IMM 5406, the Additional Family Information form, is used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to collect information about you and your family members as part of certain permanent residence applications. There are currently two versions of the form: a digital version in the Permanent Residence Portal and a PDF version for paper applications. Which version you use depends on the instructions for your immigration program.
The form covers your spouse or partner, parents, children and siblings. Completing it carefully is important because IRCC requires the information you provide to be complete, truthful and correct.
To complete IMM 5406, provide the requested personal information about yourself and the family members covered by Sections A, B and C. This includes your parents, spouse or partner where applicable, children, and siblings, including half-siblings and step-siblings.
For the PDF version, the principal applicant, their spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children aged 18 or older must each complete the form, whether they are accompanying the principal applicant to Canada or not. Always check the instructions for your specific program because application requirements can differ.
IMM 5406 gives IRCC a record of your family information. It is not limited to relatives who plan to immigrate to Canada with you.
For example, IRCC’s instructions for the PDF form require applicants to list all their children, including children who are not accompanying them and children who are already Canadian permanent residents or citizens.
Accuracy also matters across the rest of your immigration application. If you are completing several forms, information such as names, dates and family relationships should be consistent unless there is a reason that needs to be explained.
Other forms you may encounter include IMM 5669 Schedule A ainsi qu'un IMM 5562 Travel History. The forms required will depend on your particular immigration program.
The requirements depend on whether you are completing the digital or PDF version and on the instructions for your immigration program.
For the PDF version, IRCC states that the form must be completed by:
For online applications, the form is completed digitally in the Permanent Residence Portal when required. Some programs also instruct applicants to complete the relevant digital forms for family members aged 18 or older.
This is why you should follow the checklist and instructions for your own application rather than assuming the requirements are identical for every immigration pathway.
IMM 5406 is divided into sections covering different family relationships:
Understanding what belongs in each section can help you organize your family information before completing the form and reduce the risk of accidentally leaving someone out.
Section A asks for personal details about:
If you are married, the current form also asks whether you and your spouse were physically present at the marriage ceremony.
Enter the requested information carefully and check that names, dates and family relationships are consistent with the information elsewhere in your application.
You should also answer every question that applies. For the PDF version, IRCC instructs applicants to enter “N/A” if a section does not apply. For the digital form, the corresponding instruction is to enter “Not Applicable.”
Section B is particularly important because applicants may assume they only need to list children who are immigrating with them.
For the PDF form, IRCC instructs applicants to list all of their children, even if the children are already permanent residents or Canadian citizens. This includes:
In practice, whether a child is accompanying you to Canada and whether that child must be declared are separate questions.
If your family circumstances are unusual or require additional context, a letter of explanation may help clarify the information you have provided. However, a letter of explanation should not be treated as a substitute for information or documents IRCC requires.
Section C asks you to provide information about your siblings. IRCC’s current instructions specifically include:
This means you should not interpret “siblings” as referring only to full biological brothers and sisters.
Review your family circumstances carefully before completing this section, particularly if you have half-siblings or step-siblings who do not live with you or with whom you have limited contact.
Avoid simply leaving sections blank because you believe they are irrelevant.
For the PDF version, IRCC instructs applicants to answer all questions and use “N/A” when a section does not apply. For the digital version, the instructions say to enter “Not Applicable.”
Doing this makes it clear that you considered the question and determined that it does not apply, rather than accidentally overlooking it.
The information you provide should be accurate and consistent with the rest of your immigration application.
Depending on the program, you may need to complete other forms alongside IMM 5406, including IMM 5669 and IMM 5562. Current IRCC application packages show that these forms can be required together for some permanent residence pathways.
The questions on these forms are not identical, but overlapping details should not contradict each other without an explanation. Pay particular attention to:
Before submitting your application, compare your answers across the relevant forms. Our guide to the documents needed for a Canadian visa can also help you think more broadly about preparing your application documents.
Family circumstances can change while an immigration application is being processed. You might get married, enter or leave a common-law relationship, have a child or experience another change that affects information previously provided to IRCC.
If something changes, check the instructions for your immigration program to determine how you should update IRCC. Do not assume that information submitted at the beginning of the process can simply remain unchanged when your circumstances have materially changed.
IRCC may also contact you for updated information or supporting evidence during processing. If this happens, our guide to an IRCC Additional Document Request explains what such a request means and what to consider when responding.
IMM 5406 may be required in family-class permanent residence applications, but completing the form is only one part of the overall application process. Family sponsorship applications can require additional forms and evidence relating to the sponsor, principal applicant, dependants and the family relationship involved.
If you are applying through a family pathway, Family Sponsorship in Canada: Bringing Loved Ones provides a broader overview of how family sponsorship works and the requirements applicants may encounter.
Family information is only one part of the documentation IRCC may assess. Applicants using an economic immigration pathway may also need evidence relating to their employment history, depending on the program and the work experience they are claiming.
One common type of supporting evidence is an employment reference letter. It can help document details of your work experience when employment evidence is required as part of an immigration application.
Leaving out non-accompanying family members: Do not assume someone can be omitted simply because they are not immigrating with you. Follow the categories and instructions on the form.
Forgetting stepchildren or adopted children: IRCC’s instructions cover more than biological children.
Forgetting half-siblings or step-siblings: Both are specifically included in Section C.
Leaving questions blank: Use the appropriate “N/A” or “Not Applicable” response when instructed rather than simply skipping a question.
Providing inconsistent details: Check names, dates, marital status and family relationships against the rest of your application.
Using the wrong version of the form: IRCC currently provides both a digital version and a PDF version. Follow your program’s instructions to determine which one applies to you.
IMM 5406 is IRCC’s Additional Family Information form. It collects information about the applicant and specified family members, including parents, children and siblings, for permanent residence applications where the form is required.
For the PDF version, yes. IRCC states that the principal applicant’s spouse or common-law partner must complete the form whether they are accompanying the applicant to Canada or not. For digital applications, follow the instructions for your specific immigration program.
For the PDF form, IRCC instructs applicants to list all their children, including children who may not be accompanying them to Canada. Children who are already permanent residents or Canadian citizens must also be listed.
Yes. Section C specifically asks for information about brothers, sisters, half-brothers, half-sisters, step-brothers and step-sisters.
IRCC instructs applicants to answer all questions. For the PDF version, enter “N/A” where a section does not apply. For the digital version, the instructions use “Not Applicable.”
IMM 5406 is an important part of many Canadian permanent residence applications because it gives IRCC a clear record of your family information. Make sure you include all family members required by the form, even when they are not accompanying you to Canada, and check that the details are consistent with the rest of your application.
Before submitting, review the form carefully and follow the instructions for your specific immigration program and application format. Since IRCC forms and procedures can change, always check the latest instructions on the official Government of Canada website.
If you need support preparing your Canadian immigration application or making sure your supporting information is complete, book a consultation with Canada GMC.
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