How to make a request under the Privacy Act
CIC is receiving more requests than usual and is working to respond to them as quickly as possible.
A request for personal information held by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) should be made to CIC under the Privacy Act.
There are no fees involved with the processing of a request under the Privacy Act.
To send a request you must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or an individual or corporation currently in Canada.
Note: Personal information which belongs to an individual who is not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or currently living in Canada must be requested under the Access to Information Act.
If you are making a request on behalf of someone else, you must include the Consent for an Access to Information and Personal Information Request (IMM 5744) form. Include this form for each individual listed on your file who is over the age of 18.
Apply by mail
To submit a request by mail, send in one of the following:
- CIC's Access to Information and Personal Information Request Form (IMM 5563);
- Treasury Board Secretariat's Access to Information Request Form (TBC/CTC 350-57); or
- A letter indicating that the request is made in accordance with the Access to Information Act.
Note: CIC holds Canadian passport applications, Canadian travel documents (for stateless and protected persons in Canada) or passport investigation files prior to 2002. For these types of requests, you must provide a document to support your identity.
If you wish to obtain passport information in 2002 to date, you must submit your request to Employment and Social Development Canada.
Mail your fully completed request form with the supporting documents to the following address:
Access to Information and Privacy Division
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Top questions about Access to Information and Privacy requests
- What information is available under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act?
- Can I get personal information about someone else?
- Can I get personal information about someone who is deceased?
- How can I get information on an individual who arrived in Canada before 1936?
- How long does the Department have to respond?
- See all questions about this topic