Glossary
Canadian immigration terms, explained plainly.
Immigration correspondence is full of acronyms and terms of art. This glossary explains the ones people ask about most, in plain language, with a link to more detail where it exists.
These definitions are general information about Canadian immigration, not case-specific advice. Program requirements change, and this page is not a substitute for confirming details against current Government of Canada sources or speaking with a licensed representative about your own situation.
A
- A11.2(IRPA section 11.2)
- The provision requiring that a permanent residence applicant who received an invitation through a program like Express Entry must still meet the eligibility criteria both when the invitation was issued and when the final decision is made.
- ATIP(Access to Information and Privacy)
- The federal process that lets an applicant request their own immigration file, including officer notes, from IRCC or CBSA. It is often the first step in understanding why a decision was made. ATIP and GCMS notes
B
- BOWP(Bridging Open Work Permit)
- An open work permit that lets certain applicants already in the permanent residence process keep working while their application is finalized, once their existing work permit is close to expiring.
C
- CBSA(Canada Border Services Agency)
- The federal agency responsible for border enforcement, including admissibility decisions at ports of entry and immigration enforcement within Canada.
- CICC(College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants)
- The regulator that licenses and oversees Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and maintains the public register used to verify who is authorized to charge for immigration advice. Protect yourself from ghost consultants
- CIP(Classification of Instructional Programs)
- The standard coding system that assigns a six-digit code to each academic program. IRCC uses the exact CIP code recorded for a program, rather than the program title, when it applies the post-graduation work permit field of study requirement. PGWP field of study requirements
- CRS(Comprehensive Ranking System)
- The points system used to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. A higher CRS score improves the likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence. Express Entry
- CUSMA(Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement)
- A trade agreement that includes provisions allowing certain professionals and business people from member countries to obtain work permits without a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Treaty work permits
D
- DLI(Designated Learning Institution)
- A school approved by a province or territory to host international students. A study permit application must name a DLI, and only some DLIs make graduates eligible for a post-graduation work permit. Study permits
E
- ESDC(Employment and Social Development Canada)
- The federal department that assesses and issues Labour Market Impact Assessments for employers seeking to hire temporary foreign workers. LMIA for employers
- Express Entry
- The online system IRCC uses to manage applications for several economic permanent residence programs, ranking candidates by CRS score and inviting the highest-ranked to apply. Express Entry
G
- GCMS(Global Case Management System)
- The internal database IRCC and CBSA use to track and process immigration applications. GCMS notes often contain the officer's reasoning and are commonly requested through ATIP. Understanding GCMS and ATIP notes
H
- H&C(Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds)
- A discretionary application asking IRCC to grant permanent residence, or an exemption from a normal requirement, based on hardship or compassionate factors. It is considered outside the usual eligibility criteria of other programs. Humanitarian and compassionate applications
I
- IEC(International Experience Canada)
- A program that allows young people from partner countries to obtain an open or employer-specific work permit in Canada, typically through a Working Holiday, Young Professionals, or International Co-op stream. International Experience Canada guide
- IRCC(Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- The federal department responsible for most immigration, refugee protection, and citizenship programs and decisions in Canada.
L
- LMIA(Labour Market Impact Assessment)
- A document an employer typically obtains from ESDC confirming that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market. Many, though not all, work permits require one. LMIA for employers
M
- Maintained status
- A rule that lets a temporary resident who applied to extend their status before it expired keep their existing conditions while the extension is being processed, as long as they stay in Canada and meet the requirements. Maintained status in Canada
- Misrepresentation
- Providing false information, or withholding material information, that could affect an immigration decision. A finding of misrepresentation under section 40 of IRPA typically carries a five-year ban from applying again. Inadmissibility and misrepresentation
N
- NOC(National Occupational Classification)
- The government system that assigns a code and skill level to every occupation in Canada. NOC codes determine eligibility for many immigration programs, including Express Entry and various work permit categories.
O
- ODN(Official Decision Notification)
- The formal notice IRCC issues once a final decision has been made on an application, confirming whether it was approved or refused.
- Open work permit
- A work permit that is not tied to a single employer, allowing the holder to work for most employers in Canada. It contrasts with an employer-specific work permit. Work permits
P
- PAL(Provincial Attestation Letter)
- A letter from a province confirming that an international student has a place within that province's allocation, required with most study permit applications since 2024. PAL and TAL requirements
- PFL(Procedural Fairness Letter)
- A letter an officer sends when they have concerns about an application, giving the applicant a chance to respond before a final decision is made. Procedural fairness letter responses
- PGWP(Post-Graduation Work Permit)
- An open work permit available to eligible graduates of certain Canadian designated learning institutions, letting them gain Canadian work experience after completing their program. PGWP field of study requirements
- PNP(Provincial Nominee Program)
- A set of programs run by individual provinces and territories that nominate candidates for permanent residence based on that region's specific labour market and settlement needs. Provincial Nominee Programs
- PR(Permanent Resident)
- A person who has been granted the right to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely, subject to a residency obligation, but who is not a Canadian citizen.
- Procedural fairness
- The principle that a decision-maker must give an applicant a fair chance to know and respond to concerns before making a decision that could harm their interests. In practice, this is often what a procedural fairness letter provides. Procedural fairness letter responses
- PRTD(Permanent Resident Travel Document)
- A travel document a permanent resident outside Canada may need to board a flight back to Canada if they do not hold a valid PR card. PR cards, PRTDs and the residency obligation
R
- RCIC(Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant)
- A professional licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants who is authorized to charge a fee for Canadian immigration advice and representation. Protect yourself from ghost consultants
- Restoration of status
- An in-Canada application normally made within 90 days of losing temporary resident status, asking IRCC to restore that status. It does not authorize work or study while the request is pending. Restoration of status
S
- SOWP(Spousal Open Work Permit)
- An open work permit that may be available to the spouse or common-law partner of certain temporary residents or applicants, letting them work in Canada without a specific job offer. Spousal open work permits in Canada
- Super Visa
- A long-validity multiple-entry visa that lets eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents visit for extended periods, subject to conditions such as insurance and income requirements. Super Visa insurance requirements
T
- TAL(Territorial Attestation Letter)
- The territorial equivalent of a Provincial Attestation Letter, confirming a study permit applicant has a place within that territory's allocation. PAL and TAL requirements
- Temporary resident visa
- A document placed in a passport that allows a foreign national to travel to Canada and seek entry as a visitor, student, or worker. It is different from the status or permit granted after arrival.
U
- UCI(Unique Client Identifier)
- The number IRCC assigns to identify a person across their immigration and citizenship files. It stays the same across most future applications once issued.
Next steps
Looking for more detail, or your own situation?
The frequently asked questions hub answers common process questions, and Insights covers many of these terms in more depth. If a term here connects to a decision you are facing, the most useful next step is usually a conversation with an RCIC.