Refusal code decoder
What the codes and phrases in your refusal letter or officer's notes mean, in plain English, with the law quoted for each code.
Short answer
The code on a refusal letter points to a section of Canadian immigration law: “R” for the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, “A” for the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This decoder explains each code in plain English and quotes the law for it word for word.
General information, not individual immigration advice. Every file turns on its own facts.
Leaving Canada
Genuineness
Inadmissibility
No code or short form matches that.
Codes are written in several ways. Try only the number, such as 179 or 216, or one word from the sentence in your letter.
Still not here? Send us just the code or the sentence, with no names, numbers or documents, and we will try to add it to this page.
Ask on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp)Short forms in officers' notes
- PAPrincipal Applicant — the main person on the application
- FNForeign National — you, in officer language
- TRVTemporary Resident Visa — the visitor visa sticker in your passport
- DLIDesignated Learning Institution — a school approved to host international students
- LOALetter of Acceptance — your admission letter from the school
- POFProof of Funds — evidence you can pay for the trip or course
- SOPStatement of Purpose — your study plan letter
- LOELetter of Explanation — a letter addressing anything unusual in your file
- PFLProcedural Fairness Letter — a warning letter before a negative decision
- LMIALabour Market Impact Assessment — employer approval to hire from abroad
- SOWPSpousal Open Work Permit
- PGWPPost-Graduation Work Permit
- GICGuaranteed Investment Certificate — a common way to show study funds
- UCIUnique Client Identifier — your permanent IRCC ID number
- H&CHumanitarian and Compassionate grounds
- CoPRConfirmation of Permanent Residence
- PAL / TALProvincial or Territorial Attestation Letter — required for most new study permit applications since 2024. Since 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral applicants at public institutions are exempt (Quebec's own requirements still apply)
- ATIPAccess to Information and Privacy — the IRCC office that handles records requests. Your own records are requested under the Privacy Act, which is free
- IRCCImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- CBSACanada Border Services Agency
General information, not individual immigration advice. For each code, we quote the law word for word and link to it on the Government of Canada's Justice Laws website, so you can check it yourself. Reasons from the refusal letter itself are described in plain words. The PFL page quotes IRCC's instructions to its staff, on canada.ca. For a misrepresentation finding (A40), or anything that affects future applications, speak to a Canadian immigration lawyer or a licensed Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC).
