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Access to Information and Privacy Travel History Report

In this section.

A Travel History Report is a record of a traveller's entries, exits or both into Canada. This information is collected by the Canada Border Services Agency ( CBSA ).

Retention period for a Travel History Report is 15 years.

The CBSA began collecting traveller exit information on foreign nationals (excluding American citizens) entering the United States from Canada on June 30, 2013 . As of July 11, 2019 , the CBSA collects exit information on all travellers (including Canadian and American citizens) in the land mode and in the commercial air mode as of June 25, 2020 . Exit data may also be requested through the Travel History Report.

Highway Passage Reports may also be requested; however, they indicate only that a specific licence plate has been recorded, and do not show the people travelling in the vehicle.

Information collected for Travel History Reports

The records for both Entries and Exits include:

• date of birth
• citizenship
• date of entry
• location of the port of entry, and
• any document numbers associated with that travel, such as a passport number

When not to ask for a Travel History Report

When you request your Travel History Report directly from the CBSA it can take up to 30 days to complete. There are many reasons you may require your report, but sometimes requesting it directly is not the best option. When your travel history is needed as part of an application, such as the application for Canadian citizenship, check the form for the option to release your report. Using this option means that you will not have to request it yourself. When this option is available, requesting the report directly from the CBSA will cause a significant delay to your application process. Listed below are the three applications that do not require you to request your report directly from the CBSA .

Applying for Canadian Citizenship: Adults and Minors

If you are applying for Canadian Citizenship, you do not need to request your Traveller History Report from the CBSA. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can collect the report on your behalf when needed since consent to share information about the entry/exit information is no longer required.

Applying for Canadian Citizenship: Unaccompanied Minor

If you are applying for Canadian Citizenship you do not need to request your Traveller History Report from the CBSA . Checking "Yes" on page 6, Question 9 (b) of your application form permits Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC ) to collect the report on your behalf.

Applying for a Permanent Resident card

If you are renewing or applying for a Permanent Resident Card you do not need to request your Traveller History Report from the CBSA . Checking "Yes" on page 3, (Section 7) Consent to Disclose Information allows IRCC to collect the report on your behalf.

Getting your Travel History report

If you have checked the When not to request your Travel History Report section and still need to request a copy, you can apply online by following the instructions on the Access to Information and Privacy online request page. Note that it may take up to 30 days to process your request.

If you are applying for yourself, you can do so under the Privacy Act, which is a free service provided by the Government of Canada.

If you are applying for someone else, you must provide form BSF745 - Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Representative completed by the party you are representing.

To get a highway passage report, provide the licence plate number and a copy of the vehicle's ownership. If you are not the owner, you will need to provide the CBSA with a BSF745 form completed by the owner of the vehicle.

When requesting your Travel History Report, you must indicate whether you are seeking your exit information, your entry information, or both. Exit information is limited and will only be included when specifically requested.

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Applications for permanent residence programs subject to the Express Entry completeness check

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

New application deadline

If you receive an invitation to apply on or after June 29, 2021 , you must submit your application for permanent residence within 60 days .

As of October 1, 2023, upfront medical examinations are no longer required at the time of application for Express Entry. The processing office should not reject these applications as incomplete. Applicants will be asked to await further instruction as to when an Immigration Medical Examination (IME) will be required.

Requirement to submit a complete electronic application

In Express Entry, applicants are required to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence (e-APR) within 60 calendar days of being issued an invitation to apply (ITA). The application and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically through the applicant’s online account.

Applications are assessed for completeness up front. An application found to be incomplete should be rejected as per section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, and all fees associated with the application should be refunded to the applicant.

The Express Entry 6-month processing standard begins when the application is submitted. This is based on the application received date in the Global Case Management System (GCMS). It ends when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes a final decision on the application.

A complete application includes the following:

• the cost recovery fees
• all supporting documentation to validate information contained in the applicant’s Express Entry profile and e-APR

In exceptional circumstances, processing offices may be flexible in accommodating these requirements where delays occur outside the control of applicants. See the document checklist below for details.

Each application under Express Entry should be considered on its own merit, with a final decision based on a review of all the information available to the IRCC officer at the time of the decision.

Incomplete applications

If an application is found to be incomplete, the processing office must reject the application by

• promoting and then cancelling the application in GCMS with the application status reason listed as “incomplete application”;
• noting in GCMS the reason(s) for rejecting the application; and
• repaying all fees associated with the application (e.g., the cost recovery fee and the right of permanent residence fee, as applicable).

When an application is rejected as incomplete, the applicant must submit a new Express Entry profile through their online account to be considered for any future rounds of invitations.

Document checklist

A personalized document checklist is produced for each applicant when they submit their e-APR through their online account. The personalized checklist identifies the specific supporting documents required from each family member included on the application.

Translation of documents

If a supporting document is in a language other than English or French, the applicant must provide IRCC with

• an English or French translation stamped by a certified translator or accompanied by an affidavit from the person who completed the translation, if it is not possible to have the translation done by a certified translator
• The translation package should include a copy the original source document that was used by the translator, and the translation of all contents of the original document in either English or French. Both the source document and the translation must either be stamped by the translator or referred to in the affidavit
• a scan of the original document, or a scan of a certified photocopy of the original document

Apply for permanent residence: Documents for Express Entry explains how to meet these requirements.

Mandatory documents for all applicants

The following documents are mandatory and must be provided by all applicants.

Applications that do not contain the following documents will be rejected as incomplete, and fees will be refunded accordingly.

Medical examination confirmation

To assess the health of the applicant and their family members

Document requirements – Applications received before October 1, 2023:

• The medical examination confirmation is required up front and must be valid at the time of application.
• The applicant must include the immigration medical examination (IME) number in their e-APR.
• The applicant must provide a copy of either the information printout sheet or the Upfront Medical Report form [IMM 1017B, whichever the panel physician provides upon completion of the medical examination.
• Applicants are encouraged to undergo medical examinations closer to the date their application is submitted to avoid processing delays.
• Exceptions are made only in rare circumstances that are outside of the client’s control (e.g., cancellation of the appointment by the panel physician at the last minute without time to reschedule).

In exceptional circumstances , IRCC may accept

• proof that a medical appointment is scheduled or
• a letter of explanation of best efforts

However, these are not a guarantee of acceptance.

Document requirements – Applications received on or after October 1, 2023:

• Express Entry applicants are no longer required to complete and submit an upfront medical examination (UFM) at the time of application submission, and applicants will be asked to await further instruction as to when an Immigration Medical Examination (IME) is required.
• If applicants have previously completed an IME, they will be asked to include a copy in the pre-existing upload field for IMEs. Applicants who have never completed an IME will be instructed to upload a blank document.
• If no IME was provided, processing offices should conduct an integrated search for any previously completed IMEs, and associate the IME to the application accordingly.
• Processing offices should then review and apply the temporary public policy (TPP), if the applicant is eligible.
• If no IME is found, and the TPP cannot be applied, instructions to undergo an IME should be sent to the applicant.

Individuals who must submit this documentation

• the principal applicant
• their spouse or common-law partner
• their dependent children, including non-accompanying

Police certificates

To determine if the applicant or their family members have a criminal record or poses a security risk to Canada

Document requirements

According to the requirements below, the system will generate upload fields for the police certificates required in the document checklist using the personal history, travel history and address history provided by the applicant. However, it is always at an officer’s discretion to request a new or additional police certificate from the applicant. Applicants may also provide additional police certificates in the letter of explanation field.

• For the applicant’s current country of residence, the police certificate must have been issued no more than 6 months before the submission of the e-APR.
• For countries in which the applicant no longer resides, the police certificate must have been issued after the last time the applicant stayed in that country for 6 months or more in a row .
• Police certificates meeting the above requirements can be accepted even if they have an expiry date that has passed.
• This includes the requirement to provide a police certificate for countries in which the individual has travelled for 6 months or more in a row, whether or not the individual had an established residential address during this time.
• Police certificates are required upfront and are mandatory for each country (except Canada) where an individual has spent 6 months or more in a row within the last 10 years. The individual does not need to provide one for any period of time before the age of 18.
• Police certificates need to be a scan of the original police certificate(s) in colour. Certified true copies and unauthorized copies are unacceptable and will result in the application being rejected as incomplete.

Applications that do not include a required police certificate and do not provide supporting documentation where required will be rejected as incomplete.

The officer can exercise discretion when assessing whether police certificates that do not fall within standard IRCC parameters may still be required to process the application. When necessary, an officer can use discretion in their determination of whether or not a client is admissible to Canada by using other documents or mechanisms that are available to them.

Some countries will not issue police certificates to applicants, and instead will only communicate directly with the relevant Canadian authorities. In such cases, existing IRCC procedures to obtain documentation should be followed.

The IRCC website provides instructions to applicants on Where to obtain a police certificate .

In exceptional circumstances , IRCC may accept both of the following:

• proof of having requested a police certificate for some countries; and
• In this explanation, the applicant should explain the delay in a document and upload the document in the country-specific field. The uploaded document must show that the applicant requested a police certificate as soon as possible after receiving their invitation to apply.

In such exceptional cases, the client will be advised to upload a document into the upload field stating country-specific details that support their explanation of best efforts.

• The principal applicant
• Their spouse or common-law partner
• Their dependent children 18 years of age or older, including non-accompanying

Copy of the biographical data page of a passport or travel document

To confirm the applicant's identity

• A clear and legible copy of the biographical data page of a passport or travel document must be provided.
• Their accompanying dependent children

Proof of work experience

To prove each work experience claim and to validate that the applicant meets program requirements

• The personalized document checklist in applicants’ online account prompts the applicant with an upload field for each work experience declared.
• At the completeness check, the processing office determines only whether the required documents are included. The validity or fraudulence of the information is assessed only if and when the application is placed into processing.

The following documents are mandatory for each work experience declared:

• should be an official document printed on company letterhead (must include the applicant’s name, the company’s contact information [address, telephone number and email address], and the name, title and signature of the immediate supervisor or personnel officer at the company),
• should indicate all positions held while employed at the company and must include the following details: job title, duties and responsibilities, job status (if current job), dates worked for the company, number of work hours per week and annual salary plus benefits; and
• if the applicant is self-employed, articles of incorporation or other evidence of business ownership, evidence of self-employment income and documentation from third-party individuals indicating the service provided along with payment details (self-declared main duties or affidavits are not acceptable proof of self-employed work experience).

If the work experience is in Canada, proof may include copies of T4 tax information slips and notices of assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (the time period for these documents should reflect the work experience timeframe [e.g., work experience from 2006 to 2008 requires only documents from those calendar years]).

• Their spouse or common-law partner (if work experience in Canada is claimed)

Mandatory documents (if applicable)

The following documents are mandatory if applicable (i.e., based on the personal circumstances of the applicant and their dependents).

When applicable, applications that do not contain the following documents will be rejected as incomplete and fees will be refunded.

Copy of birth certificate or other equivalent document

To prove the dependent children’s relationship to the parents

• This document is required only if the applicant identifies dependent children.
• birth certificate;
• equivalent document from the birth country; or
• letter of explanation (where no birth certificate is available in the country).
• All the dependent children, including non-accompanying

Proof of studies

To confirm education claims and validate that the applicant meets program requirements

• provide proof of having completed a Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational program; or
• obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) and provide the ECA reference number in their application, along with proof of the foreign educational credentials for which points are being claimed.
• secondary or post-secondary education documents (certificates, diplomas or degrees); and
• transcripts for successfully completed secondary or post-secondary studies, if available.
• At the EE profile and application stage, the system will ask the candidate to enter the # of their DLI by using the list of DLI posted on IRCC website. The system will insert a note if the number of the DLI doesn’t match for the officer to review
• If it is determined that the applicant obtained more than 50 percent of their education via distance learning, the applicant should not be awarded additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for having a Canadian education credential. If the reduction in CRS points results in the applicant having a score below the minimum CRS, the application should be refused per A11.2.
• A scanned copy of the ECA is not required when submitting the e-APR but may be requested by IRCC at a later date.
• Applicants are instructed to indicate that their education was completed by correspondence by typing in brackets {by correspondence} on the same line as the education institution name found in the Education Background Information tab of GCMS. The discretion remains with the officer to decide if a police certificate is required for the country of the education institution

Provincial or territorial certificate of qualification

To validate an applicant’s claim of having a provincial or territorial certificate of qualification

• This document is requested only if the applicant indicates they have a provincial or territorial certificate of qualification.
• A copy of the certificate of qualification is required.
• Their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable

Letter of offer from the employer

To confirm an applicant’s qualifying offer of arranged employment , to validate that the applicant meets program requirements and to screen for concerns of fraud

• This document is required only if the applicant claims to have a qualifying offer of arranged employment.
• be printed on company letterhead and include the applicant’s name, the company’s contact information (address, telephone number and email address), and the name, title and signature of the applicant’s proposed immediate supervisor or personnel officer; and
• include the following details: expected start date, commitment that the applicant will be employed on a continuous, paid, full-time work, for work that is for at least one year after issuance of a permanent resident visa, job title, duties and responsibilities, current job status (if current job), number of work hours per week and annual salary plus benefits.
• A scanned copy of the LMIA is not required when submitting the e-APR but may be requested by IRCC at a later date.

Proof of funds

To confirm whether the applicant meets the low-income cut-off (LICO), assessed by the amount of money they hold compared to the number of people in their family

• The letter(s) must be printed on the letterhead of the financial institution and must include the applicant’s name, the contact information of the financial institution (address, telephone number and email address), the account numbers, the date each account was opened and the current balance of each account as well as the average balance for the past six months.
• Other documents may also be requested, as necessary.

Use of a Representative form [IMM 5476]

To appoint a representative to do business on behalf of the applicant and their family members

• The document is requested only if the applicant indicates they are using a representative or if a consultant completes an application on behalf of the applicant through the consultant portal.
• The IMM 5476 form ( PDF , 648.31 KB ) must be signed by the principal applicant and, if applicable, their spouse or common-law partner.
• Each accompanying dependent child 18 years of age or older must complete and sign their own IMM 5476 form if a representative is also conducting business on their behalf.
• Their accompanying dependent children 18 years of age or older

Evidence of common-law union and cohabitation

To validate marital status claims

• This documentation is only requested when marital status is listed as common-law.
• The applicant must submit a Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form [ IMM 5409 ( PDF , 636.51 KB ) ] and evidence of cohabitation for a period of at least 12 continuous months.
• copies of joint bank account statements;
• copies of leases;
• utility bills.

Marriage certificate

• This document is requested only when marital status is listed as married.
• A marriage performed in an embassy or consulate must comply with the law of the host country where it took place, not the country of nationality of the embassy or consulate.
• If the applicant married in Canada, a copy of the marriage certificate issued by the province or territory where the marriage took place must be provided.
• If the applicant married outside Canada, a copy of a legal certificate issued by the country, the territory or the region where the marriage took place must be provided.

Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement

• The divorce certificate is requested only when marital status is listed as divorced.
• If the applicant divorced in Canada, a copy of the divorce order or certificate of divorce issued by the province or territory where the divorce took place must be provided.
• If the applicant divorced outside Canada, a copy of a legal certificate issued by the country, the territory or the region where the divorce took place must be provided.
• A copy of the legal separation agreement must be provided, if available.

Death certificate

To validate the claim of death of the spouse or common-law partner

• This document is requested only when the marital status is listed as widowed.
• A copy of a death certificate, executorships or other legal certificate issued by the country, the territory or the region where the death occurred must be provided.

Adoption certificate

To validate claims that a dependent child is adopted

• This document is requested only when the dependent child status is listed as adopted.
• A copy of the adoption certificate, legal adoption papers, and/or other relevant documents issued by the country, the territory or the region that formalized the adoption must be provided.
• The dependent children, including non-accompanying

Other documents

As applicable to their situation, applicants are required to submit the following documents through their online account as part of their e-APR. The system does not let applicants submit their e-APR until documents have been uploaded into the provided fields.

In contrast to other documents, however, applications will not be rejected as “incomplete” if the documents listed below are not provided to the proper specification.

Applications can, however, be refused if the processing office does not have enough information on file to be satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements of the program to which they are applying.

Proof of relationship to a relative in Canada, status of a relative in Canada and residence status of a relative in Canada (including a brother or sister for the purpose of obtaining additional CRS points)

To validate a claim of, and award points associated with, having

• a relative in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (for the Federal Skilled Worker Program adaptability points);
• an adult brother or sister who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada (for additional CRS points).
• This documentation is required if the applicant indicates that they, or their accompanying spouse or common-law partner, have a family member in Canada who is a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen.
• A copy of both sides of the family member's Canadian citizenship document, Canadian birth certificate and/or permanent resident card must be provided.
• The documents must show their address in Canada and should be recent (dated within six months prior to submission).
• Proof of the relationship of the applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner to the family member must also be provided (e.g., a birth certificate, an official document naming the applicant as a relative, a copy of the inside back cover of the relative’s passport showing the relative’s parents’ marriage certificate, legal adoption documents and any other documents that prove or describe the relationship).
• If the applicant claims a stepbrother or stepsister, there should be no evidence in the application that the marriage or common-law relationship between the parents of the stepbrother or stepsister has broken down.

Digital photos

To confirm identity

• Digital photos meeting IRCC’s permanent resident card photo specifications ( PDF , 614.24 KB ) must be provided.
• Their dependent children, including non-accompanying

To confirm identity and aliases as well as screen for fraud concerns

• This documentation is requested if the applicant indicates having used another name (e.g., a maiden name).
• The applicant must provide information and/or documentation on the use of this other name (e.g., a letter of explanation, legal documents of a name change).

Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual form [IMM 5475]

To appoint a designated individual to inquire about the status of an application and/or change the applicant’s address information

• This document is not requested by the system, even if the applicant has indicated they are designating an individual.
• This document should be provided in the open field (see below) if the applicant has indicated they would like to designate an individual.
• The IMM 5475 form ( PDF , 593.57 KB ) must be signed by the applicant and, as applicable, their spouse or common-law partner if they also wish to release personal information to the same designated individual.
• Dependent children 18 years of age or older must complete their own form if they wish to authorize the release of their information to a designated individual.

Documents related to the e-APR not captured in other fields

To allow the applicant to provide IRCC with any other information they feel is relevant to their application

• Submission of this documentation is at the applicant’s discretion.
• One upload field is provided for each of the applicant, their spouse or common-law partner and their dependent children, as applicable.
• Multiple documents must be compiled and uploaded as a single file.
• This should be used to provide documentation to support a declaration of status as “legally separated” (e.g., a letter of explanation, legal documents, etc.), if applicable.
• This should be used to submit the Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual form [ IMM 5475 ( PDF , 593.57 KB ) ], if applicable.
• This field should be used to provide documentation to support a claim of disability and provision of accommodations (e.g., documentation to support notionalized language test scores for an applicant with physical or mental disabilities who cannot complete language testing in one or more abilities).
• Their dependent children

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Canada releases new details on how traveller information is collected at the border

Canada recently released more details on what information border officers collect from travellers, who can access the information, and more on data protection and rules for disclosure.

Canada’s Entry/Exit Program allows the border to collect basic traveller information and share it with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The immigration department uses the information to verify how many days an immigration applicant stayed in Canada. The information is used to verify residency requirements for applications for permanent residence, work permits, study permits, and Canadian citizenship applications.

Canada and the U.S. have been exchanging biographic entry information on all travellers at the land border since July 11, 2019, though the program started in February 2019. They use the record of a traveller’s entry into one country to establish the exit from the other. Recently the program was extended to air travellers as well, however, this exit information is not regularly shared with the U.S.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

Data is not yet being collected for travellers entering and exiting Canada by marine ports or by rail.

What information does CBSA collect?

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) collects basic information of travellers who pass through the border. The basic information they collect includes:

• date of birth;
• country of citizenship;
• passport details;
• date of entry or exit;
• client identification (i.e., family name and given names, gender, date of birth, country of birth, etc.),
• contact information and history, educational and employment information.

Who can access entry and exit information?

CBSA is the owner of the data and as such all authorized border personnel can access exit information. These border personnel include:

• border services officers and superintendents;
• criminal investigations officers and analysts;
• document analysts;
• hearings officers and hearings advisors;
• inland enforcement officers and enforcement case officers;
• intelligence officers and intelligence analysts;
• National Border Operations Centre officers;
• National Security Screening Division officers and analysts;
• National Targeting Centre (NTC) targeting officers;
• NTC targeting operations intelligence; and
• trusted traveller officers.

IRCC only retains the Entry/Exit information of a candidate who is applying for immigration.

The immigration department uses Entry/Exit information to:

• verify residency requirements to process an ongoing application by verifying information provided by the client, such as in applications for grants of citizenship or permanent resident cards;
• verify if a temporary residence applicant may have previously overstayed their allowable period of admission in Canada;
• assist in an investigation of an individual’s entitlement to a Canadian travel document;
• verify that sponsors are residing in Canada;
• verify the residency of spouses and partners under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class;
• verify whether or not a refugee claimant entered Canada using their travel documents; and
• support investigations of possible fraud in relation to immigration, citizenship, and passport and travel document programs.

IRCC officers are not allowed to disclose entry and exit information unless it is necessary for the administration of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and it is covered under an existing information-sharing agreement, such as a Memorandum of Understanding.

“Any disclosure that is not explicitly covered under an existing agreement must be governed by CBSA,” the government’s website says.

Travellers have the right to request a copy of their personal travel history, and they can request a correction if they find any errors. IRCC will be notified if a traveller requests a correction to their passage information, and they are able to re-query CBSA to get the most up-to-date information.

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