IRCC ATIP Online Request Tool: Step-by-Step Guide
The ATIP Online Request tool is how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts electronic access to information and personal information requests: "If submitting a request electronically, you must do so through the ATIP Online Request tool."[1] The tool now has two routes. Requests for information about an immigration or citizenship application go through a dedicated IRCC request flow. IRCC corporate records, IRCC employee information and records held by any other government institution go through the Treasury Board Secretariat's separate ATIP Online Request Service.[2] GCMS notes are records of an immigration application, so they belong in the IRCC flow. This guide walks through that flow step by step and explains the choices that decide what you get back. Who is eligible to file, and the two Acts, are explained in the ATIP request guide.
Before you start
- Eligibility. Under the Privacy Act, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals, wherever they are, can request their own personal information. A request under the Access to Information Act can be filed only by a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or an individual present in Canada; anyone else can ask a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to file it for them with written consent.[3] Note that the tool's own welcome page states the citizen, permanent resident or presence-in-Canada condition for both Acts.[2]
- Identifiers. Have your UCI, the application number, your name exactly as on the application and your date of birth ready.
- Consent, if filing for someone else. Include IRCC's Consent for an Access to Information and Personal Information Request (IMM 5744) for each person listed on the file who is over 18 (Access to Information Act) or 16 or older (Privacy Act).[4] See forms IMM 5563 and IMM 5744.
- Documents. Supporting documents are scanned and attached before you submit. Each file may be up to 2 MB, in PDF, JPG, TIFF, PNG, DOC or DOCX format, with one file per document type (for example, all passport pages in a single file).[5]
- Payment. An Access to Information Act request costs $5, paid at the end of the online request through an e-Payment tool.[5] IRCC accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and JCB credit and prepaid cards, Visa Debit, and INTERAC Online debit cards from Canadian banks.[4] Privacy Act requests are free.[4]
How do you file the request, step by step?
- Open the tool and choose the IRCC flow. On the welcome page, select "Submit a request for information with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)".[2] Border records are held by the Canada Border Services Agency, another institution, and are requested through the Treasury Board Secretariat's service instead; see CBSA notes.
- Read and accept the privacy notice. The request cannot start until you confirm that you have read and agree with it.[2]
- Answer the questions, including which Act applies. The Privacy Act covers your own personal information at no fee; the Access to Information Act covers any IRCC record for a $5 fee, and it is the Act a representative uses to request the personal information of a client who is not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or in Canada.[4] Each question has a Help icon. Do not use the browser's Back and Forward buttons: they do not work in the tool and your answers may be lost.[5]
- Describe the records. This field decides what you receive. Ask for the complete file for the specific application, including all GCMS notes, officer assessments, correspondence and documents, and give the UCI, application number, application type and year.
- Review your answers. At the end you are asked to review and validate them, and you can select "Modify" beside any answer to change it.[5]
- Attach the documents on the checklist. The tool lists the documents you need to provide, such as the signed consent when the records are someone else's. Once the request is submitted, no further documents can be added; if it is incomplete, an ATIP officer will contact you.[5]
- Pay and submit. The request is sent automatically to IRCC's Access to Information and Privacy Division.[1]
Which choices in the tool change what you get?
| Choice | Option | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Route | IRCC flow vs Treasury Board Secretariat service | Application and GCMS records: IRCC flow. IRCC corporate or employee records, and other institutions such as CBSA: Treasury Board Secretariat service[2] |
| Act | Privacy Act | Free; your own personal information only; open to citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals wherever they are[3] |
| Act | Access to Information Act | $5; any IRCC record; direct filing needs Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or presence in Canada[3] |
| Description | "Notes" vs "complete file" | Asking only for notes can return the GCMS printout without the documents and correspondence |
| Scope | One application vs all applications under the UCI | Naming the application type and year avoids a partial release; asking for all files under the UCI returns earlier applications too |
| Requester | Yourself vs a representative | Correspondence, extension notices and the release go to whoever is the requester |
What happens after you submit?
IRCC has 30 days to respond and may extend the period; it will tell you about an extension and its length within 30 days of receiving the request.[6] If you have no response after 30 days, you can ask for the status of your request by writing to IRCC's ATIP Division at [email protected] or by mail to Access to Information and Privacy Division, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1.[6] What to do when nothing arrives, and how a late request becomes a deemed refusal, is covered in tracking your request.
Rather not deal with the portal?
We file through the same IRCC tool as your Canadian representative, follow up with the ATIP Division, and deliver the release to your dashboard. From USD 19.
Order GCMS NotesFrequently asked questions
Is the ATIP Online Request tool the same as the Treasury Board Secretariat's ATIP Online Request Service?
No. The tool's welcome page sends requests for information about an immigration or citizenship application to the IRCC flow, and requests for IRCC corporate records, IRCC employee information or any other institution's records to the Treasury Board Secretariat's service.[2] For GCMS notes, use the IRCC flow.
Can I use the tool from outside Canada?
Whether you may file directly depends on the Act: the Privacy Act is open to foreign nationals wherever they are, for their own personal information; the Access to Information Act requires Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or presence in Canada, otherwise a Canadian citizen or permanent resident files for you with your written consent.[3] See requesting from outside Canada.
Can I pay by cheque online?
No. Credit card payment is accepted only through the ATIP Online Request tool; a request paid by cheque or money order must be sent by regular mail.[1]
I forgot a document. Can I add it after submitting?
No. Documents cannot be added once the online request is submitted. If the request is incomplete or needs clarification, an ATIP officer will contact you directly.[5]
I filed for GCMS notes but received only a letter. Why?
The description of the records was too narrow. File again asking for the complete file, including all GCMS notes, for the specific application.
Official sources
All information on this page is based on official Government of Canada publications, checked 2026-09-28:
- How and where do I submit an Access to Information or Privacy request? — IRCC
- Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Online Request — welcome page and privacy notice
- Who can make a request under the Access to Information Act? — IRCC and Who can make a request under the Privacy Act? — IRCC
- How to make a request under the Access to Information Act — Canada.ca and How to make a request under the Privacy Act — Canada.ca
- ATIP Online Request — Frequently asked questions
- How long does the Department have to respond? — IRCC