Document checklists for Canadian immigration
Almost every IRCC application asks for a valid passport and the application form. Many also ask for photos and biometrics. The rest changes by program. A visitor visa adds proof of financial support and, as recommended documents, your travel history and an itinerary. Express Entry adds language results, an education assessment, police certificates and a medical exam. Citizenship adds your physical presence calculation and two pieces of personal identification.
Which application are you preparing?
14 lists. Each one keeps its own ticks, so you can switch and come back.
Who is on the application
IRCC's guide 5289 counts a child as dependent if they are under 22 and have no spouse or common-law partner. There are exceptions.
Situations that add documents
This is IRCC's published list for each application type, summarized. It lists what IRCC asks for; it does not say how an application will turn out. When you apply, the personalized checklist in your IRCC account is the one that counts.
Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa)
1 person
0 of 18 gathered
Find, filter and keep your list
Your ticks, household and dates are saved in this browser only, so you can come back to them. Nothing is sent to us. To move a list to another device, save a file here and load it there. The file opens in a spreadsheet too. It stays on your device.
ClearToEnter: Document Checklist
Prepared · cleartoenter.ca
Prepared with ClearToEnter's free educational tools. Bring this to a licensed RCIC (register.college-ic.ca) or immigration lawyer (flsc.ca) to discuss your case. This is education, not advice; figures should be confirmed on canada.ca.
Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa): Document Checklist
0 of 18 ticked on this sheet.
This list was last checked against IRCC's pages on November 11, 2026.
Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Who provides what follows IRCC's visitor visa checklist IMM 5484 (version 05-2026): when a family applies as a group, each person has their own application package, and the family information form is for each person 18 or older. Split by person read on November 11, 2026.
Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Principal applicant
0 of 18 gatheredForms and fees
5 items- IMM 5257
The form for a visitor visa to Canada
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- IMM 5645
IMM 5484 says each person 18 or older fills in the family information form listed in the package for their region
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- IMM 5409Only in some cases
If you are in a common-law relationship and including your partner
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- IMM 5476Only in some cases
If you are using an authorized immigration consultant or lawyer
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- IMM 5475Only in some cases
Only if you authorize IRCC to release information from your case file to someone other than yourself
Your note and date
Identity and civil status
2 itemsIRCC's page says your passport or travel document should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel. Online, you upload a digital copy.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- Only in some cases
IMM 5484 lists two photos that meet the visa photo specifications. It also says paper photos are not needed if you give biometric fingerprints and a photo.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
Immigration status and history
2 items- Only in some cases
On IRCC's list of recommended documents: copies of previous passports or visas used in the last 10 years, entry and exit stamps, or study and work permits. IRCC's page says past travel can show that you were able to get a visa before.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- Only in some cases
If your country or territory of residence differs from the country of citizenship on your passport: IRCC's page and IMM 5484 ask for proof of legal status in the country or territory where you live
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
Funds, income and taxes
1 itemsIMM 5484 asks for proof that you can support yourself and any family members coming with you while you are in Canada. IRCC's page recommends a bank account statement that shows at least 6 months of account details.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
Relationships and family
1 items- Only in some cases
IMM 5484 lists a copy of your marriage licence or certificate; the visa office for your region says if it is needed
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
Police, court, medical and biometrics
3 items- Only in some cases
IRCC lists this step as "if applicable". After you apply, you wait for a biometrics instruction letter, then book an appointment to give fingerprints and a photo. A first-time applicant pays the biometrics fee when submitting the application, unless exempt.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- Only in some cases
IRCC asks for this from visitors from certain countries or for stays over 6 months
IRCC's rule: medical exam results are valid for 12 months.
Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Your note
- Only in some cases
IRCC may ask for these depending on nationality and circumstances
What IRCC says it should show
Each country has its own process, cost and wait. IRCC keeps a page for every country that says who issues the certificate and how to ask for it. Start early.
Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
Work, study and other supporting documents
4 items- Only in some cases
On IRCC's list of recommended documents: flight details, proof of accommodation or registration for an event, to show how long you plan to stay and what you will do in Canada
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- Only in some cases
IMM 5484 lists "Purpose of Travel" and sends you to the visa office instructions for your region for what to provide. Depending on the purpose of your visit, IRCC's page asks for a letter of invitation.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- Only in some cases
On IRCC's list of recommended documents. IRCC's page says it can confirm that you have a stable job and will return to it. On the employer's letterhead, dated no earlier than 3 months before you apply.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
- Only in some cases
For some purposes of visit, IRCC's page asks for a letter from the person or business inviting you to Canada. IRCC says it can confirm that the purpose of your visit is valid.
Your note and date
For example the issue date, or the day you asked for it.
What are the catches with IRCC documents?
Five things to know before you gather. Each rule is IRCC's own, with the page that states it.
Documents not in English or French
IRCC asks for three things together: the English or French translation, an affidavit from the person who did the translation, and a certified photocopy of the original document.
Verify on ircc.canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Photos have exact sizes
Photo rules change with the application, so follow the link on your own list. For a permanent residence application on paper, IRCC's photo page asks for two identical photos, 50 mm wide by 70 mm high, with the head 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown, taken no more than 12 months before you apply. The back shows your name, your date of birth, the date the photo was taken and the studio's name and address, stamped or written by hand.
Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Police certificates go by country and by date
For Express Entry, IRCC asks for one from you and from each family member 18 or older, for every country where that person lived 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years. Time before age 18 and time in Canada do not count. The certificate from the country you live in now is issued no more than 6 months before you apply. An officer may ask for more.
Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Express Entry gives 60 days
After an invitation you have 60 days to apply. If a police certificate has not arrived, IRCC's page says you can send a letter of explanation with proof that you asked for it.
Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab)Some documents count only for a set time
Language results count for 2 years, an education assessment for 5 years and medical results for 12 months. Where IRCC states a period, the item on your list has a date field. Enter the date and the page shows the date the rule points to.
See the table of validity rulesYour IRCC account has the last word
When you start an application online, IRCC builds a checklist for you in your account. Where it differs from this page, follow your account.
Documents not in English or French
IRCC asks for three things together: the English or French translation, an affidavit from the person who did the translation, and a certified photocopy of the original document.
Before you submit, compare this list with the official IRCC page for this application and with the checklist in your IRCC account.
Guide
How to use this checklist
Three steps, a worked example, and how long common documents stay valid.
1
Pick the application
The menu at the top holds every list, grouped by kind. Each list keeps its own ticks. A paused program shows its status first.
2
Set your household
Say who is on the application: a spouse or partner, how many children, and for a sponsorship, a co-signer. Then tick any situation that applies, such as a past marriage.
3
Tick, note and keep
Each person gets a group with their own count. Add a note or a date to any item. Where IRCC states how long a document stays valid, enter its date to see the date that rule points to. Print the list, or save a file to open it on another device.
Worked example
A single applicant from outside Quebec picks "Study Permit", says no spouse and no children, and ticks no situations. The list shows one group with 7 documents on the list for everyone and 14 that apply only in some cases. The proof of funds line shows the cost-of-living figure from IRCC's table ($23,448 for one person), which comes on top of first-year tuition and travel. If the same applicant adds a spouse, a second group appears with 3 documents on the list for everyone, because IRCC's checklist IMM 5483 gives each person their own application package.
How long common documents stay valid
| Document | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Language test results (Express Entry) | Less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply | Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab) |
| Educational Credential Assessment | Less than 5 years old when you create your profile and when you apply | Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab) |
| Immigration medical exam | Results are valid for 12 months | Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab) |
| Biometrics (temporary residence) | Valid for 10 years; IRCC reuses them for a new visitor visa, work or study permit | Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab) |
| Provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) | Valid only for the calendar year it was issued for | Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab) |
| Police certificates (Express Entry) | The one from the country you live in now is issued no more than 6 months before you apply; for other countries, after the last time you lived there 6 months in a row | Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab) |
| Bank letter for proof of funds (Express Entry) | IRCC's page states no validity period. The funds must be there when you apply and when IRCC issues the visa | Verify on canada.ca(opens in a new tab) |
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a Canada visitor visa?
IRCC's visitor visa list starts with the application form (IMM 5257), a valid passport, proof of financial support and the family information form (IMM 5645). Biometrics come after you apply, if applicable. IRCC also recommends your travel history, an itinerary, a bank account statement and a letter from your employer. A marriage certificate, proof of legal status in the country where you live, a medical exam, police certificates or an invitation letter are asked for only in some cases.
What documents do I need for Express Entry?
After an invitation, you fill out the application form in your IRCC account and upload copies of the documents you used for your profile, such as your passport, language test results, an Educational Credential Assessment and employer reference letters. IRCC says most applicants also upload police certificates and proof of funds, and a medical exam is a requirement for permanent residence. Biometrics is a fee and a step, and digital photos are asked for only if your personalized checklist lists them. Language results must be less than 2 years old, and the assessment less than 5 years old, when you apply.
What documents do I need for Canadian citizenship?
For an adult who applies on paper, IRCC's list is the application form (CIT 0002), the completed document checklist (CIT 0007), your physical presence calculation, colour photocopies of the identity pages of every passport or travel document from the 5 years before you sign, two pieces of personal identification, two citizenship photos and the fee receipt. From age 18 to 54, you also show English or French at CLB 4 or higher. The list has no confirmation of permanent residence and no tax document: a PR card is one of the ID options, and the application asks whether you had to file taxes and whether you did. If you apply online, your account lists what to upload.
Do my documents need a translation?
Yes, any document that is not in English or French needs one. IRCC asks for three things together: the English or French translation, an affidavit from the person who did the translation, and a certified photocopy of the original document. The same rule sits under every checklist on this page, with a link to the IRCC page that states it.
When do I need police certificates?
For permanent residence, including Express Entry and spousal sponsorship, IRCC asks for them with the application: from you and each family member 18 or older, for every country other than Canada where you lived 6 months or more in a row. The one from the country you live in now must be issued no more than 6 months before you apply. For a visitor visa or a study permit, only if IRCC asks.
Does each family member need their own documents?
Often, yes. IRCC's checklists ask for some documents from each person. For example, the spousal sponsorship checklist (IMM 5533) asks for police certificates from the principal applicant and each family member 18 or older, and a birth certificate for each dependent child. Set your household above and the list shows each person's documents in their own group.
How long are immigration documents valid?
It depends on the document. Express Entry language test results must be less than 2 years old and an Educational Credential Assessment less than 5 years old when you create your profile and when you apply. Immigration medical exam results are valid for 12 months. Biometrics for temporary residence are valid for 10 years. Check IRCC's page for your document, because rules change.
What happens if I submit incomplete documents?
IRCC's own checklists say that if a required document is missing, the application may be returned or refused. If you cannot get a document, IRCC checklists such as the spousal one (IMM 5533) ask for a written explanation for each missing item, plus any other evidence you have. A returned application starts the processing clock again when it is sent back.
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Next steps
Guides and tools that go deeper on the documents in these lists.