Replacing a lost, stolen or destroyed immigration document requires Canadian newcomers to submit an application for a Verification of Status or Replacement of an Immigration Document.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a specific process for replacing immigration documents that have been stolen, destroyed or lost.
Understanding this process begins with awareness of what IRCC perceives as an immigration document. This is important because IRCC states that the document replacement process outlined in this article is specifically for those who need to “replace a temporary resident document.”
What IRCC calls an immigration document
According to the glossary included on the IRCC Help Centre webpage, an immigration document is “an official document issued by an IRCC or Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office, Case Processing Centre (CPC) or Canadian visa office outside Canada.” Examples of immigration documents include:
- A Canadian work, study or temporary resident permit
- A permanent resident (PR) card
- A visitor record
Note: The above is not a legal definition
In light of the above, IRCC notes that the document replacement process below cannot be used by those who are looking for changes to their Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
Instead, the immigration department notes that concerns related to those documents can be addressed using a Request to Amend the Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Valid Temporary Resident Documents.
Steps to take when replacing a lost, stolen or destroyed document
On this Government of Canada webpage, IRCC includes the application package required for this document replacement process. This application package includes:
- The Verification of Status or Replacement of an Immigration Document form [IMM 5009]
- The Use of a Representative form [IMM 5476]
- An Instruction Guide [IMM 5545]
Once a user downloads the application package above, they must take the following four steps to submit their Verification of Status or Replacement of an Immigration Document form.
1. Read the instruction guide and download the application forms
2. Fill out, sign and date your application forms
3. Pay any required fees (fees vary based on the country from which the application is being submitted)
4. Mail your application
Applications for replacement immigration documents can be sent to the following addresses, depending on whether they are sent through regular or couriered/registered mail.
Regular Mail
Operations Support Centre (OSC)
P.O. Box 8784 STN T CSC
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 5J3
Couriered/Registered Mail
Operations Support Centre (OSC)
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
