IMM 5257 — Application for Temporary Resident Visa

What this form is for

Apply for a temporary resident (visitor) visa: identity, passport, purpose and length of stay, family and employment situation, background.

Documents to have ready

• The documents listed in your program's document checklist
• Certified translations of documents that are neither in English nor French, where required

Where to send it

Most applications are now made online through the IRCC portal, where this form is uploaded with your other documents. Follow your program's instruction guide.

Our tips

• Open the form with Adobe Acrobat Reader: browsers and most viewers can't display it properly.
• Use the form's “Validate” button before saving: it generates the barcodes read by IRCC.
• Prepare your answers in advance (dates, addresses, history): that's where most mistakes happen.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I fill this form directly here?

IRCC forms are dynamic (XFA) forms whose answers are encoded in barcodes. Filling them with another tool can invalidate them. We help you prepare your answers; the form itself is completed in Adobe Acrobat Reader or on the IRCC portal.