Document Fraud (Misrepresentation)

It is a serious crime to misrepresent yourself by making false statements, or submitting false information or false documents when dealing with CIC.

Document fraud includes both false and altered documents, such as:

• passports and travel documents
• visas
• diplomas, degrees and apprenticeship or trade papers
• birth, marriage, final divorce, annulment, separation or death certificates
• police certificates

Lying on an application or in an interview with a CIC officer is also fraud and a crime.

The Government of Canada has officers in Canada and overseas who are highly trained to detect fraud.

If you submit false documents or information, your application will be refused. You will also face serious consequences. Depending on the situation, these may include:

• no entry into Canada for at least two years
• a permanent record of fraud in CIC’s database
• having your permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship revoked
• being charged with a crime or
• removal from Canada

What CIC is doing to prevent immigration fraud

CIC works with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and foreign law enforcement services and offices that issue identity documents to gather intelligence on document fraud and train officers—in Canada and overseas.

CIC is working with the CBSA and the RCMP to phase in biometrics, such as the use of fingerprints to confirm identity, in the near future.

Biometric verification will make it much more difficult for a person to hide their identity. Biometrics will help reduce identity fraud and increase the safety and security of Canadians. Find out more about biometrics.