Purpose, itinerary and trip credibility
Relationship with the Canadian host is not adequately established
Not a statutory bar. It affects whether the officer is satisfied, and better evidence can change that.
What this means
The application relies on visiting a relative, spouse, partner or close friend, but provides little evidence that the claimed relationship exists or has the stated nature.
Why it matters to the officer
Where the relationship is central to the purpose, the officer may need enough evidence to understand why this visit is plausible and why the host is providing accommodation or funding.
What the officer compares
Civil-status records, family linkage, communication/history where relevant, consistent names/dates, and the host’s Canadian status and address.
How to strengthen a new application
Use official relationship documents where available. For non-family relationships, explain the history clearly and use proportionate supporting evidence rather than overwhelming the file with screenshots.
Common mistakes
Assuming a host’s Canadian passport alone proves the relationship; missing name-change documents; contradictory family information.
- Assuming a host’s Canadian passport alone proves the relationship
- missing name-change documents
- contradictory family information
Illustrative exampleTwo people share a surname but the file never shows how they are related. A short family tree plus birth/marriage records can make the connection clear.
Before you apply again
IRCC now sends the officer’s decision note with most temporary-resident refusals since 29 July 2025, so check what came with your refusal first. The decision note or GCMS notes guide explains the difference, and the decoder explains the codes in them.
Scope noteIRCC does not publish an official ranked list of refusal reasons. This is a research-based classification of the legal grounds and evidence weaknesses that recur in real refusals. A weak itinerary or a new job is not itself a statutory ground — it affects whether the officer is satisfied under IRPR 179(b). This page is general information, not legal advice.
Where this comes from
Drawn from the Government of Canada’s published law and guidance. Check us against these pages:
Questions about this refusal
Not sure this is why you were refused?
Check first whether IRCC sent you the officer’s decision note with the refusal. For the fuller record, we can request your GCMS notes for you, or you can request them yourself, free, subject to what IRCC withholds.
Have us request them for youDo it yourself or let us do it?
