Important notices

• Copyright/permission to reproduce
• Non-commercial reproduction
• Reproduction of Government symbols
• Commercial reproduction
• Third-party materials
• Disclaimer
• Government of Canada privacy statement
• Official languages
• Official websites

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Copyright/permission to reproduce

Materials on this website were produced and/or compiled by Citizenship and Immigration Canada for the purpose of providing Canadians with direct access to information about the programs and services offered by the Government of Canada.

The material on this site is covered by the provisions of the Copyright Act, by Canadian laws, policies, regulations and international agreements. Such provisions serve to identify the information source and, in specific instances, to prohibit reproduction of materials without written permission.

Non-commercial reproduction

Information on this site has been posted with the intent that it be readily available for personal and public non-commercial use and may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. We ask only that:

• Users exercise due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of the materials reproduced;
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada be identified as the source department; and,
• The reproduction is not represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made, in affiliation with or with the endorsement of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Reproduction of Government symbols

The official symbols of the Government of Canada, including the “Canada” wordmark, the Arms of Canada, and the flag symbol may not be reproduced, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes, without written authorization. Request for authorization from the Treasury Board Secretariat may be addressed to:

information@fip-pcim.gc.ca
Federal Identity Program
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
300 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada  K1A 0R5

Commercial reproduction

Reproduction of multiple copies of materials on this site, in whole or in part, for the purposes of commercial redistribution is prohibited except with written permission from the Government of Canada’s copyright administrator, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). Through the permission-granting process, PWGSC helps to ensure that individuals / organizations wishing to reproduce Government of Canada materials for commercial purposes have access to the most accurate, up-to-date versions. To obtain permission to reproduce materials on this site for commercial purposes, please go to PWGSC’s “Applying for Copyright Clearance on Government of Canada Works” page.

Public Works and Government Services Canada
Publishing and Depository Services
350 Albert Street, 4th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada  K1A 0S5
copyright.droitdauteur@pwgsc.gc.ca

Third-party materials

Some of the materials and graphical elements found on Government of Canada websites are subject to copyrights held by other organizations. This is particularly true of sites that are jointly operated by a Government of Canada institution and an external organization as part of a collaborative arrangement. In such cases, some restrictions on the reproduction of materials or graphical elements may apply and it may be necessary to seek permission from the rights holder prior to reproducing the material.

To obtain information concerning copyright ownership and restrictions on reproduction on this site, please contact:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Communications Branch
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada  K1A 1L1

Disclaimer

Some of the information in this website has been provided by external sources. Citizenship and Immigration Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability or currency of the information provided by external sources. Users wishing to rely upon this information should consult directly with the source of the information.

Government of Canada privacy statement

The Government of Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada are committed to providing websites that respect the privacy of visitors to the sites. This document summarizes the privacy policy and practices for Citizenship and Immigration Canada websites.

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada websites do not automatically gather any specific personal information from you, such as your name, telephone number or e-mail address. We would only obtain this type of information if you supplied it by sending us an e-mail or registering in a secure portion of the site.
• All personal information created, held or collected by this department is protected under the federal Privacy Act. This means that at any point of collection, you will be asked for your consent to collect the information, and you will be informed of the purpose for which it is being collected and how to exercise your right of access to that information.
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada uses software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. This software receives and records the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer that has contacted our website, the date and time of the visit and the pages visited. We make no attempt to link these addresses with the identity of individuals visiting our site unless an attempt to damage the site has been detected.
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not normally use “cookies” to track how our visitors use this site or to determine sites previously visited. The system will notify you before any cookies are used so that you may refuse them. (A “cookie” is a file that may be placed on your hard drive by a website without your knowledge to allow it to monitor your use of the site.)
• Information on individual visitors is used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada employees who need to know the information in order to respond to your request or to ensure the security of the system. We only share the information you give us with other government departments if your inquiry relates to those departments. We do not use the information to create individual profiles, nor do we disclose the information to anyone outside the federal government.

Questions or comments regarding this policy, or the administration of the Privacy Act at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, may be directed to the Privacy Coordinator as follows:

Heather Primeau
Public Rights Administration
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
360 Laurier Avenue West, 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada  K1A 1L1

If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at 1 800 282-1376 or through the Internet at www.privcom.gc.ca.

Official languages

Citizenship and Immigration Canada respects the Official Languages Act and relevant Treasury Board policies, and is committed to ensuring all information on this site is available in both French and English. However, users should be aware that some information from external sources is available only in the language in which it was provided.

Official websites

This website (www.cic.gc.ca) is the official website of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. On this site, you will find the official procedures and kits necessary for applying for citizenship and immigration services and visas. Supported by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Canadian missions and visa offices located outside of Canada operate websites that provide region-specific information on immigration and citizenship matters.

Impostor websites are attempting to mislead members of the public into thinking that they are official sites of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT). These websites may attempt to charge you for services that are otherwise free on the CIC website or through the official websites of the Canadian missions and visa offices abroad. They may also try to charge you for services that you may never receive, or request that you pay their fees in cash by mail or by making deposits to personal bank accounts. These methods are contrary to the official procedures for the payment of CIC services. Sending any personal or biographical information to impostor or non-official websites could also result in identity theft or fraud.

Applications for visas to Canada (also available on Canadian mission and visa office websites) must be submitted to Canadian missions or visa offices.

For services provided in Canada, check CIC’s Online Services for the appropriate procedures for payment. For services offered outside of Canada, the procedures for payment will be provided by the Canadian mission where you apply.

Websites operated by accredited immigration representatives provide legitimate and useful immigration information and services. However, regardless of the content of any other websites, CIC does not endorse, recommend or sponsor any information or material posted at such sites.

If you have any questions on how to apply officially for CIC services from within Canada, please call the CIC Call Centre at 1 888 242-2100. From outside Canada, check with your nearest Canadian mission or visa office.