Question 2 of up to 4
How to check for a decision note
What to look for
What IRCC now sends
IRCC now sends the officer's decision note with most refusals: temporary-resident applications refused since 29 July 2025 (visitor visas, super and transit visas, visitor records, study and work permits and their extensions) and permanent-residence applications refused since 26 May 2026. It does not send them for eTAs, temporary resident permits or humanitarian and compassionate applications.
How to check
Go through the refusal documents IRCC sent to you or to your representative, including those in your IRCC account. Look for a note written by the officer explaining why the application was refused, separate from the standard refusal letter.
What GCMS notes look like
GCMS notes come only after someone asks IRCC for your records. They come as a PDF, usually many numbered pages. Some lines may be blacked out, with the law IRCC used printed beside them.
- IRCC: Officer decision notes (opens in a new tab)