Highest-value programs
Family class sponsorship, refugee-related pathways.
Documents worth extra attention
- Where an official document genuinely can't be obtained, IRCC generally allows a written explanation or affidavit in its place, but this needs its own supporting evidence, not just a statement on its own.
- Family sponsorship files tend to be large and multi-document, merging and page-numbering the full package makes it far easier for an officer to navigate.
- Documents in Arabic or Tigrinya generally need a certified English or French translation attached alongside the original.
- Compress large scanned bundles before uploading, family documents digitized from paper archives often come back oversized.
This guide is in English. Applicants from Eritrea often search in Arabic, Tigrinya, full-language versions are planned for a later phase.
Check your documents before you submit
Run every file through the IRCC File Checker first.
Frequently asked questions
What if I can't obtain an official document from Eritrea?
IRCC generally accepts a written explanation or affidavit when a document is genuinely unobtainable, but it needs supporting evidence of your attempts, not just a statement.
Do Tigrinya or Arabic documents need translation?
Yes, a certified English or French translation attached alongside each original document.
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