How to complete immigration forms for paper applications

This page provides instructions on how to complete:

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP), if you have more than 5 dependants

Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by:

• you, the principal applicant

Completing the form

You must answer all questions on this application form unless otherwise indicated.

Download and fill out the application form on a computer. The Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008] must be validated with 2D barcodes.

• you properly validate your answers when filling out this form
• the 2D barcodes are properly generated

If the 2D barcodes are missing or can’t be machine read for any reason, the application will be returned to you without being processed.

You also have the option of saving your form and completing it later.

Note: Completing the form electronically is easier and reduces the risk of errors that can slow down the application process.

Read and follow the steps below to help you fill out the form.

Application Details

From the list, select the Program under which you are applying:

• Family
• Economic
• Refugee
• Other

From the list, select the Category under which you are applying:

• If you chose “Family” in question 1, select one of the following:
  • Spouse
  • Common-law partner
  • Conjugal partner
  • Dependent child/adopted child
  • Child to be adopted in Canada
  • Parents/grandparents
  • Orphaned
    sibling/nephew/niece/grandchild
  • Other relative
  • Agri-Food Pilot
  • Atlantic Immigration Program
  • Home Child Care Provider Pilot
  • Home Support Worker Pilot
  • Rural and Northern Immigration Program
  • Federal Skilled Worker
  • Federal Skilled Trades
  • Self-Employed
  • Provincial Nominee
  • Canadian Experience Class
  • Quebec Selected Skilled Worker
  • Quebec Selected Entrepreneur
  • Quebec Selected Self Employed
  • Quebec Selected Investor
  • Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)
  • Start-up Business
  • Caregivers Program (select for the Interim Pathway for Caregivers)
  • High Medical Needs Program
  • Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program
  • TR to PR pathway
  • In Canada – Refugee Claim
  • In Canada – Protected Person (for Convention Refugees or other protected persons applying for permanent residence from within Canada)
  • Outside Canada – Refugee (for Convention Refugees or other protected persons applying for permanent residence from outside Canada)
  • In Canada – Humanitarian & Compassionate Considerations
  • Permit Holder Class
  • Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area

  Enter the total number of family members included in your application. This includes yourself and any family members, regardless of whether they intend to accompany you to Canada or not.

  For refugee claimants in Canada only: Enter the total number of family members included in your application for refugee protection who are with you in Canada.

  Language preference

  From the list, select your preferred language for:

  1. correspondence
  2. interview: if your native language is not in this list, select “Other”
  3. interpreter requested: you must select “Yes” if you do not select English or French for the interview

  Where do you plan on living in Canada?

  From the list select the:

  1. Province/Territory
  2. City/Town

  If you plan to live in the Province of Quebec and are applying under a Quebec economic immigration program, have you received your Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ)?

  1. Select the corresponding box
  2. If you selected “Yes”, enter the CSQ number
  3. If you selected “No”, enter the date when you applied for your CSQ (if you have not yet applied, please do so before applying for permanent residence)

  Note: If you are not applying under a Quebec immigration program, select “No” for Question 6 a) and leave 6 c) blank.

  Principal Applicant’s Personal Details

  The principal applicant must answer the following questions.

  Enter your full family name (surname or last name) as shown on your passport, travel document or identity document.

  Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, indicate your family name(s).

  Enter all of your given name(s) (first, second or more) as shown on your passport, travel document or identity document. Do not use initials.

  If you don’t have a family name on your passport or travel document, enter all given names in the family name field and leave the given name field blank.

  If you don’t have a given name on your passport or travel document, leave the given name field blank.

  Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, enter “Child” or leave the given name field blank.

  Question 2

  Nickname/Alias

  Select the box to tell us if you have ever used any other names than those indicated in question 1. This could be your birth name, maiden name, married name, nickname, etc. If “Yes” enter your nickname/alias in the family name(s) and given name(s) fields.

  If you know your unique client identifier (UCI) number or client identification number (client ID), enter it here without any spaces. If you applied for temporary or permanent residence in the past, this is an 8 or 10 digit number you can find on previous documents sent by us. If this is your first application with us, or if you do not know your UCI, leave this space blank.

  From the list, select your gender (F – Female, M – Male, U – Unknown or X – Another gender).

  Note: If you choose the “X” gender identifier and you currently have or have had a Canadian temporary resident document (visa, electronic travel authorization, work permit or study permit) with a gender identifier other than “X”, you need to complete the Request form for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier [IRM 0002] (PDF, 1.79 MB) form and send it with your application. You also need to complete this form and send it with your application if you’ve never had a Canadian temporary resident document but you intend to apply for one and you identify with a gender that is different than what appears on your foreign travel document or passport. No supporting documents are required.

  Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, select “U – Unknown”.

  Question 5

  Enter your height in either centimetres or feet and inches.

  From the list, select your eye colour.

  Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, select “Other”.

  Question 7

  Enter your date of birth. If you do not know your complete date of birth, use “01” to fill in the spaces for the unknown year, month or day. Include a letter of explanation saying why you couldn’t include the complete date.

  Enter your place of birth, including the city or town and country of birth, as shown in your passport or your travel document.

  Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, indicate “Unknown” for the city or town and select the country where you intend to adopt a child.

  Question 9

  Citizenship(s)

  1. From the list, select your country of citizenship.
  2. If you are a citizen of more than one country, select your other country of citizenship.

  Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, select the country where you intend to adopt a child.

  Question 10

  Current country of residence

  From the list, select

  • The name of your current country of residence. Your country of residence is the country in which you are residing, provided that you have been lawfully admitted to that country.

  For refugee claimants in Canada only: select “Canada” whether you have been lawfully admitted or not.

  • Your immigration status in that country (indicate one of the following):
    • Citizen
    • Permanent resident
    • Visitor
    • Worker
    • Student
    • Other
    • Protected Person
    • Refugee Claimant
    • Foreign National

    For out-of-status applicants

    • for “Status,” select “Other”
    • for “Other,” type in “Out of status, requires restoration”
    • leave the “From” and “To” boxes blank

    Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, select the country where you intend to adopt a child and “Citizen” as the immigration status in that country.

    Question 11

    Enter the date of your last entry to Canada, if applicable.

    Enter the place you last entered Canada (for example, Toronto airport, Lacolle border crossing, seaport Yarmouth).

    Previous countries of residence

    Select the box to tell us if you have lived in any country other than your country of citizenship or your current country of residence for more than 6 months in the past 5 years.

    If you checked “Yes”, for each country

    • select the name of the country you lived in
    • select your immigration status for the time you were in that country:
      • Citizen
      • Permanent resident
      • Visitor
      • Worker
      • Student
      • Other
      • Protected Person
      • Refugee Claimant
      • Foreign National
      1. From the list, choose your current marital status: Annulled Marriage This is a marriage that is legally declared as not valid. An annulment can also be a declaration by the Catholic Church that the marriage union did not have a binding force. Common-Law This means that you have lived continuously with your partner in a marital-type relationship for a minimum of 1 year. Divorced This means that you are officially separated and have legally ended your marriage. Legally Separated This means that you are married but no longer living with your spouse. Married This means that you and your spouse have had a ceremony that legally binds you to each other. Your marriage must be legally recognized in the country where it was performed and in Canada. Single This means that you have never been married and are not in a common-law relationship. Widowed This means that your spouse has died and that you have not re-married or entered into a common-law relationship.
      2. Enter the date (year, month and day) you were married or you entered into your current common-law relationship.
      3. Enter the family name(s) and given name(s) of your current spouse or common-law partner.

      Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, select “Single”.

      Question 14

      Select the box to tell us if you have been married or in a common-law relationship. If you checked “Yes”, give the following details for your previous spouse or common-law partner:

      • Family name(s)
      • Given name(s)
      • Type of relationship:
        • Common-law, or
        • Married.

        Contact Information

        Question 1

        Enter your current mailing address (where information should be mailed) by typing the following information:

        • Post office box (P.O. box) number, if applicable. If you do not enter a post office box, you must provide the street number,
        • Apartment (Apt.) or Unit, if applicable,
        • Street number (no.), if applicable. It is the number on your house or apartment building. You must provide a street number if you did not enter in a P.O. box,
        • Street name, if applicable,
        • City or Town,
        • From the list, select the Country of your current mailing address,
        • Province or State,
        • Postal code or zip code,
        • District, if applicable.

        Note: All correspondence will go to this address unless you indicate your email address.

        If you wish to have a representative who can conduct business on your behalf, you must provide their address in this section and on the Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (opens in a new tab) form.

        For more information, read the Use of a Representative guide.

        Select the box to tell us if your residential address (where you live) is the same as your mailing address. If “No”, enter the following information:

        • Apartment (Apt.) or Unit, if applicable,
        • Street number (no.). It is the number on your house or apartment building,
        • Street name,
        • City or Town,
        • Country,
        • Province or State,
        • Postal code or zip code,
        • District, if applicable.

        Enter your telephone number including the country code, area/regional codes, etc.

        If you have an extension number, indicate it after your phone number under “Ext.”

        Select the box to tell us if your telephone number is from Canada or the US or Other (any other country).

        From the list, select the type of telephone:

        • Residence (home);
        • Cellular (cell/mobile);
        • Business (work).

        If you have a second telephone number, enter it here, including the country code, area/regional codes, etc.

        If you have an extension number, indicate it after your phone number under “Ext.”

        Providing an alternate telephone number will help make sure we can contact you with information about your application.

        Select the box to tell us if your second telephone number is from Canada or the US or Other (any other country).

        From the list, select the type of telephone:

        • Residence (home);
        • Cellular (cell/mobile);
        • Business (work).

        If you have a fax number, enter it here, including country code, area/regional codes, etc.

        Select the box to tell us if the facsimile (fax) number is from Canada or the US or Other (any other country).

        If you have an email address, enter it here (for example, name@provider.net).

        Note: By indicating your email address, you are hereby authorizing IRCC to transmit your file and personal information to this specific email.

        Passport

        Question 1

        Select the box to tell us if you have a valid passport or travel document. If you don’t have one or can’t obtain one, you must select the “No” box.

        If you select “Yes”, provide your passport or travel document number exactly as shown on the document. Make sure there is no space between each number or letter.

        From the list, select the name of the country or territory that issued your passport or travel document.

        Enter the date your passport or travel document was issued.

        Enter the date your passport or travel document will expire.

        For this trip, select “Yes” or “No” to tell us if you are using a passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that shows your personal identification number.

        For this trip, select “Yes” or “No” to tell us if you are using a National Israeli passport.

        National Identity Document

        Question 1

        Select the box to tell us if you have a valid national identity document.

        If you selected “Yes”, provide your national identity document number exactly as shown on the identity document. Make sure there is no space between each number or letter.

        From the list, select the name of the country or territory that issued your national identity document.

        Enter the date your national identity document was issued.

        Enter the date your national identity document will expire.

        Education/Occupation Detail

        Question 1

        From the list, select your highest level of education.

        • None: No education
        • Secondary or less: High school diploma obtained after elementary school and before college, university, or other formal training.
        • Trade/Apprenticeship Certificate/Diploma: Diploma completed in a specific trade, such as carpentry or auto mechanics.
        • Non-University Certificate/Diploma: Training in a profession that requires formal education but not at the university level (e.g., dental technician or engineering technician).
        • Post-Secondary – No Degree: Post-secondary studies at a college or university but no degree earned.
        • Bachelor’s Degree: Academic degree awarded by a college or university to those who have completed an undergraduate curriculum; also called a baccalaureate. Examples include a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Education.
        • Post Graduate – No Degree: Post-graduate studies at a college or university but no degree earned (Master or PhD).
        • Master’s Degree: Academic degree awarded by a graduate school of a college or university. You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree before a Master’s degree can be earned.
        • Doctorate – PhD: Highest university degree, usually based on at least 3 years of graduate studies and a thesis. Normally, you must have completed a Master’s degree before a PhD can be earned.

        Enter the total number of years of formal education that you have completed, including elementary and secondary school.

        Enter your current occupation.

        Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, indicate “Unknown”.

        Question 4

        Enter your intended occupation in Canada.

        Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, indicate “Unknown”.

        Language Detail

        Question 1

        This question is not for selection purposes. One of Canada’s immigration objectives is to support and assist the development of minority language communities in Canada.

        1. From the list, select your first (native) language. This is the language that you learned at home during your childhood and that you still understand. If your native language is not in this list, select “Other”.

        Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, select the native language of the country where you intend to adopt a child.

        1. From the list, select whether you are able to communicate in English and/or French:
           • English
           • French
           • Both
           • Neither
        2. If you selected “Both”, choose whether you are most at ease in English or French.
        3. Select “Yes” or “No” to tell us whether you have taken a test from a designated testing agency to assess your proficiency in English or French.

        Dependant(s)

        You must answer each question on behalf of each of your dependants.

        To add a new dependant to the application, click the “Add Dependant” button, located at the bottom of the page.

        To remove a dependant from the application, click the “Remove Dependant” button.

        You can add up to 5 dependants using this form.

        If you have more than 5 dependants:

        To include everyone in your application, you must complete the following form for each additional family member:

        Important

        You must list all family members in your application for permanent residence, whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not. You must also provide details on family members whose location is unknown (including those missing or presumed dead). If these family members are not listed on your application, you will not be able to sponsor them at a later date.

        Dependant’s Personal Details

        Questions 1–9

        Questions 1 to 9 are the same questions you answered for yourself. See the previous instructions to help you answer the questions for your dependant(s).

        1. From the list, select your dependant’s relationship to you, the principal applicant:
           • Adopted Child
           • Adoptive Parent
           • Child
           • Common-Law Partner
           • Grandchild
           • Parent
           • Spouse
           • Step-Child
           • Step-Grandchild
           • Other
        2. Complete if you select “Other”.
        1. Select the box to tell us if your dependant will accompany you to Canada.
        2. If you answered “No”, explain why your dependant is non-accompanying.

        From the list, select the type of dependant:

        Type A The dependant is under the age of 22 and single (not married and not in a common-law relationship). Type B (Important: This dependant type applies only if your child’s age was locked in before August 1, 2014) The dependant has been continuously enrolled in and in attendance as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority and has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22. Type C The dependant is 22 years of age or older, has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22, and is unable to provide for themselves because of a medical condition.

        Current country of residence

        • From the list, select the name of your dependant’s current country of residence. The country of residence is the country in which they are residing, provided they have been lawfully admitted to that country.

        For refugee claimants in Canada only: select “Canada” whether your dependant has been lawfully admitted or not.

        • Indicate one of the following as your dependant’s immigration status in that country:
          • Citizen
          • Permanent resident
          • Visitor
          • Worker
          • Student
          • Other
          • Protected Person
          • Refugee Claimant
          • Foreign National

          For out-of-status applicants

          • for “Status,” select “Other”
          • for “Other,” type in “Out of status, requires restoration”
          • leave the “From” and “To” boxes blank

          Enter the date of your dependant’s last entry to Canada.

          Tell us the place they last entered Canada (for example, Toronto airport, Lacolle border crossing, seaport Yarmouth).

          Previous countries of residence

          Select the box to tell us if your dependant has lived in any country other than their country of citizenship or their current country of residence for more than 6 months in the past 5 years.

          If you checked “Yes,”

          • select the name of the country your dependant lived in from the list
          • select your dependant’s immigration status for the time they were in that country:
            • Citizen
            • Permanent resident
            • Visitor
            • Worker
            • Student
            • Other
            • Protected Person
            • Refugee Claimant
            • Foreign National
            1. From the list, select your dependant’s current marital status:
               • Annulled Marriage
               • Common-Law
               • Divorced
               • Legally Separated
               • Married
               • Single
               • Widowed
            2. Enter the date (year, month and day) your dependant was married or entered into their current common-law relationship.
            3. Tell us the family name(s) and given name(s) of your dependant’s current spouse or common-law partner.

            Select the box to tell us if your dependant has previously been married or in a common-law relationship. If you selected “Yes”, give the following details for your dependant’s previous spouse or common-law partner:

            • Family name(s)
            • Given name(s)
            • Type of relationship:
              • Common-law, or
              • Married.

              Passport

              Question 1

              Select the box to tell us if your dependant has a valid passport or travel document. If they don’t have one or can’t obtain one, you must select the “No” box.

              If you selected “Yes”, provide their passport or travel document number exactly as shown on the document. Make sure there is no space between each number or letter.

              From the list, select the name of the country or territory that issued their passport or travel document.

              Enter the date their passport or travel document was issued.

              Enter the date their passport or travel document will expire.

              For this trip, select “Yes” or “No” to tell us if they’re using a passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that shows their personal identification number.

              For this trip, select “Yes” or “No” to tell us if they’re using a National Israeli passport.

              National Identity Document

              Question 1

              Select the box to tell us if your dependant has a valid national identity document.

              If you selected “Yes”, provide their national identity document number exactly as shown on the document. Make sure there is no space between each number or letter.

              From the list, select the name of the country or territory that issued their national identity document.

              Enter the date their national identity document was issued.

              Enter the date their national identity document will expire.

              Education/Occupation Detail

              Question 1

              From the list, select your dependant’s highest level of education.

              • None: No education
              • Secondary or less: High school diploma obtained after elementary school and before college, university, or other formal training.
              • Trade/Apprenticeship Certificate/Diploma: Diploma completed in a specific trade, such as carpentry or auto mechanics.
              • Non-university Certificate/Diploma: Training in a profession that requires formal education but not at the university level (e.g., dental technician or engineering technician).
              • Post-Secondary – No Degree: Post-secondary studies at a college or university but no degree earned.
              • Bachelor’s Degree: Academic degree awarded by a college or university to those who have completed an undergraduate curriculum; also called a baccalaureate. Examples include a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Education.
              • Post Graduate – No Degree: Post-graduate studies at a college or university but no degree earned (Master or PhD).
              • Master’s Degree: Academic degree awarded by a graduate school of a college or university. You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree before a Master’s degree can be earned.
              • Doctorate – PhD: Highest university degree, usually based on at least 3 years of graduate studies and a thesis. Normally, you must have completed a Master’s degree before a PhD can be earned.

              Tell us the total number of years of formal education that they have completed, including elementary and secondary school.

              Tell us their current occupation.

              Tell us their intended occupation in Canada.

              Language Detail

              Question 1

              This question is not for selection purposes. One of Canada’s immigration objectives is to support and assist the development of minority language communities in Canada.

              1. From the list, select your dependant’s first (native) language. This is the language that they learned at home during their childhood and they still understand. If their native language does not appear in this list, select “Other”.

              Note: If you are a parent of a child to be adopted in Canada who is not yet identified, select the native language of the country where you intend to adopt a child.

              1. From the list, select if they are able to communicate in English and/or French:
                 • English
                 • French
                 • Both
                 • Neither
              2. If you selected “Both”, choose whether they are most at ease in English or French.
              3. Select “Yes” or “No” to tell us whether they have taken a test from a designated testing agency to assess their proficiency in English or French.

              Consent and Declaration of Applicant

              1. Once the application is completed, click on the “Validate” button located at the top or bottom of the form. This will generate a barcode page or pages (see image below).
              Note: This barcode page will not appear if you fill out your application by hand.
              1. write your name in the space provided.
              2. check the appropriate box to indicate if you agree that the information contained in this application related to your intended occupation, education and work experience may be shared with prospective employers in order to assist them in hiring workers
              3. sign, with a handwritten signature, and date in the spaces provided

              By signing, you certify that you fully understand the questions asked, and that the information you have provided is complete, truthful, and correct. If you do not sign and date, the application will be returned to you.

              Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP)

              Who must fill out this application form?

              This form must be completed by

              • you, the principal applicant, on behalf of each of your dependants not included in the Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008).

              The questions are the same as the ones that you answered for yourself and other dependants on the IMM 0008 form.

              Follow the previous instructions to help you answer the questions.

              Consent and Declaration of Applicant

              Read all of the statements in all sections carefully and then

              1. write your dependant’s name in the space provided
              2. select the box to tell us if you agree that the information contained in this application related to your dependant’s intended occupation, education and work experience may be shared with prospective employers to assist them in hiring workers
              3. sign and date in the spaces provided

              By signing, you certify that your dependant fully understands the questions asked, and that the information you have provided is complete, truthful, and correct. If you do not sign and date, the application will be returned to you.

              Note: If you are less than 18 years of age, your form must be signed by one of your parents or a legal guardian.