Immigration · IRCC form
IMM 5646 Fillable Form: Custodianship Declaration
You fill in this form yourself, and we commission it by video. We don't give legal advice or draft documents.
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Also known as: Custodianship Declaration · Custodian Declaration Form · IMM5646E · Custodian for Minors Studying in Canada · Custodianship Declaration for International Students
Contents
CONTENTS
Why a minor student needs a custodian
A student who is under the age of majority in their province and comes to Canada without a parent needs an adult here who takes responsibility for them. IRCC asks for that arrangement in writing on IMM 5646, the Custodianship Declaration, as part of the study permit application.
The custodian has to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 19 years old, living within a reasonable distance of the student's home and school in Canada. The form has two declarations: one by the custodian, one by the parents or legal guardians.
Two declarations, two separate signings
Page 1 is the custodian's promise to take on custodianship. Page 2 is the parents' grant of custodianship. Each is sworn in front of a notary public, and they are often signed in different countries: the custodian in Canada, the parents at home.
That is why our page asks first which declaration you are booking. The details of the student, the parents and the custodian are filled in once and printed on whichever page you choose; the finished document holds that declaration and the IRCC privacy notice. The other side can fill in this page again and book their own appointment. Both parents can sign the parents' declaration together, each from their own phone with their own email.
Where the answers go
| Box on the form | What to write |
|---|---|
| Student information | Names exactly as in the passport, citizenship, date of birth, gender, school name and full address, home address in Canada |
| Parents/guardians information | Both parents if possible, with dates of birth, home addresses and phone numbers |
| Custodian information | Name, status in Canada, date of birth, current address and phone |
| My/Our child will reside | Parents' page only: with the custodian, in the school dormitory, or with another person you name |
| Sworn before me, seal | Left empty: completed by the notary public at the video signing |
Why IMM 5646 forms come back
- Only one declaration sent. IRCC expects both pages: the custodian's and the parents'. Book each one; they do not have to be signed on the same day.
- A custodian who does not qualify. The custodian must be a citizen or permanent resident and at least 19. Tick the right status box.
- Different spellings on the two pages. Fill in the details once here and both pages print the same names.
- Signed before the appointment. A declaration signed in advance cannot be notarized. Leave every signature for the video signing.
Signing IMM 5646 by video
Press Book and Sign and your declaration is attached to the booking. The notary public checks each signer's ID, you confirm the declaration and sign on screen, and the notary completes the sworn section. The notarized form is emailed to you, ready for the study permit application.
Already have it filled in?
Upload your own copy when you book and sign it with us by video.
FAQ
Can the custodian and the parents sign at the same appointment?
They book separately: each declaration is its own document with its own signers. This also suits families where the parents are abroad.
Can both parents sign from different countries?
Yes. Each parent joins the parents' video signing from their own device, with their own email and photo ID.
Who can be a custodian?
IRCC requires a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 19 and lives near the student. We do not check eligibility; you confirm it on the form.
Which version of the form is this?
The current IRCC IMM 5646 published on the Government of Canada website.
Can I download the filled form?
No. It is attached to your booking and signed at your video signing; the notarized form is emailed to you afterwards.
Do you give immigration advice on study permits?
No. We notarize the declarations; questions about the study permit belong with IRCC or a licensed immigration professional.
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