GCMS Notes for Work Permit Applications
Last updated: June 18, 2026
Whether your work permit is employer-specific (often LMIA-based) or open, an officer's assessment of your file is recorded in GCMS. If your application is taking longer than expected or was refused, the notes show the reasoning the decision letter leaves out.
What officers assess in a work permit file
- Genuineness of the job offer and, where applicable, the underlying LMIA.
- Whether you meet the qualifications and requirements to perform the work.
- Your intent â whether the officer is satisfied you will leave Canada at the end of the permit (dual intent is permitted but assessed).
- Admissibility (medical, criminality, security) and immigration history.
How to request your work permit GCMS notes
The process is the same ATIP request used for any immigration file: provide your application number and UCI, and include a signed IMM 5744 (original signature in blue ink) if a representative is requesting on your behalf. By law, IRCC has 30 days to respond.
For the step-by-step process, see how to request your GCMS notes from IRCC. To decode the result, read how to read and understand your GCMS notes, and to understand timing, see GCMS notes processing time.
Frequently asked questions
Can GCMS notes explain a work permit refusal?+
Yes. The notes typically record the officer's specific reasoning â such as doubts about the job offer's genuineness or whether you'll leave Canada at the end of your stay â which the refusal letter usually summarizes only generically.
Is requesting work permit notes different from other applications?+
No. It's the same ATIP request: your application number and UCI, plus a signed IMM 5744 (original signature in blue ink) if a representative requests on your behalf.
Sources & official references
Related guides
Get your GCMS notes the easy way
We file your ATIP request, validate your IMM 5744 consent form, and can explain your notes in plain language.
Order Your Notes - $25