Identity / Travel Documents

Passport/Travel Documents:

Make sure that PA have provided the following documents:

• o Valid Passport or Travel document - including all pages that bear an entry stamp made by Canadian authorities (this is also required for accompany dependents).
• o Proof of Status in Canada (only if the PA is currently residing in Canada)

• Temporary Resident Visa

• Study Permit

• Work Permit

• Temporary Resident Permit (including out of status documentation)

Note: If the PA does not have valid status in Canada they should provide a written explanation.

• Original Passport Information

Birth Certificates (BC):

Make sure that PA and Dependents under 22 years of age (both accompanying & non-accompanying) have provided the following documents:

• o Birth Certificate or baptismal certificate:

If PA submitted "short form" Birth Certificate for their application that doesn't list parentage, you will get the following request from IRCC:

• ADR - Request letter to PA for the "long form" BC that includes parentage. [with 30 days deadline]

Note: The following countries have family registers or national ID in lieu of birth certificates:

o Afghanistan, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Sudan, Somalia

o For India and Nepal: school records bearing at least one parents name are acceptable

IN LIEU OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES:

Acceptable documents in lieu of Birth Certificates.

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Please be advised that there are a few countries that IRCC can accept other documents that are not a Birth Certificate.

Affidavits/Statutory Declarations/Letters: IRCC will accept Affidavits, Statutory Declarations and letters which indicate why PA did not submit birth certificate. This is for all countries.

If IRCC receive an affidavit/Statutory Declaration/Letter that indicates why PA did not submit Birth Certificate or Birth Certificates for other family members, as per Document Checklist, CPC will accept affidavit/Statutory Declaration/or letter. If a birth certificate is still required, PA will be contacted by IRCC during processing.

Secondary School Records:

Acceptable for India only- must include name, DOB and a parent's name - if before 1980, a parents name is not required

National Identity Cards:

Acceptable for Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, Lebanon (Ministry of the Interior)

Household Registry/Family Records/Censuses:

Acceptable for China, Japan or Korea and France

Statutory Declaration of Age:

Acceptable for Nigeria for the PA and Spouse

Marriage Certificate:

Acceptable for Brazil (Brazilians must surrender their birth certificate before they can get married).

Important to note: When you are submitting a document for birth certificate, IRCC will specifically look for certain key words that will identify it is a birth document or Birth Registration Document: "Birth Certificate", "Nacimiento", "Naissance", "Extract" from birth registry, national registry, civil registry, and who is issuing the document: Ministry of Interior, Civil Registry Office, Republic of, State of, Civil Status Registration, Civil Registrar, Registry of Births, Vital Registration Department, Department of Health, etc.

Note 1: Certified Translations - Any birth certificate not in English or French must be accompanied by its English or French translation. Translations must be submitted with Original/Certified Copies of Birth Certificate.

Note 2: Not all Baptismal or Hospital records are acceptable.

Application Returned if:

• PA does not provide Identity documents mentioned above.
• documents are in language other than English or French AND no translation or copy of original document was provided.
• PA only provided a translation of a PCC but not the PCC in its original language.
• PCC is in language other than English or French and no Translation is provided (unless otherwise indicated on the How-to website)

[EXCEPTION]:

• Application NOT Returned if ONLY passport copy is missing.
• Application NOT Returned if PA is refugee claimant (in Canada or in their Country of Residence) and their passport or date of birth documents are missing.