Immigration Glossary
The immigration and refugee terms that appear most often in IRCC correspondence and tribunal decisions, in everyday language.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and definitions are simplified for a general audience. It isn’t a substitute for advice about your own situation.
Jump to a term, or use your browser’s find function (Ctrl/Cmd + F).
Biometrics | COPR | Danger Opinion | GCMS Notes | Inadmissibility | LMIA | POE | Procedural Fairness Letter | Sponsorship Undertaking | Statutory Declaration / Affidavit | TRP
Biometrics
Fingerprints and a photograph collected as part of many immigration and visa applications, used to confirm identity and run background and security checks.
COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence)
The official document issued when someone becomes a permanent resident of Canada. It’s presented, along with a valid passport, when completing landing at a port of entry.
Danger Opinion
A ministerial decision that a person is a danger to the public or to the security of Canada. It can remove certain protections against removal that would otherwise apply.
GCMS Notes
The immigration officer’s internal notes on a file, kept in the Global Case Management System. They often show more of the reasoning behind a decision than the refusal letter itself.
Inadmissibility
A finding that a person doesn’t meet Canada’s requirements to enter or remain, for reasons such as security, criminality, health, or misrepresentation. It can affect a visa, permanent residence, or citizenship application.
LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment)
A document some Canadian employers need before hiring a foreign worker, confirming that the hire won’t negatively affect the Canadian labour market.
POE (Port of Entry)
Any location where a person is legally permitted to enter Canada, including airports, land crossings, and marine ports, where border officers examine travellers and decide on admission.
Procedural Fairness Letter
A letter from an immigration officer raising a concern about an application and giving the applicant a chance to respond before a final decision is made.
Sponsorship Undertaking
A sponsor’s legal commitment to financially support a sponsored family member for a set period, and to repay any social assistance the sponsored person receives during that time.
Statutory Declaration / Affidavit
A written statement of facts, signed before a person authorized to take oaths, used where a supporting document doesn’t exist or sworn evidence is otherwise needed.
TRP (Temporary Resident Permit)
A document that lets a person who is otherwise inadmissible to Canada enter or remain for a specific reason and period, issued at an immigration officer’s discretion.
Back to the full glossary. If you have a question about your own matter, book a consultation and we’ll go through it with you.