Move From Afghanistan to Canada With Licensed Immigration Consultants
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Choosing to immigrate to Canada is an important and personal decision. RightWay Canada Immigration Services supports individuals and families in Afghanistan who are pursuing permanent residence, study or work opportunities, family reunification or another Canadian immigration pathway. Our role is to make the process clearer, more manageable and carefully prepared from the beginning.
Our team of licensed Canadian immigration consultants is regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and works in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements. Since 2016, RightWay Canada has assisted 204 clients from Afghanistan and earned multiple industry recognitions, along with a strong reputation reflected in positive client reviews.
Every immigration case is different. We take the time to understand each applicant’s circumstances and goals, assess the available options and provide clear guidance on eligibility, required documents and the steps ahead. Our support goes beyond completing forms, helping applicants approach the process with greater clarity and confidence. Book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant to discuss your individual situation. Information about our services and pricing is available on our fees page.
Afghanistan to Canada Spousal Sponsorship
Applicants applying for spousal sponsorship from Afghanistan must follow the country-specific IRCC instructions in addition to the standard sponsorship application checklist. These instructions set out the local forms and supporting documents required for applications involving Afghan nationals.
For Afghanistan applicants, the country-specific requirements include additional IMM forms, military service records where applicable, Afghan marriage and divorce documents, national identity cards, and copies of expired passports for Afghan nationals aged 18 or older.
Country-Specific Documents
Applicants from Afghanistan must complete the following country-specific forms where applicable:
- Supplementary Information – Your Travels [IMM 5562]
- Required for the principal applicant.
- Required for all family members included in the application who are 18 years old or older.
- Details of Military Service [IMM 5546]
Required for anyone included in the application who has ever:- held a high-ranking or senior official government position, or
- served in the military, army, defence, or police unit, including National Service.
If IMM 5546 applies, submit a copy of all pages of the person’s military card or booklet, including blank pages.
Civil Documents
If the marriage was performed according to Afghan rites, customs, or traditions, submit photos of the principal applicant and sponsor with relatives and friends. Photos should include:
- the wedding ceremony, including the signing of the contract or Nikkah
- customary celebrations held afterward, such as the wedding reception or Rukhsati
- the principal applicant and sponsor together on other occasions, either before or after the wedding
For civil documents issued in Afghanistan:
- submit a copy of the Waseeqa Nikkah as the marriage certificate
- submit a copy of the decree absolute for any divorce certificate requirement
Identity Documents
If the applicant holds an Afghan passport, the principal applicant and each family member included in the application must provide a copy of their national identity card, known as the Tazkira.
Passport History
If the applicant holds an Afghan passport, old expired passport copies are required for Afghan nationals included in the application who are 18 years old or older.
This applies to:
- the principal applicant, if 18 or older
- any included family member who is 18 or older and an Afghan national
Afghanistan to Canada Study Permit
Applicants applying for a Canada study permit from Afghanistan must follow the Islamabad visa office instructions for local document requirements. These instructions are listed in the Islamabad Visa Office Additional Document Checklist — IMM 5829, which is used together with the standard Canada study permit checklist.
For Afghanistan applicants, IMM 5829 focuses on identity and passport documents, legal status, education and study-gap records, bank and source-of-funds documents, police certificates, and ties to Pakistan where applicable.
Required Forms
Afghanistan study permit applicants must follow the Islamabad Visa Office Additional Document Checklist for study permits.
Country-specific checklist and locally listed forms include:
Applicants must provide police certificates from each country or territory where they have lived for six consecutive months or longer since reaching the age of 18.
Identity Documents
Afghan nationals must provide a copy of their national identity card.
Required Afghanistan-specific identity document:
- Tazkira, for Afghan nationals
Applicants must also provide proof of current immigration status if they do not live in their country of citizenship.
Passport Documents
Afghanistan study permit applicants must provide passport documents as listed by the Islamabad visa office.
Required passport documents include:
- a passport valid for at least six months from the date of travel to Canada
- all cancelled or expired passports
Student Records
Applicants from Afghanistan must provide previous education documents.
Required student records include:
- copies of previous educational documents
If the applicant has gaps in their study history, they must provide documents explaining how they were occupied during those gaps.
Study-gap evidence may include:
- employment letters
- written explanations
Applicants must provide any other documents or information showing their ties to Pakistan.
Financial Documents
Afghanistan study permit applicants must provide proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses for at least one year in Canada.
Required financial documents include:
- copies of bank statements from the 12 months before the application
- documents explaining any recent large account deposits, if applicable
- additional documents showing a reliable source of funds
Reliable source-of-funds documents may include:
- a notarized letter of undertaking and financial documents from a parent or sponsor
- an official scholarship or financial award letter
- investments
- income from rental properties
If tuition has already been paid, the applicant must provide proof of payment.
If the applicant submits a joint-account bank statement, it should be clear that all account holders know the account is being used for study purposes.
If the applicant submits a business-account bank statement, it should be clear who has access to the account and that all account holders know the account is being used for study purposes.
Afghanistan to Canada Visitor Visa
Applicants applying for a Canada visitor visa from Afghanistan should use the visa-office instruction document shown in their current IRCC visitor visa application package, alongside the standard temporary resident visa requirements. IRCC’s visa-office list may identify Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as the visa office for Afghanistan.
If the Abu Dhabi Visa Office Instructions, IMM 5853, are provided, documents not in English or French require certified translations. Afghanistan- and Pakistan-resident applicants submitting through the specified Visa Application Centres in Pakistan have additional passport-copy requirements.
Visa Office
IRCC does not publish a separate Afghanistan-only visitor visa checklist.
IRCC’s visa-office list may show Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as the visa office for Afghanistan. Applicants should use the visa-office instruction document shown in their current IRCC visitor visa application package.
If the Abu Dhabi Visa Office Instructions, IMM 5853 E (02-2018), are provided, those instructions are visa-office-based and not Afghanistan-only.
Document Rules
According to the Abu Dhabi checklist, documents that are not in English or French need a certified translation.
The checklist also includes a note for residents of Afghanistan or Pakistan submitting applications through Visa Application Centres in Islamabad, Lahore, or Karachi. Those applicants should provide copies of their current and previous passports, including:
- the biographic information page
- all pages that are not blank
A copy of the original passport is needed for each application, even if the original passport is also submitted.
