Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)

Language preference

From the list, select your preferred language for:

1. correspondence (any letters or emails we send you)
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 to live in Canada?

If you plan to live in the Province of Quebec and haven’t received your Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ), enter the date when you applied for it. If you haven’t applied yet, you must do so before applying for permanent residence.

If you are applying for sponsorship and you plan to live in the province of Quebec, your sponsor will have to submit their undertaking to the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration. We will send your sponsor an email or letter with instructions on how to do this.

• Answer “No” to the question about whether you have received your Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ), and leave the date applied field blank.

Current mailing address

• Post office box (P.O. box) number: If you don’t enter a post office box, you must enter your street number
• Street number (no.): The number on your house or apartment building. You must enter a street number if you didn’t enter a P.O. box

All correspondence will be mailed to this address unless you include your email address.

If you want a representative to do business with us 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.

Email address

Use this format: name@provider.net

By entering your email address, you authorize IRCC to transmit your file and personal information to this specific email.

Passport/travel document number (exactly as shown on your passport or travel document)

If you have more than one passport, choose the one you’ll use to travel to Canada.

Most people will need a passport to travel to Canada. If you’re approved to come here, you’ll need to get one.

A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or international organization (like the United Nations). It has a photo and personal information, and let the holder travel between countries. If you have a passport, you don’t need a travel document.

Issue/expiry dates

You can find this information on the page in your passport that shows your photo and date of birth (also called the biodata page)

A national identity document is an identity card with a photo which is issued by a government or official authority, and can be used as identification inside the country that issued it. It may also be known as "ID," "ID card," "identity card," "citizen card" or "passport card."

Document number

Enter your national identity document number exactly as shown on the identity document. Make sure there is no space between each number or letter.

Highest level of education

1. None: No education.
2. Secondary or less: High school diploma obtained after elementary school and before college, university, or other formal training.
3. Trade/apprenticeship certificate/diploma: Diploma completed in a specific trade, such as carpentry or auto mechanics.
4. 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).
5. Post-secondary – no degree: Post-secondary studies at a college or university but no degree earned.
6. 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.
7. Post graduate – no degree: Post-graduate studies at a college or university but no degree earned (Master or PhD).
8. Master’s degree: Academic degree awarded by a graduate school of a college or university. You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree before you can earn a Master’s degree.
9. 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 you can earn a PhD.

Current occupation

If you don’t work, enter “not employed”.

Intended occupation

If you aren’t planning to work in Canada (for example, if you’re retired), enter “None”.

Native language/mother tongue

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, choose “Other”.

Test from a designated language testing organization to assess English or French

Check “Yes” or “No” to indicate if you have taken a test from a designated language testing organization to assess your proficiency in English or French.

Question 1

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

• Family
• Economic
• Refugee
• Other

Question 2

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
• If you chose “Economic” in question 1, select one of the following:
  • 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
• If you chose “Refugee” in question 1, select one of the following:
  • 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)
• If you chose “Other” in question 1, select one of the following:
  • In Canada – Humanitarian & Compassionate Considerations
  • Permit Holder Class
  • Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area

Question 3

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.

Question 4

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

Question 5

Where do you plan on living in Canada?

From the list select the:

1. Province/Territory
2. City/Town

Question 6

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: select “No” for Question 6 a) and leave 6 c) blank if

• you are not applying under a Quebec immigration program, or
• you are applying for sponsorship and plan to live in the province of Quebec. Your sponsor will have to submit their undertaking to the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration. We will send your sponsor an email or letter with instructions on how to do this.

The principal applicant must answer the following questions.

Question 1

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.

Question 3

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.

Question 4

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] (opens in a new tab) 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.

Question 6

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.

Question 8

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
• Other: This section must be completed if you selected “Other” as a status.
• Fill in the dates (From – To) you have been living in your current country of residence.

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).

Question 12

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
• Other: This section must be completed if you selected “Other” as a status
• fill in the dates (From – To) you were living in that country

Question 13

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.
• Dates (From – To) for which you were in the relationship with your previous spouse/common-law partner
• Date of birth.

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:

• Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP] (opens in a new tab)

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).

Question 10

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”.

Question 11

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.

Question 12

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.

Not sure which type of dependant your child is? Check if your child qualifies as a dependant by answering a few questions.

Question 13

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
• Other: This section must be completed if you selected “Other” as a status.
• Fill in the dates (From – To) your dependant has been living in their current country of residence.

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

Question 14

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).

Question 15

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
• Other: This section must be completed if you selected “Other” as a status
• fill in the dates (From – To) your dependant was living in that country

Question 16

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.

Question 17

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.
• Dates (From – To) your dependant was in the relationship with their previous spouse or common-law partner

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.

2. Print all pages of your application form.

3. Read all of the statements in all sections carefully and

   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.

4. Place the barcode page(s) on the top of your application (forms and supporting documents) when you submit it.