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Dependent family member document collection for RCICs

Dependent family member document collection for RCICs

Incomplete children's documents are a common reason an otherwise “ready” Express Entry or sponsorship file is not ready.

Direct answer

Put every family member on the same Hivi-X client checklist with named lines. Collect identity, civil-status, medical, and (where IRCC requires) police certificates per person. Confirm who IRCC treats as a dependant on canada.ca.

Why one ZIP named family_docs fails

SymptomWhat went wrong
Portal still asks for child's birth certificateFile was in the ZIP under a nickname
Medical missing for infantOnly principal had a medical line
Custody fight laterNo consent letter was ever requested
Name mismatchBirth certificate spelling ≠ passport

Named checklist lines make absence obvious.

Typical per-person set (verify per program)

Every person

  • Passport or travel document
  • Digital photo meeting IRCC specs
  • Medical exam evidence when required

Spouse / partner

  • Marriage certificate or common-law package (IMM 5409 + evidence)
  • Police certificates for countries of residence as IRCC requires
  • Language / ECA only if they are being assessed for points — do not copy the principal's EE extras onto a non-accompanying spouse unless the forms say so

Children

  • Birth certificate (relationship to parents)
  • Adoption order if adopted
  • Custody, divorce, or travel-consent documents when one parent is absent
  • Police certificates only if IRCC's age/residence rules catch them

IRCC's Express Entry apply page lists birth certificates for dependent children, marriage or common-law forms, divorce and death certificates as applicable.

Two households, one dashboard

A spouse still in Lagos should not wait on the principal's Gmail. Guest link uploads land on their lines. Co-agents can chase children's civil-status documents while the RCIC reviews employer letters.

Related: medical collection, police certificates, spousal package.

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Start a free trial or download the free Express Entry checklist PDF.

General information only. Not immigration advice. Hivi-X is document-collection software — not a licensed immigration consultant. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CICC or IRCC. Verify all requirements against current IRCC guidance and each client's profile.

Answers are general operational information only — not legal, tax, regulatory, clinical, privacy, immigration, or professional advice. Requirements vary by matter, client, and regulator.

Frequently asked questions

Should each family member have separate checklist items?
Yes. Prefix items with the person's name (passport — child Amina) so the missing-item dashboard shows people, not a pile of unnamed PDFs.
What extra documents do children often need?
Birth certificates, passports, photos, medicals, and — when applicable — adoption papers, custody or travel-consent documents, and proof of relationship to the principal. Confirm the program checklist.
Do dependent children need police certificates?
Police certificate rules are age- and residence-based. Follow current IRCC police-certificate instructions; do not copy the principal's countries onto a toddler.
Can a spouse overseas upload without an account?
Yes. Guest link with email OTP. Keep the whole family on one client file so you see one completeness view.
Does Hivi-X calculate who is a dependant?
No. Dependency and lock-in dates are legal determinations. Hivi-X only collects the documents you request for the people you listed.

Collect complete immigration client files without the chase

Hivi-X helps Ontario RCICs collect passports, police certificates, employer letters, and IRCC forms with reusable checklists, the my-id.ca client portal, self-hosted AI summaries, and exportable PDF packages for your client file archive — alongside your immigration CRM.

Dependent Family Member Documents for RCICs | hivi-x Docs