IMM 5406 additional family information form — line-by-line walkthrough 2026
IMM 5406 is the form IRCC uses to map your family tree — spouse, children, parents, siblings — whether or not any of them are coming to Canada with you. It's mandatory in most family sponsorship applications, Express Entry permanent residence cases, and many Provincial Nominee Program streams. The form looks simple: two pages, mostly fill-in-the-blank fields. But it's one of the most common reasons applications get returned. Applicants misunderstand who needs to sign it, which relatives to include, and how to handle deceased or unknown family members.
This walkthrough covers every section of the 2026 version: what to write, who signs, and the traps that delay processing.
What IMM 5406 is and when IRCC requires it
IMM 5406 — Additional Family Information — asks for details about your immediate and extended family: full names, dates of birth, places of birth, current addresses, and relationship to you. IRCC uses it to verify identity, cross-check information across applications (especially when multiple family members apply separately), and assess admissibility.
You'll need IMM 5406 if you're applying for permanent residence through any of these streams:
Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades)
Provincial Nominee Programs
Quebec Skilled Worker and other Quebec immigration streams
Humanitarian and compassionate applications
Refugee and protected-person applications
Some work permit and study permit applications also require it, particularly when you're applying with dependents or when the officer needs to verify family ties.
The form is mandatory even if your family members are not immigrating with you. IRCC wants a complete picture of your family structure regardless of who's included in the current application.
Who needs to fill out IMM 5406
Three groups of people need to complete and sign separate IMM 5406 forms: the principal applicant (you, if you're the one being sponsored or applying for PR), your spouse or common-law partner if you have one (even if they're not immigrating), and your dependent children aged 18 and over. Each child fills out their own form.
Children under 18 do not complete their own IMM 5406. You list them on your form in Section B, but they don't sign anything.
The signature trap: if your spouse or adult child is included in your application, their unsigned IMM 5406 is a common reason for returned packages. IRCC will not accept a family sponsorship application if the spouse's form is missing or unsigned, even if the spouse is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and not applying for anything themselves.
If you're being sponsored by a spouse or parent under spousal sponsorship, you (the sponsored person) are the principal applicant. Your sponsor does not fill out IMM 5406 — only you and your dependents do.
Section A: applicant information
Section A collects your basic biographical details. Every field must match your passport and other identity documents exactly. IRCC cross-references this information across your entire application package.
Family name / Surname is your last name as it appears on your passport. If you have no family name (common in some cultures), write your given name here and leave the "Given name(s)" field blank, or write "FNU" (First Name Unknown) in the given-name field if that's how your passport reads.
Given name(s) / First name means all your given names, in the order they appear on your passport. Middle names go here too.
Other names used covers any previous names, maiden names, aliases, or names you've used on official documents. If you changed your name after marriage or divorce, list the old name here. If you've never used another name, write "N/A" or leave it blank. The form instructions say to leave it blank, but some officers prefer "N/A" to confirm you didn't just skip the field.
UCI / Client ID is your Unique Client Identifier, an 8- or 10-digit number IRCC assigns if you've had previous applications or correspondence. If this is your first interaction with IRCC, leave it blank. If you have a UCI from an old study permit, work permit, or visitor visa, use that number.
Application number should be left blank when you submit your initial application. IRCC will assign an application number after they receive your package. If you're submitting documents later in the process, you'd fill this in then.
Date of birth uses YYYY-MM-DD format. Must match your passport.
Place of birth means city and country. Use the current name of the country, even if it was different when you were born. Write "Ukraine" even if you were born in the Soviet Union.
Citizenship / Nationality is your current citizenship(s). If you hold dual citizenship, list both. If you're stateless, write "Stateless."
Marital status options: married, common-law, widowed, divorced, separated, single (never married), annulled. "Common-law" means you've lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 consecutive months. If you're separated but not legally divorced, choose "separated."
Present address is your current residential address. If you're living temporarily somewhere (staying with family while you prepare to immigrate), use that address. IRCC will mail correspondence here unless you specify a different mailing address elsewhere in your application.
Section B: family members
This section causes the most confusion. You must list all of the following family members, whether or not they're immigrating with you, whether or not they're alive, and whether or not you're in contact with them: spouse or common-law partner (current or former), mother, father, all children (biological, adopted, step-children), and all brothers and sisters (full siblings, half-siblings, step-siblings).
For each person, provide their full name (family name and given names, as they appear or appeared on that person's identity documents — if you don't know their exact legal name, write what you know), relationship to you (spouse, mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister — be specific, though if it's a half-sibling you can write "half-brother" or "half-sister," or just "brother" or "sister"), date of birth in YYYY-MM-DD format (if you don't know the exact date, write what you know, like "1965-00-00" if you only know the year, or "unknown" if you genuinely have no idea — do not leave it blank), country of birth (the country as it exists now, even if it was different at the time of birth), marital status (their current marital status), and present address (where they live now — if they're deceased, write "deceased" in this field and note the date of death if you know it; if you've lost contact and don't know where they live, write "unknown," not a blank field).
Handling deceased, unknown, or estranged relatives
Deceased family members still get listed. Write "deceased" in the address field. IRCC wants a complete family tree, and omitting a deceased parent or sibling can raise flags. Officers may think you're hiding someone.
If you genuinely don't know a parent's name, date of birth, or whereabouts (you were adopted and have no records, or a parent abandoned the family), write "unknown" in the relevant fields. Do not leave them blank. Blank fields look like you skipped the question; "unknown" signals you're providing all the information you have.
Even if you haven't spoken to a sibling or parent in 20 years, list them. IRCC doesn't care about the quality of your relationship — they want to know who your relatives are. If you don't know their current address, write "unknown."
Do you need to include step-siblings and half-siblings?
Yes. The form instructions say "brothers and sisters" without limiting it to full siblings. Include half-siblings (same mother or same father) and step-siblings (your parent's spouse's children, if you were raised together or your parent legally adopted them). If you're unsure whether someone counts, err on the side of inclusion. Listing an extra sibling won't hurt your application, but omitting one can.
What about extended family — aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents?
No. IMM 5406 only asks for parents, siblings, spouse, and children. Do not list grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws unless they fall into one of the required categories (if your spouse's parent legally adopted you, they'd be listed as a parent).
Section C: signature and date
Each person who completed an IMM 5406 must sign and date it in Section C.
The person whose information is in Section A signs. If you filled out the form for yourself, you sign it. If your spouse filled out their own IMM 5406, they sign theirs. If your 18-year-old dependent child filled out their form, they sign it.
Children under 18 do not sign. You list them on your form, but they don't complete or sign their own IMM 5406.
Sign it close to the date you submit your application. If you sign it months in advance and your family situation changes (a child is born, you get married), you'll need to update the form and re-sign it.
IRCC accepts both digital and wet signatures. If you're submitting your application online, you can use a digital signature (typed name, scanned signature image, or e-signature software). If you're mailing a paper application, sign it by hand in ink. Do not submit an unsigned form with a note that you'll sign it later — unsigned forms are an automatic return.
What if my spouse refuses to sign or is unreachable?
If your spouse is included in your application and refuses to sign their IMM 5406, your application will be returned. IRCC requires their cooperation. If you're separated or divorced and your ex-spouse is not part of your application, you still list them in Section B of your own form (as a former spouse), but they don't need to complete or sign a separate IMM 5406.
If your spouse is genuinely unreachable (you've lost contact and don't know where they are), you can submit a signed letter of explanation with your application describing the situation. IRCC may accept it, but this is case-by-case. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer if you're in this situation.
Common mistakes that delay applications
Applicants often list parents, spouse, and children, then skip the sibling section because "my brother isn't immigrating." List all siblings. Blank fields in Section B are a red flag.
If your spouse or 18+ child is part of your application, their IMM 5406 must be signed. An unsigned form is treated as incomplete.
Your name on IMM 5406 must match your passport exactly. If your passport says "John Michael Smith" and you write "John M. Smith" on the form, IRCC may ask for clarification.
IRCC updates forms periodically. The current version is dated 2023 (check the bottom of the form for the date code). Using an older version can result in a returned application. Download the latest from the IRCC forms library or directly from the IRCC IMM 5406 page.
If you don't know a parent's date of birth or a sibling's address, write "unknown," not "N/A." "N/A" implies the question doesn't apply to you; "unknown" signals you're providing all available information.
If you get married, have a child, or a family member dies between signing IMM 5406 and submitting your application, update the form and re-sign it. Outdated information can cause processing delays or even misrepresentation findings.
If you're divorced or widowed, list your ex-spouse or deceased spouse in Section B. IRCC wants a complete marital history.
Official guidance and the current IMM 5406 form are at canada.ca/immigration; this article is independent reference content for applicants navigating family sponsorship requirements.
A small portion of this article — research support, fact-cross-checking, and copy-editing — was assisted by AI tooling. Editorial decisions, source verification, and final sign-off remain with our team. We cite primary sources from canada.ca for every factual claim.
IRCC.com is an independent news site and not affiliated with the Government of Canada.
