Merge PDFs into one file for IRCC
IRCC keeps one file per upload field. Put your PDFs in the order an officer should read them and download one combined PDF.
or drop them here. Up to 100 MB and 300 pages in total.
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and you don't need an account.
Why does IRCC take only one file per field?
Each upload field in your account holds a single file. IRCC's help centre says that if you upload more than one file in the same field, only the last one is saved. The earlier ones aren't kept. So when a field asks for proof of funds and you have six monthly statements, they have to become one file before you upload.
IRCC suggests combining PDFs with Adobe Acrobat or another tool. This tool does it in your browser, with no account and no upload.
What order should the pages go in?
IRCC doesn't set an order for most documents, so use the one an officer would expect. Statements go in date order. A multi-page certificate goes in page order. When one field covers several kinds of proof, put the document an officer most needs to see first, then the supporting pages behind it.
Drag the files into place, or use the up and down buttons. The merged PDF follows the list exactly.
How do I put both sides of a document in one file?
For sponsorship uploads, IRCC's help centre says that if you have to submit both sides of your passport or status in Canada document, you should save both sides into one file. We'd suggest the same for any two-sided document, such as a card or a certificate with notes on the back, so the officer sees it whole. Scan each side, then merge the two PDFs here, front first. If the two sides are phone photos rather than PDFs, JPG to PDF can put both photos into a single PDF without a separate merge step.
Will the merged PDF be too big?
Often. Merging adds the file sizes together, so a handful of scans that each fit the limit can make a merged file that doesn't. Most IRCC accounts allow 4 MB per file and the IRCC Portal allows 5 MB. Some application types allow as little as 2 MB.
The result shows the merged file's size. If it's over 4 MB, it links to Compress PDF, which can bring it down to the target you choose.
Why won't my IMM form merge?
Many IMM forms are XFA forms, a fillable format that most PDF tools can't combine with other files. After a merge, the form pages often show only a "Please wait" message instead of your answers. This tool checks every file you add and warns you if one is a fillable IMM form, so you can take it out before merging.
Upload each IMM form on its own, in the field meant for it. IRCC's help centre says these forms need Adobe Acrobat Reader 10 or higher, with JavaScript turned on, to validate, and that mobile devices don't support them. Fill them in on a computer. If a form still won't validate, our guide to IMM form validation errors goes through each cause IRCC lists.
What about password-protected PDFs?
They can't be merged. Remove the password in the app that created the file, save a new copy, then add it again. Bank statements downloaded from online banking are the usual cause. The IRCC file checker flags passwords too, if you want to check a batch of files before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. IRCC's help centre says you can combine text documents in a word processor and add photos to them with Insert picture, then save the result as one file.
Drag a file to a new position, or use the up and down buttons next to it. The merged PDF follows the order shown in the list.
Not directly, because this tool takes PDFs only. Turn the photos into a PDF with JPG to PDF, then add that PDF here with the others.
You can merge up to 300 pages and 100 MB in total. The merged file is often bigger than 4 MB, so check its size before you upload.
No. Merging carries each page over without re-encoding it, so scans keep their resolution and text stays selectable. That's also why merging doesn't make anything smaller.
No. The files are joined on your own device, inside the browser. There's no server step, so there's no copy anywhere else to delete.
Not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada. IRCC can change its rules, so check the instructions for your application before you upload.