Visiting Canada — Applying for a temporary resident visa outside Canada (Pilot project) (IMM 5256P)

Completing the forms

The documentation you provide with your application will be used to establish that your authorization to enter Canada would not be contrary to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Failure to provide complete, truthful and accurate material will result in your application being assessed based on the documentation submitted, which may result in your application being refused.

As most of the form is self-explanatory, supplementary instructions have only been provided when necessary. Follow carefully the numbered instructions which correspond to the application form. Your application may be returned or refused if it is not properly completed, or if all of the necessary documents have not been submitted. Attach a separate sheet of paper if you need more space and indicate the letter and/or number of the question you are answering.

Application for a Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257)

1. Check the box to indicate whether you are applying for a single entry, multiple entry, or transit visa.

2. Print your name under the applicant section and provide the information requested for each of your family members. Print all names as they appear on the passport or identity document. Do not use initials.You must provide details about each of your family members and indicate whether they will accompany you to Canada. If you have more than three family members, photocopy the first page of the application before you start completing it. Make enough copies to fill in details about all your family members.

3. Check the box to indicate the reasons why you want to visit Canada. Provide as much information as possible on your planned visit.

4. Print the date you want to arrive in Canada. Indicate how long you plan to stay in Canada.

5. Provide details of finances available to you and your family members for support while in Canada. If a relative or host will provide support include their name and address on a separate sheet.

6. Provide your current mailing address, email address, telephone number, and fax number (if applicable). All correspondence will be sent to this address.

Note: If you wish to authorize a Canadian representative to receive correspondence concerning your application, indicate their address in this box and on the form Use of a Representative (IMM 5476).

7. Provide your residential address if different from your mailing address.

8. a) Check the box to indicate your immigration status in the country in which you are applying, such as temporary resident, student, permanent resident or citizen.

b) Print the expiry date of your temporary status in the country where you are making your application.

Note: If you are not a citizen of the country where you are making your application, you must provide proof of your temporary status.

9. Provide the name of your present job and give a brief description of your position.

10. Print the name and address of your present employer or school.

11. Provide names of persons, businesses, schools or institutions you plan to visit. Indicate your relationship to persons whom you plan to visit.

12. Provide the name of all your secondary and post secondary education including university, college and apprenticeship.

13. Each question in this section must be answered for each applicant.

a) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member had tuberculosis of the lung or been in close contact with a person with tuberculosis of the lung within the past 2 years.

b) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have any physical or mental disorder for which that person will require social and/or health services, other than medication during the stay.

Note: if you answered yes to one the question above, provide details.

14. Each question in this section must be answered for each applicant.

a) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have ever been refused admission to, or order to leave Canada (removal order issue by Canadian immigration authority). If yes, provide the reasons including the dates.

b) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have ever applied for Canadian visas. If yes, provide the details including the dates.

c) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have ever been refused a visa travel to Canada. If yes, provide the details including the dates.

15. Each question in this section must be answered for each applicant.

a) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have ever committed, been arrested or charged with any criminal offence in any country.

b) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have ever been in a military, militia or civil defence unit.

c) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have ever served in an intelligence organization or police force.

d) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member have ever held a position of authority in government, the judiciary or a political party.

e) Check the box to indicate if you or a family member, in periods of either peace or war, have ever been involved in the commission of a war crime or crime against humanity, such as: willful killing, torture, attacks upon, enslavement, starvation or other inhumane acts committes against civilians or prisoner of war, or deportation of civilians.

---

The content below is offered in PDF format. For more information or to download the appropriate viewer, check the Help page.

---

Note: If you answer yes to any of the question in section 15 of this application, you must complete and submit the IMM 5257 – Schedule 1 [PDF format, 84 KB].

16. Check the box to indicate if you or a family member (accompanying you) lived in any other country than your country of citizenship or permanent residence for more than six months. If yes, provide the length of stay, the date and the name of the family member who travelled.

17. You must sign and date the application. Failure to do so will result in it being returned to you.

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Complete this form if you are appointing a representative.

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

A representative is someone who has your permission to conduct business on your behalf with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. When you appoint a representative, you also authorize CIC to share information from your case file to this person.

You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not. If you choose to hire a representative, your application will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome.

The representative you appoint is authorized to represent you only on matters related to the application you submit with this form. You can appoint only one representative for each application you submit.

There are two types of representatives:

Unpaid representatives

• friends and family members who do not charge a fee for their advice and services
• organizations that do not charge a fee for providing immigration advice or assistance (such as a non-governmental or religious organization)
• consultants, lawyers and Québec notaries who do not, and will not, charge a fee to represent you

Paid representatives

If you want us to conduct business with a representative who is, or will be charging a fee to represent you, he or she must be authorized. Authorized representatives are:

• immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC)
• lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society and students-at-law under their supervision
• notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and students-at-law under their supervision

If you appoint a paid representative who is not a member of one of these designated bodies, your application will be returned. For more information on using a representative, visit our website.

Section B.

5. Your representative’s full name

If your representative is a member of CSIC, a law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, print his or her name as it appears on the organization’s membership list.

8. Your representative’s declaration

Your representative must sign to accept responsibility for conducting business on your behalf.

Section D.

10. Your declaration

By signing, you authorize us to complete your request for yourself and your dependent children under 18 years of age. If your spouse or common-law partner is included in this request, he or she must sign in the box provided.

Release of information to other individuals

To authorize CIC to release information from your case file to someone other than a representative, you will need to complete form Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) which is available on our website and from Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates abroad.

The person you designate will be able to obtain information on your case file, such as the status of your application. However, he or she will not be able to conduct business on your behalf with CIC.

You must notify us if your representative’s contact information changes or if you cancel the appointment of a representative.

<< contents | previous | next >>