Canadian immigration application refused? Here's what you can do next

Applicants whose immigration request to Canada has been denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC) have several options available to them. Understanding the refusal process and what steps to take next is important to avoid delays or repeated mistakes.

Initial notification and immediate steps
According to a report by CIC News, IRCC informs applicants of a refusal through the same channel used to submit the application—either via the IRCC online portal or by physical mail. The refusal letter often contains a brief explanation, but these summaries may not fully explain the detailed reasoning behind the decision.

To understand the full context, applicants can request their Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes. These notes include a detailed record of how an officer processed and reviewed the file.

To access the GCMS notes
You must submit an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request. The request costs $5 and can only be filed by a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or someone physically present in Canada.
If you are outside Canada, you must authorize someone within Canada to file the ATIP request on your behalf.

Reasons for refusal
Refusals may happen for a number of reasons, depending on the program applied under. Common issues include:

• Incomplete documentation
• Inconsistencies in personal information
• Insufficient proof of funds
• Failure to meet program-specific eligibility
• Concerns over intent to return (in temporary visa cases)

What to do next?
Once you’ve reviewed the GCMS notes and identified the reason for refusal, you can consider one of three options:

Request for reconsideration

• Put a written request to IRCC asking them to reconsider their decision.
• It is only suitable when you believe an error occurred or new clarifying information is available.
• There is no official form for this; the letter must clearly explain why you believe the refusal was incorrect and should include supporting documents.
• There is no guarantee the request will be reviewed or granted.

Judicial review by Federal Court

• If you believe the decision was legally unreasonable or procedurally unfair, you can ask the Federal Court of Canada to review it. You must file a leave application (a request to allow the court to hear your case).
• If the leave is granted, the Court will assess whether the immigration officer made a legal error in handling your file.
• A successful review may result in IRCC being asked to reprocess your application with a new officer.
• This process has strict deadlines—usually 15 days for in-Canada decisions and 60 days for decisions made abroad.

Legal representation is strongly recommended for this process.

Submit a new application

• In many cases, the most practical option is to reapply. This allows applicants to fix the problems that led to the initial refusal.
• Any new application must be improved to reflect the weaknesses noted in the GCMS notes.
• Simply submitting the same documents again without changes is unlikely to lead to a different result.

Legal support and representation
Navigating immigration procedures after a refusal can be complex. Applicants may benefit from working with an authorized immigration representative such as:

• Immigration consultants licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
• Canadian immigration lawyers in good standing with a provincial bar

These professionals can help interpret GCMS notes, prepare reconsideration requests, or represent you in Federal Court proceedings.

IRCC does not have a formal appeal process for most temporary resident applications such as visitor, student, or work visas. As per the CIC News report, permanent residence refusals may have separate review mechanisms, depending on the program. A refusal is not necessarily the end of your immigration journey. Many applicants succeed on their second or third attempt after understanding and addressing the reasons for their previous refusals.