What documents do I need to move to Canada as a Philippines citizen?

Typical pathway: Express Entry

Last verified: August 5, 2026

Philippine passport (valid, machine-readable) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
DFA-issued Philippine passport for the principal applicant and each accompanying family member; passport bio-data page is uploaded to the e-APR and the passport number must match the Express Entry profile. Must remain valid through landing, since the COPR/PR visa is tied to the passport.
PSA birth certificate (Security Paper / SECPA) (before) — Source: https://psa.gov.ph
Philippine Statistics Authority-issued birth certificate on security paper for the applicant and each dependent child, showing full name, date of birth and parents' names. If the PSA record is unreadable or 'negative', a Certificate of No Record plus a Local Civil Registry copy is normally requested.
PSA marriage certificate, CENOMAR, or annulment/divorce decree (before) — Source: https://psa.gov.ph
PSA-issued civil status record: marriage certificate for a spouse being included, or CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record) if single, or a court-issued annulment/nullity decision with PSA annotation for prior marriages. <cite index="2-3">Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates or other civil status documents are required where applicable.</cite>
NBI Multi-purpose Clearance Certificate (police certificate) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/how/philippines.html
The Philippine police certificate IRCC accepts is the <cite index="16-2">National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Multi-purpose Clearance Certificate</cite>. <cite index="16-6">It must bear a thumbprint and include a dry seal</cite>, and <cite index="16-7">no translation is required because it is issued in English</cite>. It must be issued for travel/immigration abroad, not local employment. <cite index="16-8">Certificates must be picked up in person unless the requestor lives outside the Philippines, in which case they are mailed.</cite> Required for the applicant and every family member aged 18 or older.
NBI Form No. 5 fingerprint card consularized by a Philippine Consulate (before) — Source: https://www.vancouverpcg.org/services/nbi/
Only needed if you are outside the Philippines when applying: <cite index="13-2,13-3,13-4,13-5">the Philippine Consulate General consularizes NBI Form No. 5 (Fingerprint Card form), which is required to obtain the NBI Clearance from the Philippines; applicants then send the completed form to the NBI.</cite> Verify the current procedure with the consulate serving your area, as steps differ per post.
Police certificate from each other country of residence (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates.html
Separate from the NBI clearance: <cite index="11-13">if you have lived in another country for six consecutive months or more since the age of 18, you must also obtain a police certificate from that country</cite> — highly relevant for Filipinos with prior work in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/education-assessed.html
Assessment of your Philippine diploma/transcript by an IRCC-designated organization. <cite index="8-14">You need to get your foreign educational credential assessed by one of IRCC's approved third parties.</cite> <cite index="12-2">WES, ICAS and IQAS all accept Philippine credentials.</cite> The ECA report is a distinct document from the underlying diploma and Transcript of Records, which some assessors require to be sent directly by your school.
Language test results (IELTS General Training, CELPIP, PTE Core or TEF/TCF) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-proficiency.html
Original test report from an IRCC-designated provider taken within the last two years. <cite index="8-17">For all three Express Entry programs you must take English and/or French test(s) and score enough points to be eligible.</cite> Only the General/immigration versions are accepted — academic versions are not.
Employer reference/experience letters for each declared job (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/proof-work-experience.html
Letters on company letterhead from each Philippine or overseas employer stating job title, dates of employment, hours worked per week, annual salary plus benefits, and detailed duties matching your NOC code. <cite index="7-11,7-12">A reference letter that omits hours, salary or duties is the most common avoidable cause of refusal.</cite> For OFW experience, keep the POEA/DMW-verified contract as supporting evidence.
Proof of settlement funds (official bank letter/certification) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/proof-funds.html
Bank-issued letter on letterhead with account numbers, opening dates, current and six-month average balances, and outstanding debts, for FSWP/FSTP applicants. <cite index="30-10,30-11,30-12">Canadian Experience Class applicants do not need to show settlement funds</cite>, and <cite index="30-13">applicants with a valid job offer are also exempt.</cite> Amounts are <cite index="26-1">updated annually based on 50% of the low-income cut-off (LICO)</cite> — sources disagree on the exact 2026 figures, so confirm the current table on the IRCC proof-of-funds page for your family size. Philippine peso balances are converted to CAD.
Digital photo for the Express Entry application (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/photo-specifications-permanent-residence.html
One recent digital photograph per applicant meeting IRCC's immigration photo specifications, uploaded to the e-APR. This is distinct from your biometrics photo captured at a collection point and from the separate PR card photo requested later in the PR portal.
Biometrics enrolment (fingerprints and photo) at a VAC (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/biometrics.html
<cite index="7-7">After you submit, you are typically asked to give biometrics</cite> at a Visa Application Centre — in the Philippines this is done at VFS Global offices in Manila or Cebu after receiving the Biometrics Instruction Letter. <cite index="16-1">Giving fingerprints for a police certificate is not the same as giving your biometrics for an application.</cite> Bring the instruction letter and your passport.
Immigration Medical Examination (IME) by an IRCC panel physician (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/medical-exams.html
Completed at an IRCC-designated panel physician clinic in the Philippines. <cite index="8-6,8-7">You no longer need an upfront medical exam before submitting an Express Entry application — you upload a blank document in that field and wait for IRCC's instructions on when to get the exam.</cite> Keep the eMedical/IME reference number for your file.
PRC professional licence and board certification (regulated occupations) (before) — Source: https://www.prc.gov.ph
Applies to Filipino nurses, engineers, teachers, accountants and other regulated professionals. <cite index="12-8">PRC licence documents are often required separately for nursing/healthcare applicants.</cite> Also useful later for provincial credential recognition; verify the exact evidence with the relevant Canadian regulator.
CFO Guidance and Counselling Certificate and emigrant registration sticker (before) — Source: https://cfo.gov.ph
Philippine exit requirement, not a Canadian one. <cite index="20-3">The CFO has confirmed that Filipinos departing with immigrant or long-term permanent residence visas must secure the Guidance and Counselling Program prior to departure.</cite> <cite index="24-2">The CFO emigrant registration sticker must be presented to Philippine Bureau of Immigration officers before departure.</cite> Register via the CFO's online system (OF-CORS); confirm current fees and appointment rules directly with CFO.
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR / eCOPR) (during) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/prepare-arrival.html
Issued after approval and presented to a CBSA officer at your port of entry to complete landing. It is your proof of status until the PR card arrives — <cite index="42-5">while you wait for your PR card you can use your signed confirmation of permanent residence to apply for a social insurance number and access government programs.</cite> Keep the original plus digital copies permanently.
Goods to Follow and Goods Accompanying lists (BSF186 / BSF186A) (during) — Source: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ifcw-rpcm-eng.html
Two typed inventories of personal effects — one for items you carry in and one for items shipped later — declared to CBSA at first landing so household goods enter duty- and tax-free as settler's effects. Include values, serial numbers and (for balikbayan boxes) the shipping manifest. Lists cannot be added after you land.
Canadian mailing address notification to IRCC (during) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/understand-pr-status.html
Not a certificate but a mandatory filing: <cite index="42-3,42-4">if you did not provide a Canadian mailing address when you became a permanent resident, use IRCC's online address notification tool within 180 days to avoid cancellation of your PR card — otherwise you must apply for another one and pay new processing fees.</cite> Keep the confirmation and a lease or utility bill as proof of address.
Social Insurance Number (SIN) (during) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html
Nine-digit number from Service Canada needed to work, file taxes and receive benefits. Apply with your COPR/eCOPR and passport; <cite index="38-14">original documents only are accepted — photocopies are not.</cite> A PR SIN begins with 4, 5 or 6 rather than the 9 used for temporary residents.
Provincial or territorial health insurance card (after) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/new-life-canada/health-care-card.html
Apply in the province where you settle (e.g. OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, AHCIP in Alberta) using your COPR, passport and proof of provincial address. Waiting periods and required proofs differ by province — <cite index="40-15">Alberta, for example, can cover arrivals from the date residency is established if you apply within three months</cite> — so verify with your provincial ministry. Consider private interim coverage for any gap.
Permanent Resident (PR) card (after) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card.html
Your official status and travel document, issued from the photo collected in the PR portal — <cite index="42-7,42-8,42-9">IRCC asks for a photo to start making your first PR card, you don't apply for it, and it is mailed to the Canadian address you provided.</cite> <cite index="37-1">If you travel outside Canada without a valid PR card, you must apply for a permanent resident travel document before returning by commercial carrier.</cite>
Provincial driver's licence with Philippine LTO driving record (after) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/new-life-canada/driving.html
To convert or reduce graduated-licensing steps, most provinces ask for your valid LTO licence plus an official LTO/Philippine driving abstract or certification of driving history; some accept it only if authenticated. Requirements differ by province and the Philippines has no full reciprocity in most provinces — verify with the provincial licensing authority.
Residency-day records for PR status maintenance and citizenship (after) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/status.html
Keep boarding passes, passport stamps, lease agreements and CRA Notices of Assessment as evidence of physical presence: <cite index="37-9">to keep PR status you must have been in Canada at least 730 days during the last five years.</cite> The same records support a later citizenship application, which uses a separate 1,095-day threshold.
Dual citizenship / Philippine passport renewal record (after) — Source: Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs / Philippine Consulate General (Canada)
Canada permits dual citizenship, and the Philippines allows natural-born Filipinos who later naturalize to retain or reacquire citizenship under RA 9225 through a Philippine Consulate. Retain your PSA birth certificate and Philippine passport for any future reacquisition or Report of Marriage/Birth filings; confirm current procedures with the consulate serving your province.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

Want a personalized plan? Start free →