Applicant type of immigrant

Status: This standard was approved as a departmental standard on July 31, 2026.

Definition

Applicant type refers to whether an immigrant was identified as the principal applicant, the spouse or the dependant on their application for permanent residence.

Immigrant refers to a person who is, or who has ever been, a permanent resident (landed immigrant). Such a person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Immigrants who have obtained Canadian citizenship by naturalization are included in this group.

Usage

Applicant type is most often used in combination with admission category, particularly with the economic immigrant categories, in which principal applicants are selected based on their ability to contribute to the Canadian economy.

Conformity to relevant internationally recognized standards

There are no relevant internationally recognized standards.

Classifications

• Classification of immigration applicant type June 22, 2021 to current

Relation to previous version

• Applicant type of immigrant July 31, 2026 to current

  The definition of "immigrant" has been modified, but the meaning is unchanged.

• Applicant type of immigrant June 22, 2021 to July 30, 2026

  This was the departmental standard from June 22, 2021 to July 30, 2026.