IMM 0008: Generic Application Form for Canada
Form IMM 0008 is the principal applicant’s main form for most applications to immigrate to Canada. Download the official IRCC PDF below and open it in Adobe Reader to complete it.
This is the genuine IRCC PDF, unmodified. Source: IRCC official page.
What is IMM 0008?
The Generic Application Form for Canada, IMM 0008, is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is the core form the principal applicant completes in most permanent residence streams, and it is included in the application packages for programs such as Express Entry, family sponsorship and provincial nominees. It gathers personal details, contact and passport information, national identity documents, education, occupation and the details of the application being made.
IMM 0008 is a dynamic PDF built with Adobe XFA technology. It will not display in a web browser or the macOS Preview app, so it cannot be filled in the browser here and appears blank until you open it in the right software. Download it and open it in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to complete it. When you finish, you use the Validate button in Reader to lock the form and generate the 2D barcode pages that IRCC requires.
Who files IMM 0008?
- Principal applicants applying for Canadian permanent residence
- Express Entry applicants completing their application for permanent residence
- People being sponsored under the family class as the principal applicant
- Provincial nominee applicants submitting their permanent residence forms
How to fill out IMM 0008
- Download the form and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader, because this dynamic PDF will not display in a browser or preview app.
- Complete the identification and contact sections with your name, date of birth and current address exactly as they appear on your documents.
- Enter your passport and national identity details, then your education, occupation and the immigration program you are applying under.
- List the dependants included in the application and answer the background questions honestly and in full.
- Click Validate in Adobe Reader to generate the barcode pages, then submit IMM 0008 to IRCC as part of your complete application package, through your online account where that channel applies.
Get IMM 0008
This is a dynamic PDF from IRCC: it only fills in correctly in Adobe Acrobat Reader, so there is no in-browser fill here. Download the genuine IMM 0008 below and open it in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to complete and save it.
Download the official IMM 0008 PDFFrequently asked questions
Why does IMM 0008 open as a blank page?
It is a dynamic XFA form. Web browsers and the macOS Preview app cannot render it, so it looks blank. Save the file and open it in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, and the fields will appear.
What is the Validate button for?
After you finish, clicking Validate in Adobe Reader checks the form and generates the 2D barcode pages. IRCC uses those barcodes to read your data, so the form must be validated before you submit it.
Is IMM 0008 the only form I need?
No. It is the main form, but most applications also require schedules and supporting forms such as additional family information and, where used, a representative form. Follow the document checklist for your specific program.