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IMM 0008, Generic Application Form for Canada: a section-by-section walkthrough

IMM 0008 is the core form for most permanent residence applications. It lists the principal applicant, their family members and their dependants. Every family member must be declared, including those who are not applying and those whose whereabouts are unknown. A paper form with missing or unreadable barcodes, or without a signature and date, is returned unprocessed.

IMM 0008, "Generic Application Form for Canada", is the form that opens most permanent residence applications. It identifies who is applying, which program they are applying under, who is in their family, and where they plan to live. This page describes the form as IRCC's instruction page presents it (the page says "Last updated: May 2026" and the page details date is 11 September 2026). It explains what each section asks and what IRCC says about common problems. It does not tell you which program or category to choose, and it does not tell you how to answer for your own case. IRCC's own program guide is the document that tells you what your program requires.

What IMM 0008 is for, and who completes it

IRCC describes IMM 0008 as the core application for permanent residence, listing the principal applicant, their family members and their dependants. It is completed by "you, the principal applicant", who must answer all questions unless the form says otherwise. If the principal applicant is under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs the forms and the consent and declaration on their behalf.

The page refers to three supplementary forms: IMM 0008DEP (Additional Dependants/Declaration), used when you have more than five dependants; IRM 0002 (Request for a Change of Sex or Gender Identifier); and IMM 5476 (Use of a Representative). It does not describe a numbered schedule system, so do not rely on a "schedule" number you may have seen quoted elsewhere. Read the form page and your program guide.

In a spousal sponsorship IRCC's guide IMM 5289 shows IMM 0008 as one of the online forms completed by the principal applicant, together with IMM 5669, IMM 5406 and IMM 5562 if it applies.

The first rule: declare every family member

IRCC puts this ahead of the section-by-section instructions. Applicants must declare and give details for all family members, including those who are: - not applying for permanent residence with them; and - missing, presumed dead or whose whereabouts are unknown.

Family members here include the spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, dependent children and dependent grandchildren. IRCC warns that you cannot later sponsor a family member who was not declared. The legal basis is in the Regulations. Section 117(9)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations says that, subject to the exceptions in subsections (10) and (11), a foreign national is not a member of the family class if the sponsor previously applied for permanent residence, became a permanent resident, and at the time of that application the foreign national was a non-accompanying family member of the sponsor and "was not examined".

Section 10(2)(a) of the same Regulations requires every application to contain the name, birth date, address, nationality and immigration status of the applicant and of all family members "whether accompanying or not". IRCC's guide IMM 5289 says the same about undeclared family members: "There are no exceptions to this requirement."

Exceptions in subsections (10) and (11) exist, and whether one applies is a legal question to take to a regulated adviser. This page does not summarise them.

Online or paper, and how each is submitted

There are two versions: a digital version in the Permanent Residence Portal and a PDF for paper applications. IRCC says to check the instructions for your program. Applicants who cannot apply online, including because of a disability, can request an alternative format of the form and application package.

Online: you fill out and submit the form in the portal and do not need to print or sign by hand. You can save and finish later. IRCC states: "You can't submit your application online unless you sign it."

Paper: 1. Download the PDF and complete it on a computer. IRCC says it "must be validated with 2D barcodes". 2. Click Validate to generate the barcode page or pages. The barcode page does not appear on hand-filled forms. 3. Print all pages. 4. Write your name in the space provided, indicate whether the occupation, education and work experience information may be shared with prospective employers, and sign and date by hand. 5. Place the barcode pages on top of the application with the supporting documents.

The consequences IRCC states are direct: missing or unreadable barcodes mean the application "will be returned to you without being processed", and an unsigned or undated paper form is returned.

Application details: program, category, number of family members

The paper version starts with Application Details, questions 1 to 6: 1. Program: Family, Economic, Refugee or Other. 2. Category: the options depend on the program chosen. IRCC's page lists examples. Under Family: spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent or adopted child, child to be adopted in Canada, parents and grandparents, orphaned sibling, nephew, niece or grandchild, and other relative. Under Economic: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee, Quebec programs, Start-up Business, Caregivers Program, High Medical Needs Program and the TR to PR pathway, among others. Under Refugee: In Canada refugee claim, In Canada protected person and Outside Canada refugee. Under Other: In Canada humanitarian and compassionate considerations, Permit Holder Class, and a temporary public policy for out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area. 3. The total number of family members in the application, including you, whether or not they accompany you. For refugee claimants, only those in Canada with you. 4. Language preference: correspondence, interview and whether you request an interpreter. In the online version an interpreter is required to be requested if neither English nor French is selected for the interview. 5. The province or territory and city or town where you plan to live. 6. Quebec questions, 6a to 6c.

Choosing the category is a legal decision, not a clerical one: the category determines the rules that apply. The form simply records the choice. Use IRCC's program page and guide to understand what each category means, and a regulated adviser if you are unsure which fits your facts.

Quebec: IRCC's page says Quebec economic-program applicants must state whether they have a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) and, if so, its number, or otherwise the date they applied. Non-economic applicants answer No and leave the related fields blank. For family sponsorship the sponsor submits the undertaking to the Quebec ministry, which IRCC says it will explain by email or letter.

Personal details: names, dates, residence and relationship history

The principal applicant's personal details cover: - Family name and given names as shown on the identity document, with no initials. There are special rules if there is no family name or no given name. - Nickname or alias: whether other names have been used, such as a birth, maiden or married name. - UCI or client ID if known, left blank on a first application. - Gender: F, M, U or X. IRCC says an X marker may require IRM 0002 if a Canadian temporary resident document has a different gender identifier or if the passport lacks a non-binary option. - Height and eye colour on the paper form. - Date of birth. On the paper form, "01" is used for unknown parts with an explanation letter. In the online version IRCC says to use 1901/01/01 and include an explanation letter. - Place of birth, as shown in the passport or travel document, and citizenship or citizenships. Choose "Stateless" if there is no citizenship. - Current country of residence, immigration status and dates. Applicants must be there legally. IRCC gives special rules for refugee claimants in Canada and for applicants who are out of status. - Date and place of last entry to Canada, if applicable. - Previous countries of residence. The paper form asks about the past five years for more than six months. The online version describes any country lived in for a total of six months, not necessarily consecutive. - Current marital or relationship status. IRCC lists single, married, common-law, divorced, legally separated, widowed and annulled, with dates and the names of the spouse or partner. Common-law means one year or more of continuous cohabitation according to the page. - Previous spouse or partner: names, relationship type, dates and date of birth.

Notice that the online and paper instructions differ in places (the unknown-date convention and the previous-residence period). That is why IRCC tells you to follow the version your program requires.

Contact details, passport, national ID, education and language

Contact information: a current mailing address, with a P.O. box or street number, apartment or unit, street name, city, country, province or state, postal code and district if applicable. IRCC says all correspondence goes to this address unless an email is provided. If a representative will conduct business with IRCC for you, the representative's address goes here and on IMM 5476. A residential address is added if different, plus primary and secondary telephone numbers, fax and email. Giving an email address authorises IRCC to send the file and personal information to it.

Passport: whether you hold a valid passport or travel document, its number exactly as shown, issuing country or territory, issue date and expiry date, and two yes/no questions about a Taiwan passport that includes a personal identification number and a national Israeli passport. If you hold more than one passport, the online instruction is to use the one you will use to travel to Canada.

National identity document: whether you hold one, its number (entered exactly, with no spaces in the online version), issuing country, and issue and expiry dates.

Education and occupation: the highest level of education from nine categories (None; Secondary or less; Trade or apprenticeship certificate or diploma; Non-university certificate or diploma; Post-secondary without a degree; Bachelor's degree; Post-graduate without a degree; Master's degree; Doctorate), total years of formal education on the paper form, current occupation ("not employed" if none) and intended occupation in Canada ("None" if not planning to work).

Language: first language, ability in English and French, which language you are most at ease in, and whether you took a designated language test. IRCC says this section "is not for selection purposes" and supports minority language communities.

Dependants: who is listed and the three types

Each dependant needs the same personal, passport, identity document, education, occupation and language details as the principal applicant. The paper form allows up to five dependants and says to complete IMM 0008DEP for each additional family member.

For each dependant you give: - the relationship to the applicant (adopted child, adoptive parent, child, common-law partner, grandchild, parent, spouse, step-child, step-grandchild or other); - whether they are accompanying you, with an explanation if the answer is No; - the dependant type, A, B or C.

IRCC defines the types: Type A is under 22 and single. Type B applies only if the child's age was locked in before 1 August 2014 and covers a full-time post-secondary student who has depended substantially on a parent's financial support since before age 22. Type C is 22 or older, has depended substantially on a parent since before 22 and cannot provide for themselves because of a medical condition. IRCC links an online tool to help determine dependant eligibility.

The fee list shows dependants are charged separately for most programs, so the number of dependants affects cost. Read the fee list for your program on the day you pay. For a family-class sponsorship IRCC's fee list shows $180 per dependent child.

Consent and declaration

The last part is the consent and declaration of the applicant. Online, you follow the on-screen instructions to view the declaration, choose Yes or No on whether information about your occupation, education and work experience may be shared with prospective employers, and type your name in the blue field to sign electronically. On paper you validate to generate barcodes, print all pages, write your name, check the box on sharing information with employers, and sign and date by hand.

The Yes/No question about sharing is a consent choice, and it is separate from the application itself. Read the wording on the form to see exactly what it covers.

The legal frame is the same as for the other forms in the package. Section 10(1)(b) of the Regulations requires the application to be signed by the applicant, and section 10(2)(d) requires "a declaration that the information provided is complete and accurate". Section 16(1) of the Act requires truthful answers, and section 40(1)(a) makes misrepresenting or withholding material facts an inadmissibility ground, with a five-year period under section 40(2)(a) following a final determination made outside Canada.

Mistakes and the day-to-day checks

Drawing on IRCC's instructions: - Missing, damaged or unreadable barcodes on a paper application, or hand-filling a form that must be validated. - An unsigned or undated paper form. - Leaving out a family member who is not applying, whose location is unknown or who is missing. - Choosing a category without reading what the category requires. - Names, passport numbers and dates that do not match the documents. - Inconsistent residence history between the personal details and other forms such as IMM 5669. - Using the paper rules for an online form or the other way round, for example the unknown-date convention. - Forgetting IRM 0002 where a gender identifier differs from existing Canadian documents, or IMM 5476 when a representative is acting. - Counting the dependants wrongly or skipping the explanation for a non-accompanying dependant.

For an overview of the other forms in a family package, see the guides to IMM 5669, IMM 5406 and IMM 5532.

When it is worth paying a regulated adviser

Most of IMM 0008 is facts about you and your family. Paid help matters where the decisions on the form carry legal weight: which program and category to apply under, whether someone counts as a dependant, a family member whose status is uncertain, an out-of-status applicant, or a past application with different answers. A licensed consultant or lawyer can advise on those with your documents in front of them. Check the licence on the public register before you pay, expect a written consultation agreement and a clear fee, and expect IMM 5476 to be filed if they act for you.

Questions people ask

Do I have to list family members who are not coming to Canada on IMM 0008?

Yes. IRCC says you must declare all family members, including those not applying with you and those who are missing or whose whereabouts are unknown. IRCC warns you cannot later sponsor a family member who was not declared.

Why was my paper application returned without being processed?

IRCC's page names two causes: missing or unreadable barcodes, and an unsigned or undated form.

Do I need to print and sign the online version?

No. IRCC says you do not need to print or sign by hand online, but you cannot submit the application online unless you sign it electronically.

How many dependants fit on the form?

The paper form has room for up to five dependants. IRCC says to complete IMM 0008DEP for each additional family member.

What are dependant types A, B and C?

IRCC defines Type A as under 22 and single, Type B as a child whose age was locked in before 1 August 2014 and who has been a full-time student dependent on a parent since before 22, and Type C as 22 or older and substantially dependent since before 22 because of a medical condition.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • IMM 5669 Schedule A, Background/Declaration: what each question asks and how gaps are treated — IMM 5669 (Schedule A) records your identity, parents, education, personal history since age 18 or the last 10 years, organizations, government and military service and addresses. IRCC says not to leave gaps in time, not to use abbreviations, and that an unsigned paper form is returned. Anyone 18 or over in the application completes their own.
  • IMM 5406, Additional Family Information: who must list whom, and why leaving someone out matters — IMM 5406 collects details about your parents, spouse or partner, children and siblings. IRCC says it is "very important" to list all your children, including married, adopted, stepchildren and those in an ex-partner's custody, and to answer every question, using N/A where one does not apply. The online version is certified when you click the complete button, and the paper version is signed in Section D.
  • IMM 1344, Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking: what it asks and who signs — IMM 1344 is the sponsor's application, sponsorship agreement and undertaking. The sponsor, any co-signer and the person being sponsored must all sign it electronically, and the application is returned if any signature is missing. A co-signer is not allowed when sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner.
  • IMM 5476, Use of a Representative: what the form asks and how it is submitted — IMM 5476 tells IRCC that someone may act for you on an application, paid or unpaid. You complete the applicant sections, your representative signs their own declaration, and a paid representative must give their membership ID from the College, a law society or the Chambre des notaires. The same form is used to cancel or change a representative.
  • Canada PR Fees 2026: Application Fee and the $600 RPRF — On the IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026), an economic permanent residence application, including Express Entry, is $1,590 with the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) and $990 without it. A spouse or partner included on the application is the same again, and each dependent child is $270. IRCC says it refunds the RPRF if you withdraw or it refuses the application.
  • Misrepresentation in Canada: The Five-Year Inadmissibility Rule — Under section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, misrepresenting or withholding a material fact that induces or could induce an error makes a person inadmissible for five years, and during that time a foreign national cannot apply for permanent residence. The five years run from the final determination if it was made outside Canada, or from the day a removal order is enforced if it was made in Canada.