IRCC Form IMM 5257: Fillable PDF

What is IMM 5257 used for

IMM 5257 is the core application form for a temporary resident visa (TRV), the entry document most travellers from visa-required countries need before boarding a flight to Canada. IRCC uses your answers to confirm your identity, understand the purpose of your trip, and assess whether you are likely to leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.

Not every traveller needs this form. Citizens of visa-exempt countries flying to Canada generally apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead, and U.S. citizens usually need neither. If you are unsure which document applies to you, use the answer tool on the IRCC website before you start the form.

Who files IMM 5257

Each person who needs a visitor visa completes their own IMM 5257, including children travelling with their parents. A parent or guardian can complete and sign the form on behalf of a minor child.

• Citizens of visa-required countries visiting Canada for tourism, family visits, or business meetings.
• Travellers transiting through a Canadian airport who need a transit visa, which uses the same form.
• Applicants outside Canada; people already in Canada who want to extend a visit use Form IMM 5708 instead.
• Family members applying together, where each applicant submits a separate form plus a shared family information form (IMM 5645).

How to fill out IMM 5257

After downloading the form from this page, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader rather than a browser tab. The dynamic PDF adds or removes fields based on your answers, so work through it from top to bottom.

When every mandatory field is complete, click the Validate button at the top or bottom of the form. Validation checks for missing answers and generates barcode pages that IRCC uses to read your data, so never skip it or alter the barcodes afterward.

• Personal details: full name exactly as shown in your passport, date and place of birth, citizenship, and marital status.
• Languages: your native language and whether you can communicate in English or French.
• Passport and national identity document: numbers, issue and expiry dates.
• Contact information: mailing address, residential address, phone numbers, and email.
• Details of visit to Canada: purpose of travel, planned dates, funds available, and the people or institutions you will visit.
• Education and employment: current occupation and a short history of education and work.
• Background information: health questions, previous visa refusals or removals, criminal history, and military service. Answer these truthfully, since misrepresentation can lead to a multi-year ban.

Filing tips

Most applicants submit IMM 5257 electronically by signing in to the IRCC online account, uploading the validated PDF along with supporting documents, and paying online. Check the current fee on the IRCC fee list before you pay, and remember that most applicants also need to give biometrics.

• IRCC forms are version-pinned. Confirm on the official IMM 5257 page that you are using the current version before you submit, because outdated versions can be refused or returned.
• Include Form IMM 5645 (Family Information) and any documents listed in your program checklist, such as an invitation letter or proof of funds.
• Save your work often in Acrobat Reader; the form does not save itself.
• If your situation involves a prior refusal, criminal record, or medical issue, consider speaking with a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or a Canadian immigration lawyer before applying.