Immigration Status Documents
Immigration documents provide important evidence of your status and immigration history in Canada. If a document has been lost, stolen or destroyed, or you require official confirmation of your immigration history, you may be able to request a replacement document or a Verification of Status from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Verification of Status
A Verification of Status (VOS) is an official document issued by IRCC that provides information from your Canadian immigration record. It may be requested when you require proof of historical immigration information, such as your date and place of entry to Canada or information contained on a previous immigration document.
A VOS may contain information from documents such as a Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence, work permit, study permit, visitor record, Temporary Resident Permit or certain other immigration records.
Replacing a Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Document
If a current and valid temporary resident document has been lost, stolen or destroyed, it may be possible to request a replacement from IRCC.
Documents that may be replaced include:
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Work permits
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Study permits
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Visitor records
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Temporary Resident Permits
Different procedures apply to documents such as permanent resident cards, citizenship certificates and passports.
IRCC currently confirms those four temporary-resident documents can be replaced through this process. For a lost or stolen valid document, its current guide also requires the police report number.
Correcting an Error on an Immigration Document
If an immigration document contains an error, a different process may apply. IRCC allows requests to amend certain valid temporary resident documents and information contained in documents such as a Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Record of Landing where information was incorrectly recorded.
The appropriate procedure depends on the type of document, the information being corrected and how the error occurred.
GLG Insight
A lost immigration document does not necessarily mean that you have lost your immigration status. Your immigration status and the document used to demonstrate that status are not always the same thing. The appropriate solution depends on the type of document, whether it is still valid and whether you need a replacement, a correction or verification of your immigration history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Verification of Status document?
A Verification of Status is an official IRCC document containing information from your Canadian immigration history. It may be used to provide evidence of information contained in certain previous immigration documents.
Can I replace a lost work permit or study permit?
If your work permit or study permit is still valid and has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you may be able to request a replacement from IRCC.
Can I replace a lost visitor record?
Yes. A current and valid visitor record is one of the temporary resident documents that may be replaced through IRCC’s replacement process.
Can I correct a mistake on my immigration document?
Possibly. IRCC has a separate process for requesting amendments to certain immigration documents. The procedure depends on the document and the nature of the information that needs to be corrected.
Can a Verification of Status be used to travel to Canada?
No. A Verification of Status is not a travel document. Its purpose is to provide official information concerning your immigration history.
Not sure whether you need a replacement document, Verification of Status or an amendment? GLG Immigration can review your circumstances and help you determine the appropriate application.