Each family member needs their own Canadian visa application
On This Page You Will Find:
- Definitive answer on whether families can submit joint visa applications
- Step-by-step breakdown of individual application requirements for each family member
- Money-saving submission strategies that keep families together in processing
- Special rules protecting children under 18 in the application process
- Critical 2026 policy changes affecting family immigration to Canada
- Alternative visa options when traditional family sponsorship isn't available
Summary:
If you're planning a family trip to Canada, you might assume one visa application covers everyone. Here's the reality: each family member needs their own complete Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257), regardless of age or travel plans. However, families can streamline the process by submitting all applications together with a single payment, potentially saving time and reducing processing delays. With major changes to family immigration policies in 2026, understanding these requirements has become more crucial than ever for families seeking to visit or reunite in Canada.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Every family member must complete their own individual visa application (IMM 5257)
- Parents can fill out and sign applications for children under 18 years old
- All family applications can be submitted together in one envelope with combined payment
- Adults 18+ must also complete the Family Information form (IMM 5645)
- The Parents and Grandparents Program stopped accepting new applications in January 2026
Maria Santos stared at the stack of immigration forms covering her kitchen table, each one seemingly identical to the last. With her husband, two teenage children, and elderly parents all planning to visit her sister in Toronto, she'd assumed one family application would cover everyone. "Surely they don't expect us to fill out six separate applications?" she wondered, feeling overwhelmed by the paperwork ahead.
If you've found yourself in Maria's situation, you're not alone. Thousands of families each year discover that Canada's immigration system requires individual applications for every person, even when traveling together as a family unit.
Individual Applications: The Non-Negotiable Rule
The answer is crystal clear: you cannot submit one visa application for your entire family. Each person traveling to Canada must complete and sign their own Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257), along with any additional required forms.
This requirement exists regardless of your family's circumstances. Whether you're traveling with your spouse, children, parents, or extended family members, immigration officials need individual information for each person entering the country.
What This Means for Your Family
Every family member's application must include:
- Complete personal information and travel history
- Individual photographs meeting specific requirements
- Separate supporting documents (though some can be shared)
- Personal signatures (with special rules for minors)
The individual application requirement serves important security and processing purposes. Immigration officers need to assess each person's admissibility, background, and reasons for visiting Canada independently.
Age-Specific Requirements You Need to Know
Adults 18 and Over
If you're 18 or older, you'll need to complete two main forms:
- Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257)
- Family Information form (IMM 5645)
The Family Information form requires detailed information about your immediate family members, including parents, spouse, and children, regardless of whether they're traveling with you.
Children Under 18: Special Protections
Parents or legal guardians can assist children with their applications, but each child still needs their own completed forms. Here's what you need to know:
Parent Responsibilities:
- You can fill out your child's forms on their behalf
- You must sign all forms for children under 18
- You're responsible for ensuring accuracy of all information
- Children cannot sign their own applications, even if they're 16 or 17
This system protects minors while recognizing that parents are best positioned to provide accurate information about their children's circumstances.
Smart Submission Strategies for Families
While individual applications are mandatory, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers conveniences that can save you time and money:
Combined Submission Benefits
Single Envelope Submission: You can place all family member applications in one envelope, making tracking easier and reducing the risk of separated applications.
One Payment Receipt: Instead of multiple payment transactions, you can calculate the total fees for all applications and submit one payment receipt. This simplifies your financial records and reduces processing complexity.
Coordinated Processing: When applications are submitted together, immigration officers often process them simultaneously, which can lead to coordinated decision timelines for your family.
Fee Calculation Example
For a family of four (two adults, two children under 18):
- Adult visa applications: $100 × 2 = $200
- Child visa applications: $100 × 2 = $200
- Biometrics fees (if required): $85 per person
- Total combined payment: $570 (plus biometrics if applicable)
Critical 2026 Policy Changes Affecting Families
The immigration landscape shifted dramatically in 2026, with changes that directly impact family applications and long-term planning.
Parents and Grandparents Program Suspension
As of January 1, 2026, IRCC stopped accepting new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). This affects families who were planning to sponsor elderly relatives for permanent residence.
What This Means:
- No new PGP applications are being processed
- Existing applications submitted before January 1, 2026, continue processing
- Families need alternative strategies for long-term visits
Super Visa Remains Available
Despite PGP changes, the Super Visa program continues operating at full capacity, offering families a viable alternative for extended visits.
Super Visa Advantages:
- Allows stays up to 5 years without renewal
- Multiple entry permissions for up to 10 years
- Both parents can apply together
- Some insurance providers offer couple discounts
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
Documentation Errors
Inconsistent Information: Ensure family members provide consistent information about shared details like home addresses, travel dates, and family relationships. Discrepancies can trigger additional scrutiny.
Missing Signatures: Every application requires proper signatures. Adults must sign their own forms, while parents must sign for all children under 18.
Payment Problems
Incorrect Fee Calculations: Double-check current fee schedules, as rates change periodically. Underpayment can result in returned applications and processing delays.
Separate Payments When Combined is Better: Many families unnecessarily complicate their submissions by making individual payments instead of one combined payment.
Alternative Options for Extended Family Visits
With traditional family sponsorship programs facing restrictions, consider these alternatives:
Visitor Visa Extensions
Families already in Canada on visitor status can apply for extensions, allowing longer stays without leaving the country. This option works well for grandparents wanting extended time with grandchildren.
Business or Investment Visas
Family members with business interests or investment capabilities might qualify for different visa categories that offer longer-term presence in Canada.
Processing Timeline Expectations
Individual applications don't necessarily mean longer processing times. In fact, complete family submissions often process more efficiently than staggered individual submissions.
Typical Processing Times:
- Visitor visas from most countries: 2-4 weeks
- Countries requiring additional security screening: 6-12 weeks
- Peak season applications (summer months): Add 1-2 weeks
Factors Affecting Speed:
- Completeness of applications
- Country of origin
- Time of year submitted
- Whether biometrics are required
Your Next Steps for Success
Understanding that each family member needs individual applications is just the beginning. Here's your action plan:
Immediate Actions:
- Count total family members traveling
- Calculate combined application fees
- Gather individual documents for each person
- Determine who needs Family Information forms (adults 18+)
Application Preparation:
- Create a checklist for each family member
- Organize shared documents (like financial support evidence)
- Schedule biometrics appointments if required
- Prepare one envelope for combined submission
The individual application requirement might seem burdensome initially, but it ensures thorough processing and protects each family member's interests. With proper planning and understanding of the combined submission benefits, families can navigate this process efficiently while maximizing their chances of approval.
Remember, immigration policies continue evolving, especially regarding family reunification programs. Stay informed about current requirements and consider consulting with immigration professionals for complex family situations or when dealing with the impacts of recent policy changes.
FAQ
Q: Do I really need to submit separate visa applications for each family member, or can I include everyone on one application?
Yes, every single family member traveling to Canada must have their own individual Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM 5257), regardless of age or family relationship. This is a non-negotiable requirement that applies to spouses, children, parents, and extended family members. However, you can make the process more efficient by submitting all applications together in one envelope with a single combined payment. For example, a family of four would need four separate IMM 5257 forms, but you can calculate the total fees ($400 for four applications) and submit one payment receipt. This approach often leads to coordinated processing times and reduces the risk of applications being separated during processing.
Q: What are the specific requirements for children under 18 when applying for Canadian visitor visas?
Children under 18 have special protections in the Canadian visa application process. While each child needs their own complete IMM 5257 form, parents or legal guardians must fill out and sign all forms on behalf of minors - children cannot sign their own applications even if they're 16 or 17. Parents are responsible for ensuring all information is accurate and complete. Unlike adults, children under 18 are not required to complete the Family Information form (IMM 5645). The application must include the child's individual photographs meeting Canadian specifications, and parents should provide supporting documents proving their relationship to the child, such as birth certificates. This system protects minors while recognizing parents' authority to make immigration decisions for their children.
Q: How have the 2026 policy changes affected family immigration options to Canada?
The most significant change occurred on January 1, 2026, when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stopped accepting new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). This means families can no longer sponsor elderly relatives for permanent residence through this popular program, though applications submitted before January 1, 2026, continue processing. However, the Super Visa program remains fully operational and offers an excellent alternative for extended family visits. Super Visas allow parents and grandparents to stay for up to 5 years without renewal and provide multiple-entry permissions for up to 10 years. Some insurance providers even offer couple discounts for parents applying together. Families planning long-term reunification now need to explore alternative pathways like visitor visa extensions or other immigration categories.
Q: What documents and fees should I expect when submitting multiple family applications together?
When submitting family applications together, adults 18 and over need both the IMM 5257 visa application and IMM 5645 Family Information form, while children under 18 only need the IMM 5257. Each person requires individual photographs meeting Canadian specifications. For fees, current rates are $100 per person for visitor visa applications, plus $85 per person for biometrics if required. A family of four would pay $400 in application fees plus $340 in biometrics fees if applicable. You can submit one combined payment receipt covering all family members rather than separate transactions. Supporting documents like financial statements or invitation letters can often be shared among family members, but each person needs individual proof of ties to their home country and travel history documentation.
Q: How long does it typically take to process multiple family visa applications, and can they be processed together?
Family applications submitted together are often processed simultaneously, which can actually be more efficient than staggered individual submissions. Typical processing times range from 2-4 weeks for most countries, though applications from countries requiring additional security screening may take 6-12 weeks. Peak season submissions during summer months typically add 1-2 weeks to processing times. The key factors affecting processing speed include completeness of all applications, country of origin, submission timing, and whether biometrics are required. When families submit applications in one envelope with coordinated documentation, immigration officers can review them as a unit, often resulting in coordinated decision timelines. This means your entire family typically receives visa decisions around the same time, making travel planning much easier.
Q: What are the most common mistakes families make when submitting multiple visa applications?
The most frequent errors include providing inconsistent information across family member applications, particularly regarding shared details like home addresses, travel dates, and family relationships - discrepancies can trigger additional scrutiny and delays. Signature mistakes are also common, with adults sometimes signing children's forms incorrectly or children attempting to sign their own applications when parents should sign for anyone under 18. Payment errors frequently occur when families miscalculate total fees or submit separate payments instead of one combined payment, unnecessarily complicating the process. Missing or incomplete Family Information forms (IMM 5645) for adults 18+ cause significant delays. Finally, many families submit applications separately instead of together, missing the benefits of coordinated processing and increasing the risk of different decision timelines that could complicate travel planning.
Q: Are there alternative visa options for families who don't qualify for traditional visitor visas or family sponsorship programs?
With the Parents and Grandparents Program suspended since 2026, families have several alternative pathways to explore. Visitor visa extensions allow family members already in Canada to extend their stays up to six months at a time without leaving the country, which works particularly well for grandparents wanting extended time with grandchildren. The Super Visa remains the best long-term option for parents and grandparents, offering stays up to 5 years with 10-year validity. Family members with business interests might qualify for business visitor visas or investor categories that provide different pathways to Canada. Some provinces offer Provincial Nominee Programs with family-friendly streams. Additionally, families can explore study permits for younger relatives or work permits for skilled family members, which can provide stepping stones to permanent residence. Each situation requires individual assessment, and consulting with immigration professionals can help identify the best strategy for complex family circumstances.
