to the original visa application fee, which already starts at $185 (about $260 CAD) for most travellers. This means that the total visa costs for a family of four applying for a tourist visa could come to around $2,400 Canadian dollars, and that doesn’t include airfare or accommodation. This fee is not optional and cannot be waived under any circumstances. Starting in 2026, this fee will increase annually based on inflation. The fee is nominally intended to deter people from overstaying their visas or violating the terms of their stay.
In theory, travellers who strictly adhere to visa regulations and depart on time can claim a refund – but this is by no means guaranteed.
Who needs to pay this fee?
Not all Canadian travellers will be affected. Most Canadian citizens do not need a visa to travel to the United States for tourism, shopping, or short-term business, so this new rule will not affect them. However, Canadian citizens still need to apply for a non-immigrant visa for some travel purposes, such as:
Traveling to the United States to join your fiancé/fiancé (K-1 and K-2 visas)
Complete family immigration procedures (K-3 and K-4)
Working as a Treaty Trader or Investor (E-1 and E-2)
Serving as a diplomat or international official (A, G, NATO visa)
Assisting in law enforcement operations (S-5, S-6, S-7).
Among the groups hardest hit are Canadian permanent residents. Unlike citizens, most permanent residents must apply for non-immigrant visas for even short visits to the U.S. — and now must pay the integrity fee.
Is this fee refundable?
Technically, yes—but the process is very complicated. Under US law, the integrity fee is refundable, but only if the traveller fully complies with visa regulations and leaves the country within five days of the visa’s expiration date (or obtains an extension or green card before then).The problem is: There’s currently no official refund process, and since many non-immigrant visas are valid for up to 10 years, it could take up to a decade before you’re eligible for a refund.
A nonpartisan assessment released in May by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted that only a tiny fraction of visa holders would receive a refund.
In its cost analysis, the CBO noted that “a significant number of non-immigrant travellers will not be eligible for a refund for years after paying the fee” and that “it will take years for the State Department to establish a refund process.”
Because of the long-term validity of many visas and the time it takes to establish a refund mechanism, CBO estimates that the integrity fee will generate approximately $28.9 billion in revenue for the U.S. government over the next decade, with virtually no refunds to travellers.
Things passengers need to pay attention to If you are a Canadian citizen planning a normal vacation, you will most likely not be affected. If you are a permanent resident of Canada, or traveling to the United States for work, study, family, or other reasons, you may need a visa – which means you must pay the integrity fee.
The fee is per person, so families or groups will have to pay multiple times. There is no clear refund process, and even if one is established in the future, it may take years to get your money back.
Travellers heading to the United States in the coming months should check the latest travel advice from Canadian officials to confirm the type of visa they require and the total cost.