D is an architect receiving disability income benefits who is not able to return to work full time

You can use this guide for reference only. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) closed on December 31, 2021 and on March 5, 2022 IRCC stopped accepting Pilot applications. The Atlantic Immigration Program replaced the Pilot program.

Table of Contents

This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions are not legal definitions. In case of a discrepancy between the language in this document and the relevant legislation or regulations, the legal text in the legislation and regulations prevails.

For legal information, see the:

This information will help you complete the forms and guide you through the application process.

Canada encourages applications for permanent residence from people with abilities, education and work experience that will contribute to the Canadian economy.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot allows Atlantic provincial governments to choose immigrants according to the economic needs of the province.

Who may use this application?

You may apply through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot if you meet the eligibility requirements and plan to settle permanently in one of these Atlantic Provinces:

• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

Provincial Endorsement

Before you can apply to immigrate to Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot you must first receive an Endorsement Letter from an Atlantic Province. Each province has its own application and endorsement procedures. However, IRCC has the authority to make the final decision on an application for permanent residence using existing selection and admissibility criteria. This includes security, criminal, and medical screening for candidates with Atlantic Endorsement letters and valid job offers in one of the Atlantic Provinces.

For more information about how to become endorsed by an Atlantic Province, or to learn which employers are hiring under this program, contact the provinces below:

• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this program, you must meet the minimum requirements outlined below.

Work Experience

Important: Make sure you are applying for the right program based on your previous work experience. If you apply for the wrong program and do not have the work experience required for that program, your application for permanent residence will be refused

You must have the following work experience:

• within the last three years, you have accumulated at least one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience in your main occupation at:
  • NOC Skill Type 0 (management jobs such as restaurant managers, mine managers, etc.) or
  • NOC Skill Level A (professional jobs that usually need a degree from a university, such as doctors, dentists, architects etc.) or
  • NOC Skill Level B (technical jobs and skilled trades such as chefs, electricians, plumbers etc.)
• you have performed the actions in the lead statement of the NOC;
• you have performed a substantial number of the main duties of the NOC, including all of the essential duties;
• your work experience must be from paid work (volunteer work or unpaid internships do not count);
• you worked overseas or in Canada (as long as you were legally authorized to work in Canada as a temporary resident).

For more information, see National Occupational Classifications.

Any periods of self-employment will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience.

Work experience acquired during a period of study is allowed, as long as the work hours did not exceed what was authorized to do.

Job Offer

You must have a job offer that is:

You must submit an Offer of Employment [IMM 5650] with your application. Your employer must complete this form and the employer must send you a copy. You must read and sign the declaration at the bottom of the copy and submit it with your application. 

Education

• You must have a high-school diploma, post-secondary certificate or degree that is valid and equal to a Canadian equivalent.
•  If you did not complete your studies in Canada, you’ll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to show that your studies are equal to a Canadian secondary or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.
• Your ECA report must be less than five years old on the date we receive your application.

• You must have a level 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or the Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for listening, speaking, reading and writing.
• You will need to do mandatory language testing and submit your results with your application.
• If you have already done language testing, your test results must not be more than two years old on the date your application is received.

Applicants inside Canada

If you are applying from inside Canada, you must submit proof that you have valid immigration status. Your status must be valid on the day you submit your application. See the document checklist for examples of documents you should submit.

How do I know if I have valid immigration status?

When you arrived in Canada and gave your passport to the officer, they authorized your stay by placing a stamp in your passport and/or issuing an additional document. Check your passport. If you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

For example, if the officer specified a date as shown in the above illustration, your temporary resident status would expire on June 30th, 1993.

If there is no stamp, a handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.

If you were given a visitor record, study or work permit, the expiry date is marked on the document.

The government of Canada provides no financial support to new immigrants. You must prove that you have enough money unencumbered by debts or obligations to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada.

You must submit proof with your application to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada. Examples of documents you can submit are:

• current bank statements or certification letter
• proof of your savings balance
• deposit statements

You cannot borrow this money from another person. You must be able to use this money to pay the costs of living for your family (even if they are not coming with you).

The amount of money you need to support your family is set by the size of your family. We update these amounts every year.

We strongly recommend that you research the cost of living in the region of Canada where you plan to live. Bring with you as much money as possible to make your establishment in Canada easier.

Disclosure of funds

If you arrive in Canada with an amount greater or equal to CAN$10,000, or its equivalent in a foreign currency, you must tell this to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer. These funds could be in the form of:

• cash,
• securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills), or
• bankers’ drafts, cheques, travellers’ cheques or money orders.

Working in Canada

You must show that you meet the employment requirements of the primary occupation listed on your application.  These may include education, training or other qualifications in the NOC description. For regulated occupations, you do not need to meet Canadian licensing requirements.

Although qualifications assessment and licensing are not needed for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, you should be aware of these issues when considering immigrating to Canada.

See regulated and non-regulated occupations (PDF, 2.12MB) for more information.

Regulated occupations

Twenty percent of people working in Canada work in jobs that are regulated to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Examples include:

• nurses
• engineers
• electricians
• teachers

Provincial and territorial regulatory bodies are responsible for:

• establishing entry requirements for individual occupations;
• recognizing prior credentials, training and experience; and
• issuing licences required to practice.

The recognition process varies between provinces and territories and between occupations. Recognizing qualifications and issuing licenses can generally only be done in Canada. The process can take time. You may be asked to:

• provide documentation of qualifications
• do a language exam (which may differ from those needed for immigration)
• complete a technical exam (with accompanying fee)
• do supervised work

Non-regulated occupations

For non-regulated occupations, there are no set requirements and there is no legal requirement to get a licence. The employer will set the standards and could ask for registration with a professional association.

Qualifications assessment

A qualifications assessment is advice on how qualifications from another country compare to Canadian qualifications. An assessment does not guarantee that:

• a regulatory body will issue you a licence to practice
• your credentials will be accepted by a Canadian employer

However, having your qualifications assessed will help you understand the Canadian educational system and help you with your job search.

To have your qualifications assessed by one of the provincial evaluation services, consult the Foreign credentials referral office (PDF, 2.12MB).

Labour market information

Job opportunities and labour market conditions are different in each region of Canada. It is important to research conditions in the area where you want to live.

See the Working in Canada tool for information on the Canadian labour market, job banks, and provincial and territorial labour market information.

You and your family members may need to appear in person to have their fingerprints and photograph (biometric information) taken at a biometric collection service point.

Canadian citizens and existing permanent residents of Canada are exempt from giving biometrics.

Find out if you need to give biometrics.

If you have to give biometrics, you can give them after you:

• pay for and submit your application and biometric fees, and
• get a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) which will direct you to a list of biometric collection service points you may choose from

You must bring the BIL with you to the biometric collection service point to give your biometrics.

We encourage you to give your biometrics as soon as possible after getting the BIL. We’ll start processing your application after we get your biometrics.

Where to give your biometrics

You need to book an appointment to give your biometrics at one of these official biometric collection service points.

Step 1. Gather Documents

What documents do I need?

Use the Document Checklist [IMM 5457] (PDF, 0.5 MB) to help you gather the necessary documents

Offer of Employment to a Foreign National – Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (IMM 5650)

Your employer must complete this form and send you a copy to include with your application package. You must read and sign the declaration at the bottom of the form.

You must submit the following for any document that is not in English or French, unless otherwise stated on your document checklist:

• the English or French translation; and
• an affidavit from the person who completed the translation (if they’re not a certified translator); and
• a certified copy of the original document.

If the translation is not done by a certified translator (a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial association of translators and interpreters in Canada), you must submit an affidavit swearing to the accuracy of the translation and the language proficiency of the translator.

An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country where the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document.

Translators who are certified in Canada don’t need to supply an affidavit.

The affidavit must be sworn in the presence of:

In Canada:

• a notary public
• a commissioner of oaths
• a commissioner of taking affidavits

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.

Outside of Canada:

Authority to administer oaths varies by country. Consult your local authorities.

To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print all of the following on the photocopy:

• “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”
• the name of the original document
• the date of the certification
• their name
• their official position or title
• their signature

Who can certify copies?

Only authorized people can certify copies.

Important information: Certifying of copies must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by an applicant’s parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin.

People authorized to certify copies include the following:

In Canada:

• a notary public
• a commissioner of oaths
• a commissioner of taking affidavits

Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Check with your local provincial or territorial authorities to learn who has the authority to certify.

Outside Canada:

Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Check with your local authorities to learn who has the authority to certify in your country.

If you and your family members are 18 years of age and older and aren’t permanent residents or Canadian citizens, you must provide a valid police certificate for any country other than Canada in which you spent 6 or more months in a row since the age of 18.

If the original certificate isn’t in English or French, you must get an accredited translator to translate it. You must include both the police certificate and the original copy of the translation.

We’ll also do our own background checks to see if there are reasons why you or your family members may not be admissible to Canada.

For specific and up-to-date information, see our guide on where to get a police certificate.

If you were convicted of or committed a criminal offence outside Canada, you may overcome this criminal inadmissibility

• by applying for rehabilitation, or
• you may be deemed to have been rehabilitated if at least ten years have passed since you completed the sentence imposed upon you, or since you committed the offence, if the offence is one that would, in Canada, be an indictable offence punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten years.

If the offence is one that would, in Canada, be prosecuted summarily, and if you were convicted for two (2) or more such offences, the period for rehabilitation is at least five (5) years after the sentences imposed were served or are to be served.

Convictions / offences in Canada

If you have a criminal conviction in Canada, you must seek a record suspension (formerly a pardon) from the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) before you will be admissible to Canada.

Parole Board of Canada Clemency and Record Suspension Division 410 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R1

Telephone:

In order to be considered for a record suspension under the Criminal Records Act, a specified period of time must pass after the end of the sentence imposed. The sentence may have been payment of a fine, period of probation, or imprisonment.

If you have had two (2) or more summary convictions in Canada, you may no longer be inadmissible if:

• at least five (5) years have passed since all sentences imposed were served or to be served,
• you have had no other convictions.

Step 2. Complete the Application

Filling out the application

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the application forms.

The following are the forms that must be filled out and submitted:

For the employer:

• Offer of Employment to a Foreign National under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program [IMM 5650]

For the applicant:

• Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008]
• Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008 DEP], if applicable
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669]
• Economic Class – Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program [IMM 5501]
• Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]
• Supplementary Information – Your travels [IMM 5562]
• Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada [IMM 5604], if applicable
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409], if applicable
• Document Checklist [IMM 5457]
• Use of a Representative [IMM 5476], if applicable

Complete all sections. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA”. If your application is incomplete it may be returned to you and this will delay the processing of your application.

If you need more space for any section, print out an additional page containing the appropriate section, complete it and submit it along with your application.

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.

Make sure that

• 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.

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
• If you chose “Economic” in question 1, select one of the following:
  • Agri-Food Pilot
  • Atlantic High Skilled Program
  • Atlantic International Graduate Program
  • Atlantic Intermediate Skilled 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

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 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)

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.

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.

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 or X – Another gender).

Enter your height in either centimetres or feet and inches.

From the list, select your eye colour.

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.

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.

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

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
• 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

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.

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

Contact Information

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

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) 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, ).

Passport

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

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

From the list, select your 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 (for example, 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 a Master’s degree can be earned.
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 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.

Enter your intended occupation in Canada.

Language Detail

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.”

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:

• Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP]

Dependant’s Personal Details

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
   • Child
   • Common-Law Partner
   • Grandchild
   • Other
   • Spouse
   • Step-Child
   • Step-Grandchild
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:

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

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

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
• 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

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

Passport

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

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

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 (for example, 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

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.”

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).

   

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.

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.

This form must be completed by:

• you, the principal applicant;
• your spouse or common-law partner (whether accompanying you to Canada or not), and
• your dependent children aged 18 years or older (whether accompanying you to Canada or not).

For refugee claimants in Canada: Only family members included in your application for refugee protection who are with you in Canada must complete this form.

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

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

Enter your name in your native language or script (if applicable).

For example: Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Japanese characters or Chinese commercial/telegraphic code.

Enter your date of birth. If you do not know your complete date of birth, please use an “*” (asterisk) to fill in the spaces for the unknown year, month or day. For example, if the day and month of your date of birth is unknown you could enter 1964/*/*.

Provide your father’s personal details including their:

• family name (surname or last name),
• given name(s),
• date of birth,
• town or city of birth,
• country of birth,
• date of death (if applicable).

Provide your mother’s personal details including their:

• family name (surname or last name),
• given name(s),
• date of birth,
• town or city of birth,
• country of birth,
• date of death (if applicable).

Answer each question by checking the appropriate box.

If you answered “Yes” to one or more of these questions, you must explain what happened in the space provided. If you need more space, attach a separate sheet of paper.

For questions 7-12, when answering:

• Do not use abbreviations
• Do not leave gaps in time

If a question doesn’t apply to you, write “N/A” in the question.

If you need more space, attach a separate sheet of paper.

Education

Enter the number of years of formal education you have completed at each of the levels indicated.

Provide the details about each secondary and post-secondary educational institution you attended, including the:

• period of time that you attended the institution,
• name of the institution,
• city and country,
• type of certificate or diploma issued, and
• field of study.

If no diploma was issued, write “N/A”. If you need more space, attach a separate sheet of paper.

Provide the details of your personal history since the age of 18, or the past 10 years, whichever is most recent.

Start with the most recent information.

If you were working:

• under “Activity”, enter your occupation or job title.
• make sure you provide a specific job title
• If your job title is not clear, provide a brief list of your duties

If you were not working:

• Explain what you were doing (for example: unemployed, studying, travelling, retired, in detention, etc.)

If you were outside your country of nationality, enter your status of the country you were in.

If you were or still are a member of an association or organizing, enter the names here.

This includes:

• political organizations,
• social organizations,
• youth or student organizations,
• trade unions, and
• professional associations.

If you were not a member of an association or organization, do not write “not applicable”. Instead, enter: “I have never been a member of an organization or association”.

Enter any government positions you have held in the past such as:

• Civil servant;
• Judge;
• Police officer;
• Employee in a security organization;
• Etc.

Do not use abbreviations.

Enter “NONE” in the box if you have not been a member of an association or organization.

Include:

• the name of the country and the level of jurisdiction (examples: national, regional or municipal),
• the name of the department or the branch you worked for, and
• activities and/or positions that you held.

Give complete details about your military or paramilitary service (if applicable). Provide the details of your military or paramilitary service for each of the countries whose armed forces you served in. If you were not in any military or paramilitary service, write “NONE”. Do not leave gaps in time.

Enter the residential addresses where you have lived since your 18th birthday or the past 10 years, whichever is most recent, complete with the postal code. Do not use P.O. Box addresses.

Authority to disclose personal information
Declaration of applicant

Read all of the statements in all sections carefully. Sign and date in the boxes 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.

This form must be completed by:

• You, as the principal applicant,
• Your spouse or common-law partner (whether accompanying you to Canada or not), and
• Your dependent children aged 18 or over (whether accompanying you to Canada or not).

Section A

Write the personal details for:

• yourself,
  • If you are married and you were physically present at the marriage, indicate “married – physically present” in the marital status box
  • If you are married and you were not physically present at the marriage, indicate “married – not physically present” in the marital status box
• your spouse or common-law partner, (if applicable)
  • If you are married and your spouse was physically present at the marriage, indicate “married – physically present” in the marital status box
  • If you are married and your spouse was not physically present at the marriage, indicate “married – not physically present” in the marital status box
• your mother, and
• your father.

Section B

Write the personal details for your children. It is very important that you list all of your children (even if they are already permanent residents or citizens of Canada). This includes:

• married children,
• adopted children,
• children of your spouse(step-children) or common-law partner,
• any of your children who have been adopted by others,
• any of your children who are in the custody of an ex-spouse, former common-law partner or other guardian.

You must answer all questions. If any sections do not apply to you, answer “N/A”.

Section C

Write personal details about your:

• brother(s),
• sister(s),
• half-brother(s) and half-sister(s),
• step-brother(s) and step-sister(s).

Section D

After carefully reading the statements contained in this section, sign and date the declaration.

This form must be completed by:

• you, the principal applicant;

You must complete all sections including those for your spouse or common law partner (whether accompanying or not) and each dependent child over the age of 18 (whether accompanying or not).

If there is not enough space to provide all the necessary information, use an extra sheet of paper. Print your name and the form’s title on the additional sheet.

Write your full family name (surname/last name) as it is shown on your passport or on the official documents that you will use to obtain your passport.

Write all of your given names (first, second or more) as they are shown on your passport or official documents. Do not use initials.

List all trips you have taken outside your country of origin or of residence in the last ten years (or since your 18th birthday, if this was less than ten years ago). Include all trips: tourism, business, training, etc.

If you did not travel outside your country during this period, select “did not travel”.

List all trips your spouse or common-law partner has taken outside their country of origin or of residence in the last ten years (or since their 18th birthday if this was less than ten years ago). Include all trips: tourism, business, training, etc.

If they did not travel outside their country during this period, select “did not travel”. 

Write the full name (given name and surname/family name) of your dependent child 18 years or older as it appears on their passport or on the official documents that will be used to obtain their passport. Do not use initials.
List all trips that the dependent child has taken outside their country of origin or of residence in the last ten years (or since their 18th birthday if this was less than ten years ago). Include all trips: tourism, business, training, etc.

If they did not travel outside their country during this period, check “did not travel”. 

This form must be completed and signed with handwritten signatures.

Important: A sponsor and their common-law partner must complete this form only if the common-law partner is a co-signer on the application to sponsor a parent or grandparent.

Write the following information in the space provided:

• Country of current residence
• Province/state/territory of current residence
• Name of the declarant
• Name of the declarant’s partner
• Name of city, town, village
• Name of county (if applicable)
• Name of province/state/territory
• Name of the country
• Number of continuous year(s) in a conjugal relationship
• Date of the relationship (from-to)

Check the box to indicate if you have jointly signed a residential lease, mortgage or purchase agreement relating to a residence in which you both live.

Check the box to indicate if you jointly own property other than your residence.

Check the box to indicate if you have a joint bank, trust credit union or charge card accounts.

Check the box to indicate if you have declared your common-law union under the Canadian Income Tax Act (T-1 “General individual income Tax Return”)

Check the box to indicate if you have life insurance on yourself which names your common-law partner as a beneficiary.

Check the box to indicate if your common-law partner has life insurance on themselves which names you as a beneficiary.

If you answered “no” to questions 1 to 3, indicate other documentary evidence you have that would indicate your relationship as common-law partners

solemn declaration
Write the following information in the space provided:

• Name of the declarant
• Name of the declarant’s partner
• Name of the city, town, village
• Name of the county
• Name of the province/state/territory
• Name of the country
• Date (day, month, year)
• Signature of the declarant
• Signature of the declarant’s partner
• Name of the person who administered the declaration
• Select the person’s title from the choices provided
• Signature of the person who administered the declaration

Fill out this form only if you:

• are appointing a representative;
• need to update contact information for your previously appointed representative; or
• are cancelling a representative’s appointment.

If you have dependent children aged 18 years or older, they must fill out their own copy of this form if a representative is also conducting business on their behalf.

Who is a representative?

A representative is someone who:

• you have appointed by completing the IMM 5476 form;
• gives advice, consultation, or guidance to you at any stage of the application process; and
• has your consent to conduct business on your behalf with IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the service of a representative or not.

For more information, see: Use of a Representative.

Step 3. Pay the Fees

Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees to be paid. We recommend you pay the right of permanent residence fee ($515) now to avoid delays. You will have to pay it before you become a permanent resident.

To pay your fees for your application you’ll need:

• a valid email address;
• access to a printer (you’ll need to print the receipt), and
• a credit card, Debit MasterCard® or Visa® Debit card.

Visit the link below and follow these instructions to pay:

• Go to Online Payment.
• Follow the online instructions.
  • At the end, click on the button to print the IRCC official receipt with barcode. Print two copies.
• Attach a copy of this receipt to your completed application.
  • Keep the second copy of the receipt for your records.

If you do not pay the full fees for your application(s) we will return your application(s). We will only start processing your application after you return it with the correct fees.

Overpayment

If you pay more than the fees needed for your application(s) we will start processing your application, and send you a refund as soon as possible.

Note: You don’t have to ask for a refund. It will be done automatically.

Note: If you’re eligible for a refund, we will issue the refund to the person indicated on the Payer Information section of the receipt (If a receipt is attached to a paper application or uploaded as part of an online application). If you paid directly within an online application (no receipt attached), or if there is no name indicated on the receipt, we will send the refund to the applicant.

Additional fees

You will also have to pay fees to third parties for yourself and your family members (if applicable) for:

• medical examinations
• police certificates
• language assessments

Step 4. Mail the Application

Follow the instructions below to determine where to submit your application.

• Put the completed forms, supporting documents required by the CIO and fee payment receipt in a 23 cm x 30.5 cm (9” x 12”) envelope.
• Send your completed application to one (1) of the addresses shown below, depending on how it will be mailed.

Affix sufficient postage (top right of the envelope)

Sender (top left of the envelope) (Your Name) (Your Address)

(Your Postal Code)

Recipient (centre of the envelope) Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Centralized Intake Office PO BOX 8900 Sydney, NS B1P 0H1

Canada

Affix sufficient postage (top right of the envelope)

Sender (top left of the envelope) (Your Name) (Your Address)

(Your Postal Code)

Recipient (centre of the envelope)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program 49 Dorchester Street Sydney, NS B1P 5Z2

Canada

What Happens Next

The application process

Submission

Completion check: Once you have submitted your application, we will check to make sure:

• all required application forms have been properly completed and submitted,
• the application processing fee has been paid, and
•  all required documents from the document checklist have been submitted.

If your application is missing any of the requested documents, it will be returned to you. Failure to provide supporting documents in certain circumstances may result in the refusal of your application.

Acknowledgment of receipt: If your application is complete, it will be placed into processing. You will be sent a letter or e-mail that:

• notifies you of this fact and provides you with your IRCC office file number
• sets out some basic instructions for contact with the IRCC office processing your file
• gives you a brief outline of future processing steps

Processing

Your application will undergo a detailed review by an IRCC Officer. The Officer will consider all the information and documentation you have provided, and will assess it against current selection standards.

You and your family members must pass a medical exam in order to become a permanent resident of Canada. You or your family members must not have a condition that:

• is a danger to public health or safety, or
• would cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada.

Examples of “excessive demand” include ongoing hospitalization or institutional care for a physical or mental illness.

Instructions

Information on medical instructions will be provided to you by the IRCC office. When you receive your assessment notice you will also receive medical forms for yourself (and any dependants, if applicable) and instructions on how to access a list of doctors in your area who are authorized to conduct immigration medical examinations (see below). You are not required to have a medical examination before you submit your application forms.

Exam validity

Medical results are valid for twelve months from the date of the exam. If your application is not finalized during this time, you may be required to do another medical exam.

Authorized doctors

The medical examination must be performed by a doctor from the IRCC list of Panel Physicians. You cannot choose your family doctor if their name is not on this list. See the list of Panel Physicians to find a doctor in your area.

Note that the doctor is only responsible for conducting the medical exam and cannot give you any advice on the immigration process.

Permanent resident status

If your application is successful, you and your family members will receive status as permanent residents of Canada. To prepare, see Understanding permanent resident status.

There are certain things you can do to help make sure your application is processed as fast as possible:

• send all documents and information we have asked for with your application
• pay your application and biometric fees (if required)
• provide your biometrics as soon as possible (if required)
• tell us if your contact information changes, including:
  • mailing address
  • telephone numbers
  • facsimile number (fax)
  • e-mail address

Things that delay processing

The following may delay processing:

• unclear photocopies of documents
• verification of your information and documents
• a medical condition that may need more tests or consultations
• a criminal or security problem
• consultation is needed with other offices in Canada and abroad

Your personal information is:

• available to IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees who need to see it to provide the services to you, and
• not disclosed to other organizations except as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act or the Citizenship Regulations.

Our quality assurance program randomly chooses applications for a special review. If chosen, we will ask you to attend an interview with an IRCC official to:

• verify that the documentation and any other information you submitted is accurate,
• verify that your application has been completed properly.

If you need help, you can find answers to your questions by visiting the Help Centre.

Appendix A - Photo Specifications

• Make sure that you provide the correct number of photos specified in the Checklist.
• You must provide identical and unaltered photos.
• Photos may be in colour or in black and white.
• Photos must be original and not altered in any way or taken from an existing photo.
• Photos must reflect your current appearance (taken within the past six (6) months).

The photos must be:

• taken by a commercial photographer;
• 50 mm x 70 mm (2 inches wide x 2 3/4 inches long) and sized so the height of the face measures between 31 mm and 36 mm (1 1/4 inches and 1 7/16 inches) from chin to crown of head (natural top of head);
• clear, sharp and in focus;
• taken with a neutral facial expression (eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed, no smiling);
• taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows, glare or flash reflections;
• taken straight on, with face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera (i.e. the photos must show the full front view of the person’s head and shoulders, showing the full face centered in the middle of the photo);
• taken in front of a plain white background with a clear difference between the person’s face and the background. Photos must reflect and represent natural skin tones.

The back of one (1) photo must include:

• the name and date of birth of the person in the photo
• the name and complete address of the photography studio
• the date the photo was taken;

The photographer may use a stamp or handwrite this information. Stick-on labels are not accepted.

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