How to apply to canada

Immigrate to Canada

How you can immigrate to Canada, how to protect yourself from fraud and what to expect after you arrive in Canada.

Most requested

Services and information

Express Entry

Immigrate as a skilled worker

Family sponsorship

Sponsor your relatives, including your spouse, partner, children, parents, grandparents, and others to immigrate

Provincial nominees

Immigrate by being nominated by a Canadian province or territory

Quebec-selected skilled workers

Immigrate as a skilled worker in the province of Quebec

Atlantic Immigration Program

Immigrate by graduating from a school or working in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador

Caregivers

Immigrate by providing care for children, the elderly or those with medical needs, or work as a live-in caregiver

Start-up Visa

Immigrate by starting a business and creating jobs

Self-employed

Immigrate as a self-employed person in cultural or athletic activities

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

Smaller Canadian communities supporting their local economy through immigration. Pilot opens to permanent resident applicants later in 2019.

Agri-Food Pilot

Immigrate by working in specific agri-food industries and occupations

Temporary resident to permanent resident pathway

The temporary resident to permanent resident pathway is a limited-time pathway to permanent residence. It is for certain temporary residents who are currently working in Canada and their families.

Permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents

Two pathways to permanent residence for eligible Hong Kong residents who are currently in Canada.

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

Immigrate through economic permanent residence pathways as an eligible skilled refugee

Refugees

Immigrate as a refugee or become a sponsor

Appeal your immigration decision

Appeal to the Immigration and Refugee Board about sponsorship, removal orders and residency obligation requirements.

Apply for citizenship: How to apply

On this page

You need to choose the online or paper application. Do not apply both ways.

Apply online, if you can

Some applicants can now apply online to become a Canadian citizen.

More people will be able to apply online

In the future, more people will be able to apply online. We’ll open the online application to the following applicants next:

If you’re applying as a family or a group

Adults (18 or older) can now apply online together as a family or a group.

Who you can apply online with

The adult(s) you apply with can be your family members or they can be unrelated to you. For example, they can be your

If you want to apply with a minor (under 18), you can only apply on paper for now.

Starting a group application

Joining a group application

To join a group application, you must

If you can apply online, you may create an account before or after you get your email invitation.

At this time, you cannot

How the online group application works

Everyone in your group

Paying the fee

Check the instructions in the payment section of the online account for more details.

Submitting the application

After everyone signs their individual applications, 1 person in your group will submit all of the applications together.

If you have a representative

If you apply online with the help of a representative, you must

Your representative may

You don’t need to use a representative

It’s your choice. Using one will not

Apply on paper

Get an application package

The application package includes the instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Use the instruction guide and the document checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Choose the application package for your situation:

Pay the application fees

Your fees depend on whether you’re an adult (age 18 and over) or minor (under age 18). Your fees may include:

If you’re submitting more than one application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together.

You have to pay your fees online. Only pay your fees once you’re ready to submit your application. Make sure to include the fee receipt with your application.

Submit your application

You must be eligible for Canadian citizenship the day before you sign the application form.

You don’t have to sign or date your physical presence calculation (your printout of the Online Physical Presence Calculator or form CIT 0407).

Send your completed application form and all the documents on the checklist

Sending more than one application

If you apply for more than one person and want us to process your applications at the same time, put all applications in the same envelope. Otherwise, we process them separately.

Address for regular mail

Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
P.O. Box 7000
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6V6
Canada

Address for courier mail

Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
47–49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 5Z2

Apply for citizenship urgently

Processing times show how long it takes us to process applications for citizenship. We can process applications faster in special cases.

Some immigration applicants can now apply online

You may be able to use a new online application to apply for some permanent immigration programs:

To try it, sign in or create a Permanent residence online application portal account.

Filling out forms

Online forms in the portal

You’ll fill out these digital forms online (for yourself, and any family members 18 or older)

PDF forms

You and any family members coming with you to Canada must fill out the PDF forms below according to the instruction guide for the immigration program you’re applying for.

You must download, complete, digitally sign, and upload all the forms you need for your application.

Do not print and scan any of these forms.

For all programs

For family sponsorship applications only

The sponsor must

Submitting forms that someone else needs to sign

For some programs, you may need to include forms that you print and sign by hand. If a third party (other than an authorized representative) also needs to sign the form, like an employer or parent of your dependent child, you must

As the principal applicant, once you’ve uploaded your forms, only your signature is needed on the overall consent and declaration to complete the online application. Your family members don’t need to sign it.

Technical issues

If you’re having technical issues with the permanent residence online application portal, contact us using the web form

Immigration representatives

If you want to appoint someone to do business with us on your behalf, you must

An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can give you advice and help you with your application for a fee. But they can’t

A representative can fill out forms and communicate with us on your behalf through their own account. They can also

If you’re using the portal to fill out and upload your forms and supporting documents, a representative could help you with the application using screen-sharing technology.

After you read the declaration, you must be the one who types your name and clicks the “submit” button. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed,” according to Canada’s immigration law.

Electronically sign your application

Photo specifications

You need one photo for each person on your application.

Follow the instructions in the online application to scan and upload both sides of your photo.

Applying for an open work permit as a spouse or common-law partner in Canada

You can’t apply for your open work permit online when you submit your in-Canada spousal application online. Find out how to submit your open work permit application.

Instruction guides

The instruction guide for your immigration program will help you fill out the forms properly.

International Experience Canada: How to apply

IEC participants: Requirements for travel to Canada

Due to current travel restrictions, only fully vaccinated IEC participants can come to Canada right now. Certain agriculture and food processing workers may be exempt.

On this page

You cannot apply for a work permit under International Experience Canada (IEC) unless we’ve sent you an invitation to apply (ITA).

If you’ve accepted an ITA for a work permit, follow these steps.

Make sure you know the date and time of your deadline

When you accept your ITA, you’ll receive a message in your account with your deadline. You have exactly 20 days from the time you accept your ITA to submit your work permit application.

The date and time of your deadline is in coordinated universal time (UTC). This may be different than your local time.

For example, if you accept your invitation at 7:25 a.m. UTC, you must submit your IEC work permit application before 7:25 a.m. UTC time 20 days later.

Don’t wait until the last day to submit your application. The difference between your local time and the UTC time could make you miss the deadline.

Biometrics and the application process

We refer to your fingerprints and photo as biometrics. We collect biometrics for most applications. Find out what happens from when you submit your application to when you get to Canada and where biometrics fits in the process.

1. Apply for your visitor visa, study permit or work permit

If you want to visit, study or work in Canada, make sure you’re eligible to apply. Use our application guides to help fill out your application properly, then submit your application.

Avoid processing delays by sending us a complete application.

2. Get your fingerprints and photo taken

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you probably need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics).You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years to make repeat trips to Canada easier.

COVID-19: Biometrics deadline

Some biometrics collection sites are closed. If the site closest to you is closed, we’ll extend your deadline to give your biometrics. Find out how COVID-19 is affecting biometrics.

3. We process your application

After we get your biometrics, we start processing your application. See how long it takes to process your application.

If we need more information from you, we’ll contact you.

4. We make a decision on your application

When we finish reviewing your application, we let you know if you’re approved to come to Canada. If you are, we issue your documents.

If your application is refused, we send you a letter that tells you why.

5. You travel to Canada (if you’re approved)

Make sure you travel with the documents we gave you. This includes travel documents like a visitor visa, study or work permits or an eTA (electronically linked to your passport).

Airline staff and border service officers at ports of entry will ask to see your travel documents. If you don’t have them, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada.

Make sure children under 18 travel with the right documents.

6. We check your identity when you arrive in Canada

When you arrive, we check your identity to make sure that you are the same person who was approved to travel to Canada. We may use your biometrics to do this.

If we can’t verify your identity, you may be detained by a border services officer. These officers help protect the health and safety of Canadians.

If the officer determines that you’re not admissible to Canada, you won’t be allowed to enter Canada. If you came by air, you’ll have to take a return flight to where you came from.

7. You’re allowed to enter Canada

If you pass the identity check and meet the entry requirements, the border services officer stamps your passport and lets you know how long you can stay in Canada. You’re normally allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months.

Children under 18 must meet the same entry requirements as adults. The border services officer may ask minor children to show other documents depending on whether the child is travelling alone or with someone.

Basic entry requirements

You must meet some basic requirements to enter Canada. You must:

Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:

You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.

Biometrics fee

Complete the online form

You can save the information in the online form and go back to it as often as you need to until you are ready to submit it.

Note: If you’re applying for a Working Holiday work permit and you’re asked for information about your offer of employment,

If you’re having a technical problem with your application, we have some advice for you.

When you have completed the application, the system will generate a personalized document checklist for you. It will show all the supporting documents you need to upload.

Get all the documents you need

Using your personalized checklist, gather all your documents.

You must be able to make electronic copies of your supporting documents using a scanner or camera.

Once you have your documents ready, upload them on the Document Checklist page in your account.

We may ask you for more documents after you submit your application. After you upload a document, make sure you complete all of the steps. This means you must provide an electronic signature and confirm the information you’ve given. If you don’t, your application won’t be processed.

If you have technical problems submitting documents, send them through our web form. Under the “Type of application/enquiry” drop-down menu, select International Experience Canada.

If you haven’t applied yet and you’re missing a document

Documents you may need

Proof of financial support

You must bring proof of financial support (that is, a bank account statement) with you when you come to Canada. Border services officers may ask you for it when you arrive.

The statement must be issued no more than 1 week before your departure for Canada. It must clearly show that you have enough money (the equivalent of CAN$2,500) to support yourself for the first 3 months of your stay in Canada.

If you arrive in Canada with the equivalent of CAN$10,000 or more, you must tell the border services officer. If you don’t, you could be fined or put in prison. These funds could be in the form of

The cost of living varies depending on where you decide to settle in Canada. Prepare financially by finding out how much it costs to live in the city and province or territory where you plan to stay.

Medical exams

Before you submit your work permit application, you should get a medical exam if:

You must see a doctor that has been approved by IRCC (called a panel physician).

After the panel physician completes the medical exam:

If you don’t complete this step, we may refuse your application or your work permit will have medical restrictions on it, which means you won’t be allowed to work in a job that requires a medical exam.

If you can’t complete a medical exam before the deadline to submit your work permit application, you can submit proof that you’ve made an appointment to get one.

Your medical exam results are valid for 12 months. To make sure they don’t expire, you should wait until you’re invited to apply before getting a medical exam.

Health insurance

You don’t need to have health insurance when you apply. You do need to have it before you arrive in Canada. Your health insurance must cover the entire time you’re here.

You should purchase 1 policy to cover the entire length of your work permit. If this isn’t possible, you can get 2 consecutive policies instead.

Your insurance must cover

Before purchasing your policy, ask your provider what medical coverage is included.

If you don’t have sufficient coverage, you may be denied entry into Canada.

We strongly recommend you wait to get your health insurance until after you get your port of entry letter of introduction.

What if my health insurance is only valid for part of the time I want to stay in Canada?

If your health insurance doesn’t last the entire length of your stay in Canada, you’ll be given a work permit that expires on the same day as your insurance.

If this happens, you won’t be able to apply to change the conditions of your work permit at a later date.

Police certificates

In most cases, you’ll need to get police certificates for countries or territories where you’ve spent 6 or more months in a row since the age of 18.

When processing your application, an officer might ask you for more police certificates.

How long is my police certificate good for?

For the country or territory where you currently live, the certificate cannot be older than 6 months from the day you apply.

For any other country or territory where you’ve stayed for 6 or more months in a row, the certificate must have been issued after you left. You can use the certificate for your IEC application as long as you haven’t gone back to that country or territory.

Uploading your police certificates

There will only be 1 upload field for police certificates. If you need to give us more than 1 certificate, make sure to include all your certificates together in 1 single file.

If your police certificate doesn’t have an expiry date or document number

If your police certificate doesn’t have an expiry date, select a day that’s at least 1 year after the date it was issued. It doesn’t have to be exactly 1 year after.

If your police certificate doesn’t have a document number, type N/A in the field.

If you can’t get one in time

If you can’t get a police certificate before the deadline to submit your application, you can upload

An officer will send you a request letter in your account later on to ask for your police certificate. You must give us the certificate by the deadline shown in the request letter or your application will be refused.

Special instructions for police certificates

Some places of special instructions for IEC applicants. Read the special notes and considerations for the countries below:

CV/résumé

You’ll need to provide a copy of your CV or résumé. A curriculum vitae or résumé is a brief description of your:

It should also include your current job title and the city and country where you currently live.

Passport

You must provide a clear, readable copy of your passport.

Your passport must be valid:

Your work permit will not be issued for longer than the validity of your passport. Your passport must include a blank page other than the last page.

Digital photo

You must provide a digital photo of yourself.

Frame size

Quality/resolution

If you scan a photo you already have, the minimum resolution must be 600 pixels per inch.

File format

Family information

This form requests information about your

Electronic Travel Authorization or Visitor visa application

Depending on your country of citizenship, you’ll need either an eTA or visitor visa. You don’t have to apply for these documents.

If you need an eTA, you’ll automatically receive one when your work permit application is approved. If you need a visitor visa, you’ll get a request letter asking you to send us your passport.

Program-specific documents

International Co-op (Internship)

Proof of school registration

You must provide a letter from your educational institution that shows that you’re currently registered there.

Proof that your job is linked to your field of studies

Submit 1 of the following documents:

Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: How to apply

On this page

Apply online

If you’ve already applied on paper, do not apply online for the same request. If you do, we won’t process your online application.

You may be able to apply online for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship). If you can’t or don’t want to apply online, you can apply on paper.

You can apply online

If you’re applying for yourself

You can apply online if you were born on or after February 15, 1977, and you

If you’re a parent applying on behalf of a child (under 18 years old)

You can apply if:

If you’re applying for your child(ren):

Before you start

To apply online, you need

Start your online application

Once you start your online application, you have 60 days to submit it.

The online application works best in Google Chrome.

If you need to apply online urgently

We can process applications faster than our normal processing times (opens in a new tab) in special cases, such as for

How to apply online urgently

We’ll ask you if you need urgent processing in the online application.

Once you start your online application, you have 60 days to submit it.

The online application works best in Google Chrome.

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

Examples of supporting documents

Some examples of supporting documents:

You need to apply on paper

You need to apply on paper if

Don’t apply online if you’ve already applied on paper, as we’re still processing your paper application. If you do, we won’t process your online application.

Adopted minors born outside Canada: You need to apply for your adopted child’s Canadian citizenship

To get a citizenship certificate for your adopted child, you have 2 options:

Do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate (online or on paper).

Adopted adult born outside Canada: You need to apply for your Canadian citizenship

To get a citizenship certificate, you have 2 options:

Do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate (online or on paper).

Permanent resident minors: You need to apply for the child’s Canadian citizenship

Getting a certificate for the first time: You can’t apply together with an adopted child who was born outside Canada

You cannot apply for yourself and an adopted child (under 18) born outside Canada at the same time (online or on paper).

Adopted child born outside Canada

To get a citizenship certificate for your adopted child, you have 2 options:

Do not apply directly for a citizenship certificate (online or on paper).

If your adopted child was born in Canada, you can apply together on paper.

Applying for yourself (adult 18 years of age or older)

Change your answer to the question above to “Myself (Adult 18 years of age or older)” to find out how you can apply.

Apply on paper

You can apply on paper if you can’t or don’t want to apply online.

1. Get the application package

The package includes the instruction guide, forms and document checklist.

If your documents aren’t in English or French, you’ll need:

If you need to apply on paper urgently

We can process applications faster than our normal processing times in special cases, such as for

How to apply on paper urgently

In your application

Write “Urgent – Citizenship certificate (Proof)” in large, dark letters on the envelope when you submit your application.

We’ll review your request to see if it qualifies. Even if you qualify, we can’t guarantee that you’ll get your citizenship certificate on time.

2. Pay the application fee

You can pay your fees online.

There is no cost for this update until May 30, 2026.

You’ll have to pay the usual fees if you’re

3. Submit the application

Answer the following question to find out where to submit your application.

If you’re a parent or legal guardian applying for a minor child (under 18 years old)

Select the country or territory where the child lives:

Are you applying to reclaim your child’s Indigenous name on their citizenship certificate?

Are you applying to reclaim your child’s Indigenous name on their citizenship certificate?

If you’re applying for yourself

Select the country or territory where you live:

Are you an Indigenous person applying to reclaim your Indigenous name on your citizenship certificate?

Are you an Indigenous person applying to reclaim your Indigenous name on your citizenship certificate?

Where to submit your application if you’ve reclaimed your Indigenous name

To submit your application to apply for, update, or replace your citizenship certificate or card with your reclaimed Indigenous name