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Application for permanent residence — Canadian Experience Class (IMM 5609)

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:

Important information It is a serious offence to give false or misleading information on these forms. The information you provide on your application may be subject to verification.

Important information
Be complete and accurate

Complete all sections. If any section is not applicable to you, write “N/A” (“Not applicable”). If your application is incomplete it will be returned to you and this will delay the processing. Do not leave any blanks.

Note: If you need more space for any section, use an extra sheet of paper and indicate the number and/or letter of the section you are completing and submit it along with your application.

Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008‑Generic)

Who needs to fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by:

  • You, the principal applicant.

Note: Page two of the form asks for details of dependent family members. There is space for three family members on the form. If you have more than three family members, photocopy this page before you start filling in the application so that you have enough space to include everyone.

Family members

Family members include spouse, common-law partners and dependent children:

Term Definition
Spouse Refers to either of the two persons of opposite or the same sex in a legally recognized marriage.
A common-law partner

Refers to a person who is living in a conjugal relationship with another person either of the opposite sex or same sex, and has done so for a period of at least one year. A conjugal relationship exists when there is a significant degree of commitment between two people. Common-law partners must attach any documents that show they are in a committed and genuine relationship, for example evidence that they share the same home, that they support each other financially and emotionally, that they have had children together, or that they present themselves in public as a couple.

Common-law partners who are unable to live together or appear in public together because of legal or cultural restrictions in their home country may still qualify and should be included on the application. Common-law partners that meet the conditions outlined above but who have been separated for reasons beyond their control (for example, civil war or armed conflict).
Dependent children

May be the children of the principal applicant or those of his or her spouse or common-law partner.

They must:

  • be under the age of 22 and not have a spouse or common-law partner; or,
  • depend substantially on the financial support of a parent and have been continuously enrolled and in attendance as full-time students in a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority since before the age of 22 (or since marrying or entering into a common-law relationship, if this happened before the age of 22); or,
  • depend substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22 and be unable to provide for themselves due to a medical condition.
Question Action
General Application Information
Category under which you are applying
Check the “Canadian Experience Class” box.

Number of family members
Write the total number of family members included in your application. This includes yourself and any Family members regardless of whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not.

Preferred language

Correspondence: Check the box to indicate in which language between French and English you prefer to receive your correspondence.

Interview: Indicate which language you would prefer to use if you are selected for an interview.
Personal details
1

The following questions must be answered by the Principal Applicant.

Write your full last name (surname/family name) as it appears 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 appear on your passport or official documents. Do not use initials.
2 Check the box to indicate if you are a male or a female.
3 Write your complete date of birth.
4 Write your place of birth, including the town or city, and country.
5

Write your country of citizenship. If you are a citizen of more than one country, give details on a separate sheet of paper.

Write your country of residence.
6 Write what is your first language. Your first language is the language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual.
6A

Check the box to indicate which of Canada’s official languages (French or English) you use most frequently. If you do not use French or English, check the “Neither” box.

One of Canada’s objectives with respect to immigration is to support and assist the development of minority language communities in Canada.

Note: This question is not used for selection purposes.
7 Write your height, either in centimetres or in foot and inches.
8 Write the color of your eyes.
9 Check the box to indicate what your marital status is. If you have ever been married or in a common‑law relationship, indicate the date on which you were married or the date you began your common-law relationship.
10

Check the box to indicate if you have ever been married or in a common-law relationship in the past.

If you check “no”, go to the next question.
If you check “yes”, write:

  • the name of your previous spouse or common-law partner;
  • his or her date of birth;
  • the type of relationship (check one box);
  • the period of your relationship.
11 Check the box to indicate if you can communicate in English or in French.
12

Education

Write the number of years of formal education you have;
Check the box to indicate your highest level of completed education.

If you have not completed secondary school, check the “No secondary” box.

Type of education This level of education is…
Secondary education the level of schooling after elementary and before college, university, or other formal training. Also called high school.
Trade/Apprenticeship completed training in an occupation, 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).
Bachelor’s degree an academic degree awarded by a college or university to those who complete the undergraduate curriculum; also called a baccalaureate. Examples include a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Education.
Master’s degree an academic degree awarded by the graduate school of a college or university. You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree before a Master’s degree can be earned.
PhD the highest university degree, usually based on at least three years graduate study and a dissertation. Normally, you must have completed a Master’s degree before a PhD can be earned.
13 Write your current occupation.
14 Write your mailing address, complete with the postal code. This is the address we will use to mail correspondence regarding your application. Write your address in English and, if applicable, also in your own native script. Attach another page if necessary.
15 Write your residential address, complete with the postal code.
16

Write your contact numbers, including your:

  • home phone number; and
  • any other phone number you may have.
17 Write your e-mail address (if applicable).
18

Write you passport details, including the:

  • passport number
  • country of issuance, and
  • expiry date.
19

Write your identification card number if applicable.

Identification cards are cards issued by a foreign national, provincial, municipal or other government, as well as cards issued by a recognized international agency such as the Red Cross, can be used to identify yourself. If you have such a card, print the number in the space provided. Photocopy both sides of the card and attach the photocopy to your application. If you do not have an identity card, print “N/A”.
20 Write the name of the city or town and the name of the province where you intend to live in Canada.
Details of family members

Provide personal details about your family members, whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not (for more information on family members, including age requirements, refer to Family members

Also provide details on family members whose location is unknown (including those missing or presumed dead).

Required step Important: You must list all family members, whether they wish to be considered in your application for permanent residence at this time or not. Also list family members whose location is unknown (including those missing or presumed dead). You will not be able to sponsor family members at a later date if they are not listed on your application.

Section Action
Given names Write all of your family member’s given names (first, second or more) as they appear on his or her passport or official documents. Do not use initials.
Date of birth If you do not know the exact date of birth, indicate the age your family members are today.
Country of citizenship If your family member is a citizen of more than one country, give details on a separate page.
Relationship to you Indicate whether the family member is your spouse, common-law partner, daughter, son, etc.
Will accompany you to Canada Tell us if your family member will come to Canada with you.
Native language

Write your family member’s native language (the language he/she learned at home in childhood and still understand)

Check the box to indicate which of Canada’s official languages (French or English) your family member uses most frequently. If he/she does not use French or English, check the “Neither” box.

One of Canada’s objectives with respect to immigration is to support and assist the development of minority language communities in Canada.

Note: This question is not used for selection purposes.
Education Indicate the level of education your family member has successfully completed. Use the categories listed in Question 12.
Photos

Follow these steps:

Step Action
1 Take the Photo Specification sheet (Appendix A) to a photographer.
2 Ask the photographer to provide you with four photos of yourself and each family member.
3 On the back of one photo for each person, write the name of the person appearing in the photo and his or her height and eye colour.
4 Enclose the photos of each person in an envelope and seal the envelope.
5 Write your name and date of birth on the outside of the envelope.
6 Staple the envelope to your application form. Be careful not to staple or bend the photos.

Schedule 1 - Background/Declaration (IMM 0008-Schedule 1)

Who must fill out this application form?

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 or over (whether accompanying you to Canada or not).
Question Action
1

Write your full last name (surname/family name) as it appears 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 appear on your passport or official documents. Do not use initials.
2 Write your name in your native language or script (if applicable).
For example: Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese characters or Chinese commercial/telegraphic code.
3

Write any other name(s) used in the past, or is known by a name other than the one you listed above.

Other names can include:

  • previous married name,
  • aliases
  • birth name,
  • nicknames,
  • community names, etc.
4

Write your date of birth.
5

Write what is your current country of residence.
6

Write your status in that country.
7

Write personal details on your father including his:

  • last name (surname/family name)
  • given game(s)
  • date of Birth
  • town or city of birth
  • country of birth
  • date of death (if applicable)
8

Write personal details on your mother including her:

  • last name (surname/family name)
  • given game(s)
  • date of Birth
  • town or city of birth
  • country of birth
  • date of death (if applicable).
9

Answer each question of the section by checking the appropriate box.

If you answered “yes” to one or more than one question, write details to explain what happen. If you need more space, you can attach a separate sheet of paper.
10

Education

Write the number of years of formal education you have.

And,

In addition, write the details about your educational institutions, including:

  • the name of the institution,
  • the city and country, and
  • the type of certificate or diploma issued.

If no diploma was issued, write “N/A”.
11

Provide the details of your personal history since the age of 18.

Start with the most recent information. Under “Activity”, write your occupation or job title if you were working. If you were not working, provide information on what you were doing (for example: unemployed, studying, travelling, in detention, etc.).

Note: Please ensure that you do not leave any gaps.

Important information Failure to account for all time periods will result in a delay in the processing of your application.
12

Write the names of all membership or association with organizations you are or were a member of, including:

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

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

Note: Do not use abbreviations. Write the city and country where you were a member.
13

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

  • Civil servant;
  • Judge;
  • Police officer;
  • Etc.

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.

Note: Do not use abbreviations.
14 Write details about your military service (if applicable). Provide the details of military service for each of the countries whose armed forces you served in. If you were not in any military service, write N/A.
15 Write the residential addresses where you have lived since your 18th birthday, complete with the postal code. Do not use P.O. box numbers.
Authority to disclose personal information
Required step

Read the statements 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, the application will be returned to you.

Note: The bottom section of schedule 1 does not need to be completed at the moment.

Schedule 8: Economic Classes – Canadian Experience Class (IMM 0008-Schedule 8)

Who needs to fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by:

  • You, as the principal applicant.
Question Action
1

Write your full last name (surname/family name) as it appears 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 appear on your passport or official documents. Do not use initials.
2 Write your date of birth.
3

Check the box to indicate if you have previously completed a program of study that led you to obtain a Canadian credential that was granted by a Canadian post-secondary institution.

Get more information See: “Experience requirements”
4 Check the box to indicate if you have previously worked full-time or full-time equivalent of in part-time work and if so, indicate the period of time.
5 Check the appropriate box to indicate what is your first official language and have you taken an approved test to assess your proficiency in this language.
6

Post-secondary education in Canada

Write the details about your post-secondary education in Canada;

  • period of time you attended the institution,
  • the name of the institution,
  • the city and province/territory,
  • the type of credential granted, and
  • whether the studies were full-time or part-time as defined by the post-secondary institution

If no credential was issued, write “N/A”.

Write details of any period of study which included English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) component including the number of hours per week.

Write details of any period or study spent outside of Canada in the completion of a Canadian education credential.

Write details of any period or study when you were receiving a Government of Canada award under the following programs:

  • All awards from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and
  • The following awards from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT):
  • Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program – Student Exchange Program (only)
  • Government of Canada Awards Program – Student Exchange Program (only)
  • Canada-China Scholars Exchange Program
  • Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program, Canada-Chile
  • Organization of American States Fellowships Program.
7

Write details of your work experience in Canada.

List your occupations within the 3 years preceding the date your application is made starting with your current occupation.

Give details for each occupation of the appropriate National Occupational Classification code (NOC) including:

  • the name of your employer(s)
  • a description of your main duties, and
  • the number of hours you worked per week

List only occupations that fall in Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B of the NOC.

Get more information See: “Determining your NOC category”

Indicate whether or not you were self-employed during any of the above listed periods.

Additional family information (IMM 5406)

Who needs to fill out this application form?

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
  • your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable)
  • your mother
  • your father.

Note: If you do not have a spouse or a common-law partner, sign the declaration.
SECTION B

Write personal details about your children. It is very important that you list on this form any other children (even if they are already permanent residents or Canadian citizens) that you, your spouse or common-law partner or your dependent children might have, who are not included in your application for Permanent Residence. This includes:

  • married children,
  • adopted children,
  • step-children,
  • any of your children who have been adopted by others,
  • any of your children who are in the custody of an ex-spouse, 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
Required step Sign and date the declaration

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Who may use this form?

Complete this form only 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.

What is a representative?

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 authorize CIC to share information from your case file to this person;
  • your application will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome;
  • they are authorized to represent you only on matters related to the application you submit with this form; and
  • you can appoint only one representative for each application you submit.

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

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

Types of representatives

There are two types of representatives:

Unpaid representatives can be:

  • 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 Quebec 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, they 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.

Question Action
General Application Information
  Check one box to indicate if you are appointing or canceling the appointment of a representative.
Section A – Applicant Information
1 Write your last name (surname) and given name(s).
2 Write your date of birth.
3

If you have already submitted your application write:

  • the name of office where the application was submitted;
  • location;
  • type of application you are sending.
4 Write your Citizenship and Immigration Canada Identification number (if known)
Section B – Appointment of Representative
5 Write 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.
6 Check one box to indicate if your representative is unpaid or paid.
If your representative is paid write the membership ID number.
7 Write your representative’s contact information.
8 Your representative must sign to accept responsibility for conducting business on your behalf.
Section C – Cancel the Appointment of a Representative
9 Fill in this section if you wish to cancel the appointment of a representative.
Write the representative’s full name
Section D – Your Declaration
10 By signing, you authorize CIC 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 the form Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) which is available:

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

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Date Modified: 2009-12-21

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