What Documents Do I Need for an H&C Application? Evidence Checklist
Updated: 2 days ago
The short answer: An H&C application is made up of IRCC's required forms, identity and status documents, and evidence that supports each statement you make about your life in Canada. IRCC's document checklist (IMM 5280) is the starting point, but the checklist alone may not be enough. IRCC says the applicant must name the exemptions requested, explain why, and show sufficient and compelling grounds. Incomplete applications are returned. No set of documents guarantees an outcome, and the decision is made by IRCC.
This article is part of our humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) application guide.
What does IRCC require for every H&C application?
IRCC's H&C page and Guide 5291 list the core items:
Online forms IMM 0008, IMM 5669 and IMM 5406.
The IMM 5280 document checklist and the IMM 5283 supplementary information form, which are uploaded.
Form IMM 5476 if you appoint a representative.
A photo that meets IRCC's specifications, uploaded as images of the front and back. Guide 5291 sets the size and format rules.
Payment of the application fees. See IRCC's fee list for current amounts.
Always use the current IRCC guide, because forms and rules change.
What evidence supports the reasons you give?
IRCC asks you to explain why an exemption is justified. The guide names factors an officer may consider: establishment in Canada, ties to Canada, the best interests of children, health, family violence, separation from relatives and country conditions. Each statement you make should be backed by documents. Examples may include:
Establishment in Canada
Employment letters, pay records and tax documents.
Lease or home ownership records.
School, course or language-training records.
Volunteer, community and faith-group involvement.
Family and children
Birth certificates and school records for children.
Medical or therapy records, where relevant.
Evidence of care responsibilities for relatives in Canada.
Health or personal hardship
Letters from licensed health professionals.
Evidence about whether care is available or accessible in the home country.
Country conditions
Reliable, current reports that relate to your own situation, not general news.
Letters and assessments
Detailed, case-specific letters. See our guide to H&C letters of support.
A licensed psychologist's report, where relevant. It is not required. See psychological assessments for H&C.
Which documents have special rules?
Translations: Send the original and an English or French translation. IRCC says translators who are not certified in Canada need a sworn affidavit. You and close family members cannot translate documents or certify copies.
Police certificates: IRCC asks for certificates from each country (other than Canada) where you lived for six months or more in a row since age 18.
Medical exam: IRCC says you do not need one before you submit. Instructions come later, and results are valid for 12 months.
Family members: Family in Canada, such as a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, can be included. Family outside Canada cannot be included but must be declared.
Dependent children: IRCC generally means under 22 and not married or common-law. A child 22 or older counts only if dependent since before 22 because of a physical or mental condition.
Should I sort out inadmissibility first?
IRCC says issues such as criminality, health, financial grounds or misrepresentation should be resolved first where possible. Exemptions are granted only in exceptional circumstances. If you have any such concern, raise it early with a qualified representative.
How can I organize the documents?
IRCC does not require a particular system, but many applicants find these habits helpful:
Follow the order of the IMM 5280 checklist, then add a section for each reason you rely on.
Name files clearly, for example "Employment letter - 2025".
Put the original and translation together, with the translator's details.
Keep a one-page index of what each document proves.
Check dates, names and spellings across forms and documents. Differences can raise questions.
Keep a full copy of what you upload.
What happens after I submit?
Only one H&C application can be under consideration at a time. You must report changes such as marital status, a new child, convictions or a new job. IRCC's guide says applying does not stop removal. Whether a stay of removal applies in your case is a separate legal question, so if you have a removal date, speak to a lawyer or other qualified representative right away. For timing, see IRCC's processing times tool and our guide to H&C processing time.
Next steps
If you are gathering documents for an H&C application, start with the IRCC checklist and list which reason each document supports. Every H&C situation is different. E-Pathway Immigration can help you assess whether H&C considerations may be relevant, identify the evidence and questions that need attention, and understand your options. A decision remains with IRCC.
Related guides: H&C complete guide · How to apply: forms and fees · Establishment in Canada · H&C letters of support · H&C guide index · H&C application cost · First H&C consultation checklist
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources: IRCC: Humanitarian and compassionate considerations · IRCC Guide 5291 · IRCC fee list · IRPA s. 25
This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration options and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified representative for advice about your situation.
About the author
Domonic Cheung is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), licence R711344, with E-Pathway Immigration in Vancouver, BC. You can verify his licence on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) public register.
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