IMM 5645: How to Fill Out the Family Information Form for Canada

IMM 5645 is the Family Information Form that each person 18 or older must complete when applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa, study permit, or work permit from outside Canada. It lists your immediate and extended family so IRCC can see your full family picture. Getting it complete and consistent matters more than most applicants expect.

What is the IMM 5645 form and who needs it

The IMM 5645 form is IRCC's Family Information Form for visitors, students, and workers. According to the official IRCC form page, it must be completed by each person 18 years of age or older who is applying for a Temporary Resident Visa, a study permit, or a work permit from outside Canada. In a household, each adult applicant submits their own copy.

The form lets an officer see your full family picture and assess your ties. In practice, officers cross-reference the names and dates you list here against your main application form (the IMM 5257 for a visitor visa, for example), and when the two disagree it raises questions that slow your file down.

How to fill out IMM 5645 section by section

IRCC's instructions for the IMM 5645 break the form into clear sections. Complete every field, and where something does not apply, write "Not applicable" or "N/A" rather than leaving it blank.

1. Section A: Your own details, plus your spouse or common-law partner (if any), your mother, and your father. For each person, give full name, relationship, date of birth, marital status, present address, and occupation, and check Yes or No to show whether they are coming with you to Canada. If you are married, the form asks you to specify whether you were physically present at the marriage.

2. Section B: Your children. List all of your children, even if they are already permanent residents or citizens of Canada. This includes married children, adopted children, step-children, any children adopted by others, and any in the custody of an ex-spouse or guardian.

3. Section C: Your brothers and sisters, including half-siblings and step-siblings.

4. Certification: Sign and date the declaration on the form to confirm the information you have given is true and complete. IRCC's instructions tell you to sign and date the declaration at the end of the relevant sections.

If a relative has died, write "deceased" under "Present address" with the city and date of death. If someone is not working, note whether they are retired, studying, and so on.

IMM 5645 vs IMM 5707: which family information form do you use

This is the question that confuses the most applicants, and it is worth answering carefully. IRCC publishes two Family Information Forms with the same title, "Family Information Form for Visitors, Students and Workers": the IMM 5645 (form last updated January 2021) and the IMM 5707 (form last updated January 2023). Both are still live on the IRCC website.

The practical difference: the IMM 5707 is the newer, fillable version with a "Validate" button and does not include a brothers-and-sisters section, while the older IMM 5645 has a separate Section C for siblings. Because IRCC's requirements vary by application, use whichever form is named in your specific application guide or document checklist, and do not swap one for the other on your own.

Filling out IRCC forms is where small errors quietly cost weeks. If you are unsure which family information form your application requires, Amir Ansari, RCIC, can review your document checklist and confirm the correct version before you submit. You can book a consultation to get it right the first time.

Why getting IMM 5645 right matters for your application

In practice, the IMM 5645 is one of the most under-estimated forms we see. Clients who come to us after a returned or delayed application often made the same mistakes: leaving a section blank instead of writing N/A, omitting a child who already lives in Canada, or forgetting an estranged or deceased relative. The form states you must answer all questions, and an incomplete form can lead IRCC to return your application or request more documents.

The other reason it matters is consistency. Because these family details are checked against your other forms, even an honest mismatch, like a different spelling of a parent's name or a date that does not line up with your visitor visa application, can draw scrutiny. The same care applies to the family information attached to your study permit or work permit application.

Frequently asked questions about IMM 5645

How do I sign the IMM 5645 form?

Sign and date the declaration on the form. IRCC's instructions direct you to sign and date the declaration at the end of the relevant sections, and each applicant 18 or older completes and signs their own IMM 5645. If you fill it out by hand, sign it by hand; if you complete it on a computer, follow the signing instructions printed on the form.

How do I list a deceased family member on IMM 5645?

Write "deceased" in the "Present address" field for that person, and add the city and the date they died. You should still list deceased parents, children, and siblings rather than leaving them off the form.

Should I write names in my native language on IMM 5645?

Enter names as they appear on the passport or travel document. The newer IMM 5707 version has a specific field for a name in your native language where applicable; on the IMM 5645, follow the form's own field labels and do not add information the form does not ask for.

Can I fill out IMM 5645 online or do I need to download it?

You download the PDF from the official IRCC IMM 5645 page and complete it on a computer using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher. IRCC notes the form may not open on tablets or phones, so use a desktop or laptop.

Is IMM 5645 the same as the additional family information form?

No. The IMM 5645 is the Family Information Form for temporary residence (visitor, study, and work permit applications). Permanent residence and sponsorship applications generally use a different additional family information form, so check your specific application guide for the form it requires.

Your family details should never be the reason an application stalls. If you want a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant to review your IMM 5645 and your full visitor, study, or work permit package before you submit, Amir Ansari, RCIC, can help. Reserve a consultation time and submit with confidence.

Related Posts

• IMM 5476: What It Is, Who Needs It, and How to Fill It Out — A plain-language walkthrough of the use of a representative form, another IRCC form clients often complete alongside their application.

• How to Show Ties to Your Home Country for Temporary Resident Visas in Canada — Why family and home-country ties matter for a visitor visa, and how to demonstrate them.

• UCI Number Canada: What It Is and Where to Find It — How to find the unique client identifier IRCC uses to track your file and forms.

This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.