Guide to IMM 5669 Schedule A Background Declaration

What Is IMM 5669 Schedule A?

Quick tip: download the official IMM5669 first, then fill it while following this guide: Download IMM5669 form (official IRCC).

IMM 5669, commonly referred to as Schedule A or the Background/Declaration form, is a supplementary document required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for most immigration applications. Whether you are applying for permanent residence through Express Entry, family sponsorship, or other permanent residence streams, this form is almost always part of your application package.

The purpose of IMM 5669 is to provide IRCC with a detailed picture of your background. This includes your education history, employment record, residential addresses over a specified period, any military or government service, organizational memberships, and a signed declaration. The information you provide is cross-referenced with other documents in your application, and any discrepancies can trigger additional processing time, requests for further documentation, or even a refusal.

Who Needs to Complete IMM 5669?

Generally, the principal applicant and all accompanying family members aged 18 and older must complete their own copy of IMM 5669. Even if a family member is not immigrating with you, they may still need to fill out this form depending on the application stream. Always check the IRCC document checklist specific to your program to confirm who must submit this form.

If you are using an immigration representative to help with your application, they will handle the submission, but you are still responsible for providing accurate information. You can learn more about working with a representative in our guide on immigration lawyers and consultants in Canada.

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Section A: Personal Information

The first section asks for your basic personal information, including your full legal name, date of birth, and your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) or application number if you have one. If you have previously applied to IRCC for any immigration matter, you should have a UCI on file. You can find this on any previous correspondence from IRCC.

Double-check that the name on this form matches exactly what appears on your passport and other identity documents. Even minor spelling differences can create confusion and delays. If your name has changed due to marriage or legal name change, provide documentation supporting the change.

Section B: Education

In this section, you need to list all educational institutions you have attended. For each entry, provide the name and location of the school, the dates you attended (month and year), the field of study, and the credential or diploma received. Start from secondary school (high school) and work forward chronologically.

If you completed a program in Canada and are applying for permanent residence, make sure the dates you list here align with the dates on your transcripts and any Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) you may have obtained. IRCC cross-references these details. If you are applying through Express Entry, you likely already have an ECA, so refer to it when filling this section. For more context on the Express Entry process, see our Express Entry complete guide.

Section C: Personal History

This is one of the most important sections of the form. You must provide a continuous timeline of your activities for the past 10 years, covering employment, study, unemployment, and any other activities. There should be no gaps in the timeline. IRCC is very particular about this requirement.

For each entry, you must include the dates (from and to), the activity (employed, studying, unemployed, etc.), the name and address of the employer or institution, the city and country, and your specific occupation or role. If you were unemployed during any period, list it as such and provide a brief explanation, such as job searching, caring for family, or parental leave.

Common mistakes in this section include leaving unexplained gaps, providing vague job descriptions, or not matching the employment dates with what appears on reference letters. Take the time to compile your history carefully and make sure each period flows into the next without any missing months.

Section D: Membership in Organizations

This section asks whether you have been a member of any organizations, including political parties, professional associations, social groups, student organizations, or any other group. If you have, provide the name of the organization, the type of organization, the dates of membership, the city and country, and your role or position within the organization.

Be honest and thorough in this section. IRCC may verify this information as part of security screening. You do not need to include casual memberships like gym memberships. The focus is on organizations that could be relevant to admissibility considerations under Canadian immigration law.

Section E: Government Positions

If you have ever held any government or political positions, you must disclose them here. This includes elected office, appointed positions, military command positions, judicial roles, and any other capacity in which you represented or worked for a government body. Provide the country, dates, and description of your role.

Section F: Military and Paramilitary Service

You must declare any military service, including compulsory military service (national service), voluntary service, membership in paramilitary organizations, militia groups, civil defense units, or security forces. Provide the name of the military branch, country, dates of service, rank, and reason for leaving.

This section is carefully reviewed during security screening. If you served in a military force that is associated with human rights concerns, expect additional questioning or a request for further documentation. Being upfront and providing complete information is always the best approach.

Section G: Addresses

List all your residential addresses for the past 10 years, starting with your current address. For each address, provide the full address, the dates you lived there, and the city and country. Just like the personal history section, there should be no gaps. If you moved frequently, list each address even if you only stayed for a short time.

Section H: Background Questions

This section contains a series of yes/no questions about your background. These questions ask whether you have ever been convicted of a crime, been detained, served in the military, been associated with a group that engaged in violence, or been ordered to leave any country. Answer each question honestly. If you answer yes to any question, you will need to provide additional details.

These questions relate directly to admissibility under Canadian immigration law. Even if you have a criminal record, it does not necessarily mean your application will be refused. There are options for criminal rehabilitation and other remedies. However, failing to disclose relevant information can result in a finding of misrepresentation, which carries serious consequences including a five-year ban from applying.

Section I: Declaration and Signature

The final section is the declaration. By signing, you confirm that all the information you have provided is complete, truthful, and accurate to the best of your knowledge. You also acknowledge that providing false or misleading information is a serious offense under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

If you are submitting a paper application, sign and date the form in ink. For online applications, you will typically use an electronic signature as prompted by the IRCC portal.

Tips for Completing IMM 5669 Successfully

1. Compile your history before you start. Before opening the form, gather all the information you need: employment records, school transcripts, address histories, travel records, and organizational memberships. Having everything in front of you will reduce the chance of errors.

2. Ensure consistency across all forms. The dates, names, and details on IMM 5669 must match what you provide in your other application forms, such as IMM 0008 (Generic Application Form). Inconsistencies are a common reason for processing delays.

3. Do not leave gaps. Every month of the past 10 years must be accounted for. If there was a period where you were not working or studying, list it as unemployed and explain what you were doing.

4. Be honest. Misrepresentation is one of the most serious offenses in Canadian immigration. If you are unsure about whether to disclose something, it is always better to disclose it and provide an explanation than to leave it out.

5. Use the most recent version of the form. IRCC periodically updates its forms. Always download the latest version from the IRCC website to ensure you are using the correct one.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One of the most frequent errors is failing to provide a complete 10-year history. Applicants sometimes forget short-term jobs, brief periods of unemployment, or temporary addresses. Another common mistake is not matching dates across forms. For instance, if your employment letter says you started a job in March 2020, but your IMM 5669 says April 2020, this inconsistency can raise questions.

Some applicants also make the mistake of not disclosing memberships in organizations they consider unimportant. While a book club may not seem relevant, it is better to include it than to have IRCC discover an undisclosed membership during a background check.

How IMM 5669 Fits Into Your Overall Application

IMM 5669 is one of several forms that make up a complete immigration application. Depending on your application stream, you may also need to complete forms like the IMM 0008, provide biometrics, and submit supporting documents such as police certificates, medical exams, and proof of funds.

For family sponsorship applications, the sponsor and the sponsored person may both need to submit Schedule A. If you are sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner, the sponsored person will definitely need to complete this form as part of their application package. For more information on sponsorship, visit our guide on how to sponsor a family member to Canada.

After Submitting IMM 5669

Once your application is submitted, IRCC will review all forms, including IMM 5669, as part of the completeness check. If anything is missing or unclear, you may receive a procedural fairness letter or a request for additional information. Respond to any such requests promptly and thoroughly.

During background and security checks, the information on your IMM 5669 will be verified. This can take varying amounts of time depending on your country of origin and personal history. Having provided complete and accurate information from the start will help avoid unnecessary delays.

For more information on the overall immigration process, visit the IRCC official website. If you are considering applying for Canadian citizenship after obtaining permanent residence, our guide on how to apply for Canadian citizenship provides a detailed overview of that process.

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Download This Form

Before you submit anything, download the latest official file here: Download IMM5669 form (official IRCC). Always use the latest version.

Related internal guides

• IMM 5257 guide
• IMM 1294 guide
• IMM 1295 guide
• IMM 5409 guide
• IMM 5532 guide

Official external resources

• Download IMM5669 form (official IRCC)
• IRCC forms and guides library
• IRCC document checklists
• CRA forms and publications
• IRCC processing times