Canada imposes five-year travel ban for fake documents in visa applications

IRCC warned on X that immigration fraud encompasses various false or altered documents, such as passports, travel documents, visas, language test results, employment records, educational documents, relationship certificates, police certificates, and court documents. Providing false medical documents or misleading panel physicians about health conditions is also considered fraud. Applicants must accurately disclose their physical presence in Canada when renewing permanent resident status or applying for citizenship.

If false information or documents are submitted, the application may be refused, and the individual could receive a permanent fraud record with IRCC, lose temporary or permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship, be barred from applying for citizenship for five years, or be removed from Canada. IRCC also cautioned against relationships of convenience, where a relationship is primarily formed to obtain immigration status, and warned that Canadian citizens or permanent residents involved in such marriages could face criminal charges. Additionally, chargeback fraud, where a visa application fee is reversed, could lead to application cancellation, delays, refusal, or a travel ban to Canada for up to 10 years.

IRCC