Basics6 min read

What Is the ATIP Process? A Complete Guide

Last updated: June 18, 2026

Every request for your GCMS notes runs through Canada's Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) system. Understanding ATIP helps you know your rights, choose the correct request type, and set realistic expectations for what you will receive and when.

What ATIP is

ATIP is the umbrella term for the framework that gives people the legal right to access records held by Canadian federal institutions, including IRCC. It is governed by two separate laws, and which one applies depends on whose information you are requesting.

The two Acts

The Privacy Act

The Privacy Act gives you the right to access your own personal information held by the government. When you request your own GCMS notes, this is the Act that applies, and there is no fee to make a request about yourself.

The Access to Information Act

The Access to Information Act covers records that are not someone's personal information โ€” for example, general government records. Requests under this Act carry a small application fee. Most applicants requesting their own immigration file rely on the Privacy Act instead.

How the ATIP process works

  1. You submit a request to the institution that holds the records โ€” for immigration files, that's IRCC.
  2. If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, you include their signed IMM 5744 consent form.
  3. IRCC's ATIP division locates and reviews the records, applying any legal exemptions.
  4. By law, the institution has 30 days to respond, though extensions are permitted in some cases.
  5. You receive a response package โ€” for GCMS requests, this contains your notes.
You can submit an ATIP request yourself, free of charge for your own personal information, through the Government of Canada's ATIP Online Request service. A paid service adds convenience, consent-form validation, and plain-language explanations โ€” not access you couldn't otherwise get.

What you can and can't get

ATIP gives broad access to your own records, but institutions may redact limited information protected by law โ€” for example, another person's personal information or material tied to national security. For most applicants, the GCMS notes returned are detailed and complete enough to understand their file.

Ready to start? See our step-by-step guide on how to request your GCMS notes from IRCC.

Frequently asked questions

Is ATIP the same as GCMS notes?+

No. ATIP is the legal process for accessing government records; GCMS notes are the specific IRCC immigration records you receive when you make an ATIP request about your file.

Which Act should I use to get my GCMS notes?+

For your own immigration file, you use the Privacy Act, which is free. The Access to Information Act applies to non-personal government records and carries a small fee.

How long does an ATIP request take?+

Federal institutions have 30 days to respond under the law, although extensions are permitted in certain circumstances, so timelines can sometimes be longer.

Sources & official references

Related guides

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