Reason 43 of 50 · Forms, documents and procedural compliance
Classified asIRPR 179(c) / documentation
The passport/travel document is expired, has insufficient validity, is not acceptable for the purpose, or the submitted copy does not include the required identity and visa/stamp pages.
IRPR 179 requires an acceptable passport or other document that can be used to enter the issuing country or another country. IRCC currently recommends a passport/travel document valid for at least six months from the planned travel date for visitor-visa applications.
Validity, identity page, damaged pages, name consistency, prior visas/stamps and whether the document is accepted by Canada.
The same situation, presented two ways. The right-hand column is what a reapplication needs to look like.
Renew before applying where appropriate; provide clear colour copies of the required pages; explain legal name differences with supporting documents.
Applying with a passport about to expire while expecting a long-validity visa; cropped identity page; omitting old passport with relevant travel history.
Even if the visa could technically be issued, passport validity may limit the usefulness/validity of the visa and should be planned carefully.
You cannot fix a reason you have not read. Your GCMS notes contain the officer's own words about your file, and requesting them is free — we publish every step.
[S1], [S4]. This page is general information, not legal advice.The passport/travel document is expired, has insufficient validity, is not acceptable for the purpose, or the submitted copy does not include the required identity and visa/stamp pages.
IRPR 179 requires an acceptable passport or other document that can be used to enter the issuing country or another country. IRCC currently recommends a passport/travel document valid for at least six months from the planned travel date for visitor-visa applications.
Validity, identity page, damaged pages, name consistency, prior visas/stamps and whether the document is accepted by Canada.
Renew before applying where appropriate; provide clear colour copies of the required pages; explain legal name differences with supporting documents.
Applying with a passport about to expire while expecting a long-validity visa; cropped identity page; omitting old passport with relevant travel history.
No. IRCC states that refiling the same information will likely not change the decision. A reapplication has to answer the specific concern the officer recorded — which is why you should read your GCMS notes first and find out exactly what that concern was.
Most refusals cite more than one concern, and only one of them is usually decisive. Your GCMS notes say which. Get them free, or send them to us and we will tell you exactly what to fix.