How Much Do GCMS Notes Cost? Fees and Prices (2026)
Last updated · Sources: IRCC and CBSA official pages, linked in the text · Reviewed by Morteza Idjadi, RCIC R708675
The honest answer to "how much do GCMS notes cost" starts with a number most services do not lead with: the government fee is $5 or nothing. What you pay beyond that buys eligibility to file, the filing itself, the follow-up and the delivery. This page sets out the government fees under each Act, the free do-it-yourself route and who can use it, what a representative or service actually does for its fee, our own prices and what they include, and how to compare services on the things that matter rather than on price alone.
The government fee
| Route | Government fee | Who can file directly |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy Act request to IRCC (your own personal information) | None | Canadian citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals, "regardless of where they are located"[1] |
| Access to Information Act request to IRCC (any IRCC record) | $5.00 application fee, by credit card online or cheque by mail[2] | Canadian citizens, permanent residents and any individual or corporation present in Canada; others through a representative with written consent[3] |
| Privacy Act request to CBSA (border records) | None: "there are no fees involved with the processing of a request under the Privacy Act"[4] | All individuals living in or outside Canada[4] |
There is no government charge per page, no expedite fee, and no fee for the release itself. IRCC has 30 days to respond and may extend the period; paying more does not shorten it.[5]
Getting GCMS notes for free
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or a foreign national physically in Canada, you can file the request yourself through the ATIP Online Request service and pay at most $5.[2],[3] If you are a foreign national outside Canada you can still file a Privacy Act request for your own personal information at no charge.[1] The steps are in the ATIP Online Request tool guide. What you take on when you file yourself: writing the description so the release actually includes the officer notes, handling the extension notice and any clarification from the ATIP Division, and, for many applicants abroad, the fact that the fuller Access to Information Act release is only open to them through a representative.[3]
What a service charges for
A representative does four things the government fee does not cover: qualifies as a requester under the Access to Information Act for a client who cannot file directly; prepares the consent and the request wording; follows up with the ATIP Division through the 30-day period and any extension; and receives and forwards the release. Prices among services vary widely, and the range says less about quality than the following do:
- What is included. "GCMS notes" (the system printout) and a "complete file" (notes plus copies of documents and correspondence) are different requests. Compare like with like.
- Whether the consent is IRCC's own form. Services that skip the IMM 5744 or accept typed signatures produce requests that the ATIP Division rejects, which costs weeks. See the consent form.
- Whether the timeline is stated honestly. The statutory period is 30 days and extensions are common.[5] A promise of "7 days" is not a promise a service can keep.
- Follow-up and tracking. Whether the service queries IRCC when a file is late and shows you each dated step. See tracking your request.
- Who receives your data. The representative's name goes on the request and the release goes to them. Choose someone identifiable.
Our prices and what they include
| Option | Price | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| GCMS notes from IRCC | USD 19 | The GCMS printout for one application: officer notes, assessment results, file history and correspondence log |
| CBSA records | USD 25 | Your Travel History Report and any examination or enforcement records held by CBSA; see CBSA notes |
| Complete application file | USD 35 | Everything in the GCMS notes plus copies of the documents and letters on the IRCC file |
Each price includes the government fee where one applies, the pre-filled consent form, filing the same business day we receive your signed consent, follow-up with the ATIP Division, and delivery of the release as a PDF in your dashboard with an email at each step. Payment is by card at checkout, from any country. A spouse or family member on the same application can be added to the same order.
GCMS notes from USD 19
Government fee, consent form, filing and follow-up included. No Canadian status needed.
Order GCMS NotesFrequently asked questions
Is a more expensive service faster?
No. The timeline is IRCC's: 30 days by law, extendable.[5] A service can only avoid adding delay of its own, for example by filing the same day and using the correct consent.
Why is the fee $5 for some requests and nothing for others?
The $5 applies to Access to Information Act requests; Privacy Act requests for your own information are free.[2],[1] Representatives generally file under the Access to Information Act because it returns the fuller record.
What happens if IRCC returns "no records"?
It almost always means an identifier did not match. Message us from your dashboard with the application number from your acknowledgement letter and we re-file with corrected identifiers.
Do you charge in Canadian dollars?
Prices are listed in US dollars; the exact amount charged to your card is shown at checkout before you pay.
Official sources
All information on this page is based on official Government of Canada publications: