Application for permanent residence in Canada: Convention refugees abroad and humanitarian-protected persons abroad (IMM 6000)

How to complete the forms

Use the following instructions to fill in the forms. Most of the questions on the forms are straightforward and extra instructions have only been provided when necessary. You must answer all questions. If you leave any sections blank, your application will be returned to you for completion and processing will be delayed. If any sections do not apply to you, answer “N/A” (not applicable).

Print clearly and make sure all information is easy to read. Your answers must be written in either English or French. If the space provided on the forms is not sufficient to list any information, use an additional sheet of paper. Make sure you indicate the form’s title and the number or letter of the question you are answering. Write your name and the page number at the top left corner of each additional sheet.

WARNING! The information you provide may be verified. If you give false or misleading information, you may be found to be inadmissible and not be allowed to apply for permanent residence in Canada for a period of two years. It is a serious offence to make a false application.

Application for Permanent Residence in Canada
(IMM 0008 Generic)

Must be completed by:

• you, as the principal applicant.

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 to fill it in so you have enough space for everyone.

Category under which you are applying

Check the “Refugee Class” box.

Number of family members

Write the total number of people included in your application, including yourself and any family members, whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not. This number does not include de facto dependants.

Preferred language

Correspondence: Decide which of English or French you are more comfortable reading and writing, and check the appropriate box.

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

1. Your full name

Print your full family name (surname) as it appears on your passport or on the official documents that you will use to obtain your passport.

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

5. Country of citizenship

If you are a citizen of more than one country, give details on a separate page.

6. Write your native language (the language you learned at home in childhood and still understand)

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

10. Previous spouses or common-law partners

This section requires you to give details of your past marriages or common-law relationships (see Definitions). If you have never had a spouse or common-law partner other than your current one, check “No” and proceed to question 12. If you have, check “Yes” and provide the details requested. If you have had more than one previous spouse or common-law partner, give details on a separate page.

12. Education

Check the box that best describes the highest level of education you have completed. If you have not completed secondary school, check the “No secondary” box.

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.

14. Your mailing address

This is the address we will use to mail correspondence regarding your application. Print your address in English and, if applicable, also in your own native script. Attach another page if necessary.

18. Details from your passport

Print N/A in the box if you do not have a passport.

19. Identity card number

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”.

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

Note: De facto dependants who are part of your family unit (refer to Definitions) must not be included in this section, as they are required to complete their own application forms. Their applications must be submitted along with yours, so that your entire family unit can be processed at the same time.

Given names

Print 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:

• Take the Photo Specification sheet (Appendix C) to a photographer. Ask the photographer to provide you with six photos of yourself and each family member.
• On the back of one photo from each person, write the name of the person appearing in the photo and his or her height and eye colour.
• Enclose the photos of each person in an envelope and seal the envelope.
• Write your name and date of birth on the outside of the envelope.
• Staple the envelope to your application form. Be careful not to staple or bend the photos.

Background / Declaration
(IMM 0008 Schedule 1)

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).

1. Write all of your given names. Do not use initials.

6. Indicate your current status in the country where you now live (for example, citizen, permanent resident, visitor, refugee, no legal status, etc.).

10. Provide details of all secondary and post-secondary education and begin with the most recent program completed.

11. You must account for every month of the last ten years. If your 18^th birthday was less than ten years ago, you must account for every month since your 18^th birthday. Under “Activity”, print your occupation or job title if you were working. If you were not working, enter what you were doing (for example: unemployed, studying, travelling, in detention, etc.).

15. Write the residential addresses where you have lived since your 18^th birthday, complete with the postal code. Do not use P.O. box numbers.

Declaration

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.

Refugees Outside Canada
(IMM 0008 Schedule 2)

Must be completed by:

• you, as the principal applicant;
• your spouse or common-law partner;
• your dependent children aged 18 or over; and
• your dependent children of any age applying under the one-year family reunification period.

Note: Family members do not have to complete certain sections of this form. Follow the instructions given.

Family members applying under the one-year family reunification period must check the “following family member” box at the top of the page. If you know the Client ID number (also known as the case file number) of the principal applicant, write it in the space provided.

PART A

Do not complete Part A if you are a “following family member.”

1. c) If your application was refused, describe what has changed to make you feel that you are now eligible under Canada’s Refugee and Humanitarian program.

2. If you answer “Yes” to question 2, proceed directly to question 8. Do not answer questions 3 to 7.

3. If you answer “Yes” to questions 3a or 3b, describe the circumstances in as much detail as possible, including all relevant dates and places.

4. Explain why you fled your home country in as much detail as possible. Describe the circumstances and events that affected you and members of your family, and indicate how these circumstances resulted in your decision to leave. It is important that you read the definitions of Canada’s refugee classes before answering these questions (refer to the Overview section).

5. Describe the details of your travel to the country where you are now living, including any assistance you received and how you crossed any borders. Provide as much detail as possible, including locations, dates, modes of transportation, names of airline companies, etc.

7. Indicate whether you feel threatened in the country where you now live. If you have experienced or are experiencing any problems with the military or civil authorities of the country or from any other groups or individuals in the country where you now live, explain in as much detail as possible. Proceed to question 9.

8. a) If you answered “No” to question 2 do not answer this question. Proceed to question 9. Explain why you can no longer stay in your home country in as much detail as possible. Describe the circumstances and events that affected you and members of your family, and indicate how these circumstances resulted in your decision to leave. Indicate whether you sought protection from the authorities in your country. If you did not seek their assistance, explain why. It is important that you read the definition of Canada’s Source Country Class carefully before answering this question (see the Overview section).

9. This section requests any information not already included in the questions above that will help us understand your circumstances and need for resettlement. Include anything that you feel is important for us to know.

PART B

12. List any skills and personal qualities that you and your family members have that will help you to resettle in Canada. You may have acquired skills through paid or unpaid employment, schooling, child care, home maintenance, etc. Personal qualities show your adaptability to new situations, your motivation to resettle, your initiative and resourcefulness. For example, learning the language of the country you are now in, learning new job skills to get work in the country where you now live, efforts you have made to keep your family together, etc.

13. If you are interested in living in a city in Canada where a family member or relative currently lives, print their name, address and telephone number. Also print the relationship of this person to you. We will make every effort to send you to the city where your family members or relatives live. You may also include the name of individuals, organizations or employers who are willing to assist you. If you don’t know anyone, print “N/A”.

14. Indicate how much money you will bring to Canada in the currency of the country in which you now live. Do not list jewellery, cars or other personal assets. If you will not have any money, print “N/A”.

PART C - Additional Family Information

Complete Part C if you are the principal applicant or a “following family member”.

Provide details on de facto dependants, non dependent children and on your brothers and sisters. Include individuals whose location is unknown (including those missing or presumed dead).

15. De facto dependants - (see the section Definitions), enter their name, their relationship to you, their date and place of birth, and their marital status. Also indicate whether or not the individual lives with you and if they are accompanying you to Canada. If you are not including de facto dependants as part of your family unit, write “N/A” and proceed to Box 16.

16. Non dependent children 18 years of age or older who will not accompany you to Canada - For each child 18 years of age or older who will not accompany you to Canada, enter the child’s name, relationship to you, date and place of birth, and marital status (including common-law relationships). Also indicate the child’s current city or town and country of residence.

17. Brothers and sisters - Enter their name, their relationship to you, their date and place of birth, and their marital status (including common-law relationships). Indicate their current city or town and country of residence.

PART D

18. If you do not sign, the application will be returned to you.
If you have a private sponsoring group, you may wish to check “Yes” to the release of your information to the sponsoring group. If you know the name of the sponsoring group and of the contact person, complete the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476).

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.

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