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IMM 5257, Application for a Visitor Visa: what each section asks and where applications go wrong

IMM 5257 is the form for a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) or transit visa, completed by each person applying. The fee is $100 per person (maximum $500 for a family of five or more), plus $85 for biometrics where required. Every question in the Background Information section must be answered or the application is treated as incomplete and returned.

IMM 5257, "Application for Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa)", is the main form for a visitor visa to Canada. This page walks through each section of the version on IRCC's site, which IRCC's form page labels as dated September 2023 (page date 6 October 2026), together with the visitor visa fee and biometrics fee on the IRCC fee list as at 21 September 2026. It explains what each question asks and the points IRCC itself flags. It does not tell you how to answer for your own case. Always download the current form from IRCC and read IRCC's own instructions before you complete it.

Who completes IMM 5257, and which route it belongs to

IRCC's form page says each person applying for a temporary resident visa to visit Canada must complete their own form. That includes each family member, not only one person on behalf of the group.

The same page says to use the form if you apply through your IRCC secure account or on paper, and not to use it if you apply through the IRCC Portal. IRCC's separate "How to apply for a visitor visa" page (page date 28 August 2026) says online is the default: "You must apply online", with exceptions for people who cannot apply online, including for reasons of disability, and for people travelling on a refugee, stateless person or non-citizen travel document, who can apply on paper. It lists two portals, the IRCC Portal and a "New version" of it, and the new version is only for applicants who are 18 or older, applying alone, who have never applied with IRCC before and are not using a representative.

Which of these routes applies to a given person is something to confirm on IRCC's page before downloading anything. The form you need depends on the route, and the instruction guide that goes with it (IRCC calls it Guide 5256 on the apply page) is the document IRCC points online applicants to first.

IRCC also says to complete the PDF on a computer, not a tablet or phone, and to open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher. You can save your progress and finish later.

What it costs: the fees on the IRCC list

The IRCC fee list (page date 21 September 2026) shows these amounts in Canadian dollars: - Visitor visa, per person: $100.00. The same fee applies to single-entry and multiple-entry visas. IRCC decides which one to issue. - Visitor visa, per family: maximum $500.00. IRCC's note says the family fee applies when "family members must all apply at the same time and same place" and "your children must qualify as dependants". The fee list describes this as 1 fee per family of 5 or more people. - Biometrics, per individual: $85.00. - Biometrics, per family of 2 or more eligible people applying at the same time: maximum $170.00. Eligible family members are a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children and their dependent children.

Two simple examples of how the arithmetic works. Two adults who are a couple, both required to give biometrics, would see the $100 visa fee twice ($200) and biometrics capped at $170. A family of five or more applying together at the same place and time pays no more than $500 for the visa itself. Whether a particular person is required to give biometrics, and whether a child counts as a dependant, are questions IRCC answers on its own pages ("Find out if you need to give biometrics"; "Check if your child is a dependant").

IRCC's apply page says you pay by credit or debit card when applying online, and lists Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay (online only). It also says prepaid cards should be kept for at least 18 months after payment. Fees change, so read the fee list on the day you pay rather than relying on any article, including this one.

The opening questions and personal details

The first block of the form asks for your Universal Client Identification (UCI) number if you have one, your preferred service language (English or French), and the type of visa: visitor visa or transit visa. IRCC notes that a transit visa needs evidence of your travel itinerary from your carrier or agent.

The Personal Details section asks for: - Your legal family and given names, exactly as on your travel document. IRCC says not to use initials or placeholders such as "NA". - Any other names you have used, such as a birth name, married name or nickname. - A gender identifier: F, M, U or X. IRCC says that if the identifier differs from the one on an existing Canadian temporary resident document, you need Form IRM 0002. - Your date of birth. If part of it is unknown, an asterisk stands in for the unknown part. - Your place of birth, recorded as shown on your document, and the country of citizenship that issued the passport you will use. - Your current country of residence and immigration status there, with dates. - Whether you lived in another country for more than six months in the past five years, with status and dates. - Whether you are applying from your country of residence. If you are not, you give details, and a non-citizen has to provide proof of legal status where they live. - Your marital status, the date the marriage or common-law relationship began, and your spouse or partner's names. IRCC says common-law partners must also submit IMM 5409, and married applicants must submit a copy of their marriage certificate or licence. - Any past marriages or common-law relationships, with details and dates.

These questions are factual. IRCC says to type names "exactly as shown on your passport or travel document", so check each one against the passport you will use.

Languages, passport, national ID and US permanent resident card

The Languages section asks for your native language, the language or languages you prefer to communicate in, and whether you have taken a designated English or French language test.

The Passport section asks for the passport number, issuing country, issue date and expiry date, and two yes/no questions: whether the passport is a Taiwan passport that includes a personal identification number, and whether it is an Israeli national passport. IRCC adds a note that each passport needs at least one blank page, other than the last page. On the apply page IRCC also lists a digital copy of a valid passport or travel document, valid for at least six months beyond your travel date, as part of the checklist, with the birth date page and any stamp or visa pages.

The National Identity Document section asks whether you have one, its number, issuing country, and issue and expiry dates.

The US PR Card section asks whether you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States and, if so, the card number and expiry date.

Contact information, and the email address IRCC will use

The Contact Information section asks for a mailing address with a list of required components, whether your residential address differs from it, phone numbers (primary, other and fax) with country, phone type and extension, and an email address.

Two points from IRCC's instructions matter in practice. First, if you use a representative, you must put the representative's contact details in the mailing address section and submit IMM 5476, the Use of a Representative form. Second, the email address is optional, but IRCC says to check it regularly and to add IRCC domains to your safe senders list, and that by giving an email you agree to receive correspondence electronically at that address. A mistyped or unchecked email address is a practical way to miss a biometrics instruction letter or a request for more documents. For what the representative form asks and how a paid representative must identify themselves, see the IMM 5476 guide on this site.

Details of the visit, education and employment

The Details of Visit to Canada section asks for the purpose of the visit (the form lists business, tourism, short-term study, returning student or worker, super visa, family visit, visit and other with details), the planned dates of stay, the funds available in Canadian dollars, and the names, relationships and Canadian addresses of the people or institutions you will visit.

The Education section asks whether you have post-secondary education (trade, certificate, diploma, bachelor's, master's or PhD). If you do, you give the dates, field of study, institution, location and country or province or state for the highest level.

The Employment section covers the past ten years. It asks for your current job or activity, with the start date, employer and location. If you are not working, you describe what you are doing, and IRCC's examples are retired or studying. It then asks for previous jobs over the past ten years, with extra pages attached if the space runs out.

IRCC's apply page lists recommended supporting documents that sit alongside these answers: travel history, an itinerary, a bank statement covering at least six months, an employer letter dated no earlier than three months before you apply, and for tourists a letter of invitation. These are IRCC's recommendations, and the personalised checklist that appears in the portal after you start is the list that governs your application.

The Background Information section

This is the section IRCC warns about in the plainest terms: "All questions in this section must be answered or the application will be considered incomplete and will be returned." Answer every question and give details for any "Yes".

The questions cover six areas: - Tuberculosis in the applicant or a family member within the past two years, and any physical or mental health condition that would need social or health services beyond medication. - Past immigration issues, such as overstays, working or studying without authorisation, visa refusals, removal orders, and any previous application to enter or remain in Canada. - Criminal history: whether you have committed, been arrested for, been charged with or been convicted of a criminal offence anywhere. - Military, militia, police, security or civil defence service, with dates and countries. - Membership of or association with groups that advocated or used violence, or were linked to criminal activity. - Witnessing or taking part in ill treatment of prisoners or civilians, looting, or desecrating religious buildings.

The law behind the section is short. Section 16(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act says a person who makes an application "must answer truthfully all questions put to them for the purpose of the examination and must produce a visa and all relevant evidence and documents that the officer reasonably requires." Section 40(1)(a) makes a foreign national inadmissible "for directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could induce an error in the administration of this Act", and section 40(2)(a) provides that the inadmissibility continues for five years following a final determination made outside Canada. The wording reaches facts you leave out as well as facts you state wrongly.

What counts as a "Yes" on a particular question, and whether an old event still needs to be mentioned, depends on the exact wording of the question and the facts. That is a legal question for a regulated adviser, not something a form guide can settle.

Mistakes that cost time

Taken from IRCC's own instructions and the structure of the form, these are points that can cause an application to be returned, delayed or questioned: - Leaving a Background Information question blank. IRCC says the application is then incomplete and returned. - Names that do not match the passport, including initials, shortened names, or "NA" in a name field. - Dates and statuses that do not line up across sections. Your country of residence, your immigration status there and your answers about the past five years should agree with each other and with your documents. - A passport with no free page, or an expired or soon-to-expire passport. IRCC asks for validity of at least six months beyond your travel date on the apply page. - Submitting the wrong form for the route. IRCC's form page says not to use IMM 5257 if you apply through the IRCC Portal. Check which route applies first. - Forgetting the supporting forms the answers trigger: IMM 5409 for a common-law partner, a marriage certificate or licence for a married applicant, IRM 0002 for a gender identifier that differs from existing Canadian documents, IMM 5476 if someone acts for you, and proof of legal status if you apply from a country where you are not a citizen. - Not reading email. A biometrics instruction letter or a request for documents sent to an address nobody checks can stall an application. - Asking a friend or an unlicensed "agent" to complete it. Section 91 of the Act makes it an offence to represent or advise someone for consideration unless the person is a lawyer, a notary in Quebec or a licensed consultant. The register check is covered in the guide to checking an RCIC licence.

Biometrics and what happens after you submit

IRCC's apply page says biometrics, meaning fingerprints and a photo, are required for many applicants, and that the instruction letter arrives after you apply. The fee list shows $85 per individual or a $170 maximum for a family of two or more eligible people applying together. IRCC says to book the appointment promptly after the letter arrives, to avoid delays.

On validity, IRCC's apply page says a visa can be issued for up to 10 years or until the passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first, and that officers may set a different date. It also says giving biometrics again does not automatically extend the visa to 10 years.

If a visa is refused, IRCC sends a letter with the reasons. The refusal pages on this site explain what options exist, including reapplying and review. This guide is most useful before you submit: knowing which questions exist, which documents they trigger, and which answers are checked against what you attach.

When it is worth paying a regulated adviser

Many visitor visa applications are straightforward forms completed by the applicant. Paying for help tends to come up in specific situations: a previous refusal, an immigration or criminal history that makes the Background Information answers hard to word, a long gap in the timeline, or a very short time before travel. In those cases an adviser licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, or a lawyer, can review the file and advise you on your own facts, which this page cannot.

What that involves: a written consultation agreement before the consult, a fee agreed up front, and (if they act for you) an IMM 5476 filed with your application. Ask for their College ID or law society number and check it yourself on the public register before you pay.

Questions people ask

How much does a Canada visitor visa application cost?

The IRCC fee list (page date 21 September 2026) shows $100 per person, with a maximum of $500 for a family of five or more applying together at the same place and time, plus $85 per person for biometrics (maximum $170 for a family of two or more eligible people). Read the fee list on the day you pay.

Can I fill in IMM 5257 on my phone?

IRCC says to complete the PDF on a computer, not a tablet or phone, using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher. You can save your progress and finish later.

What happens if I leave a question blank in the Background Information section?

IRCC's form page says all questions in that section must be answered or the application is considered incomplete and will be returned. Give details for any question answered Yes.

Does every family member need their own IMM 5257?

IRCC's form page says each person applying for a temporary resident visa must complete their own form.

What is IMM 5409 and when does it go with IMM 5257?

IMM 5409 is the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union. IRCC's form page says common-law partners must submit it with IMM 5257, and married applicants must submit a copy of their marriage certificate or licence.

Do I need a representative to apply?

No. You can apply yourself. If someone represents you, IRCC says their contact details go in the contact section and IMM 5476 must be submitted, and a paid representative must be a licensed consultant, a lawyer or a Quebec notary in good standing.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • Canada Visitor Visa Refused: What Your Options Are — There's no appeal from a visitor visa refusal. IRCC says you can apply again at any time unless your letter says otherwise, but only new information that addresses the refusal reasons is likely to change the result. The court route is judicial review in the Federal Court.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • How to check an RCIC licence on the College's Public Register — Search the consultant on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Public Register (register.college-ic.ca). Only people with an "Active" status and "Yes" in the "Entitled to Practise" column may legally give you immigration advice for a fee. Then contact them using the details on the register, not the ones in an ad or a message.
  • Canada Visitor Visa Cost: Visa, Biometrics and the Family Cap — On the IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026), a visitor visa is $100 per person, capped at $500 for a family of five or more applying at the same time and place. Biometrics are $85 per person, capped at $170 for a family of two or more eligible people. IRCC says biometrics are needed only once every 10 years.
  • IMM 5409, Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union: who signs, what it asks and common mistakes — IMM 5409 is a sworn declaration by two people that they are in a common-law relationship. It must be signed by hand, it will not produce a barcode when validated, and it asks for places, dates, years together and the kinds of shared life you can document. The regulations define a common-law partner as someone who has cohabited with you in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.