Lost, stolen, or destroyed visas and other Canadian immigration documents

Sometimes you may lose your Canadian visas or immigration documents. What if someone steals your documents? What if they get destroyed in an incident? These are unfortunate events. However, there is hope. This article discusses lost, stolen, or destroyed visas and other Canadian immigration documents. Of course, I’ll explain how to resolve the problem.

Attention! If you are dealing with a lost or damaged TRV sticker outside Canada, read my other article on the subject.

What do I mean by lost visas or documents?

This article focuses on the following lost visas or documents:

  • certificate of departure (IMM 0056);
  • immigrant visa and record of landing (IMM 1000)/confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5292);
  • visitor record (IMM 1097 or IMM 1442);
  • work permit (IMM 1102 or IMM 1442);
  • study permit (IMM 1208 or IMM 1442);
  • a removal order:
    • exclusion order (IMM 1214);
    • deportation order (IMM 1215);
    • departure order (IMM 5238);
  • a TRP or rather a permit to come into or remain in Canada (IMM 1263); and
  • authorization to return to Canada according to sec. 52 (1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IMM 1203). (source: IRCC help centre)

Of course, IRCC may make changes to this list in the future. Moreover, our focus is on those applicants who are inside Canada.

How to reclaim the lost visas and documents?

The Verification of Status (VOS) process could assist you in retrieving the lost visas and documents in Canada. Also, if you are a protected person, you may use this process to confirm your status.

The VOS process includes the following:

  1. Fill out the Verification of Status or Replacement of an Immigration Document [IMM 5009] form.
  2. Pay the $30 processing fee.
  3. Enclose the following forms and documents in your package:
    • The signed IMM 5009
    • At least two government-issued IDs (preferably at least one Canadian Federal or Provincial ID)
    • The court documents that reflect your convictions (if applicable)
    • A copy of the receipt of the processing fee payment
    • The signed Use of a Representative form (if applicable)
    • Proof of urgency (if applicable)
    • Any other evidence that could assist officers in locating your lost visas or documents.
  4. Mail the package to Operations Support Centre (OSC) in Ottawa.

You may apply on behalf of a deceased person. However, you must include the following in the package:

  • Proof of death
  • Proof of being the lawful executor or administrator of the estate (exceptions apply if the death occurred more than 20 years ago)
  • A document showing your ID. Remember the rest of the package contains documents related to the deceased person.

Where to mail the application package

For documents less than 75 years old, you must mail the package to the following address.

Regular mail:

Verification of Status (VOS) or Replacement of an Immigration Document
Operations Support Centre (OSC)
PO Box 8784 STN T CSC
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5J3

Courier or registered mail:

Verification of Status (VOS) or Replacement of an Immigration Document
Operations Support Centre (OSC)
365 Laurier Avenue West,
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1

However, contact Canadian Genealogy Centre Library and Archives Canada for older documents. Moreover, if you landed in Newfoundland before 1949, contact The Rooms for advice.

Making changes or corrections to the documents

The instructions I presented cover lost visas or documents. Also, they cover damaged or stolen records. However, you need to follow a different procedure for making changes or corrections to your documents.

Let us help!

If you are dealing with a lost visa or document, fill out the following form. Alternatively, please book a consultation session with me. For immigration options, please consider filling out our assessment form.

    Full Name (required)

    Email (required)

    Have you entered your email address correctly?

    WhatsApp number(optional)

    Are you inadmissible to Canada?

    YesNoI don't know

    Have you received a removal order from Canada?

    Yes, DepartureYes, ExclusionYes, DeportationYes, type unknownNoI don't know

    Any other issues (select all that apply)?

    Do you believe humanitarian and compassionate grounds apply to you?

    YesNoI don't know

    Please explain the issue briefly:

    Upload a file that could help us better understand your situation - only PDF, JPG or PNG and less than 0.5MB

    Related Posts

    Special authorization and its alternatives for Canadian dual citizens

    Sep 23, 2023

    Are Canadian citizens admissible to Canada?

    Sep 17, 2023

    Foreign record suspensions and Canadian admissibility

    Sep 7, 2023

    OINP Foreign Worker Stream with an Employer Job Offer

    Sep 6, 2023

    Would you please fill out our free assessment form if you wish to visit or move to Canada? We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal immigration advice from a licensed practitioner.

    Al Parsai, LLM, MA, DTM, RCIC
    Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
    Adjunct Professor – Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
    Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
    Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada

    Fill our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in your language!

    Disclaimer:
    This article provides information of a general nature only. Considering the fluid nature of the immigration world, it may no longer be current. Of course, the item does not give legal advice. Therefore, do not rely on it as legal advice or immigration advice. Consequently, no one could hold us accountable for the content of these articles. Of course, if you have specific legal questions, you must consult a lawyer. Alternatively, if you are looking for immigration advice, book an appointment.

    The characters and places in the articles:
    All the characters and locations in the articles are fictional, unless otherwise clearly stated. Therefore, any resemblance in names, dates, and places is coincidental.

    Important Notes:
    For our official addresses, trust this website only. We currently do not have offices outside Canada. Therefore, anyone who claims to be our agent is committing fraud. Also, note that we do not issue any work permits or study permits or similar documents. The government of Canada has the sole authority to issue such material.

    Click to read the disclaimer.

    Al Parsai

    This article has been expertly crafted by Al Parsai, a distinguished Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (L3 RCIC-IRB – Unrestricted Practice) hailing from vibrant Toronto, Canada. Al's academic achievements include an esteemed role as an adjunct professor at prestigious Queen's University Law School and Ashton College, as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from York University. A respected member of CICC and CAPIC organizations, Al's insights are further enriched by his experience as the dynamic CEO of Parsai Immigration Services. Guiding thousands of applicants from over 55 countries through the immigration process since 2011, Al's articles offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge for readers.