No Surname on Your Passport? How to Fill Out a Canada Visa Application
If your passport has no surname, enter all your given names in the surname or family-name field of your Canada visa application. Leave the given-name field empty. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) specifically says not to enter “NA,” “Not applicable,” or an asterisk in that empty field. ircc.canada.ca
A passport without a surname can make an application confusing, especially when the form asks for both a first and last name. The following examples explain how to complete the fields without inventing a surname or changing your name.
What do surname and given names mean?
On an application, surname, family name, and last name refer to the same field. Given names refers to your first name and any additional given names.
Check the labelled fields on your passport’s identity page. Do not assume the final word in a multi-word name is a surname if your passport lists the entire name under given names. ircc.canada.ca
Canada visa name-field examples
These fictional examples illustrate IRCC’s instructions.
| Surname on passport | Given names on passport | Surname on application | Given names on application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty | Priya | Priya | Leave empty |
| Empty | Arun Kumar | Arun Kumar | Leave empty |
| Sharma | Priya | Sharma | Priya |
| Rahman | Empty | Rahman | Leave empty |
“Leave empty” is an instruction—not text to type into the form. The final example covers the reverse situation: a passport containing a surname but no given name. Canada.ca
How to complete the name section accurately
Keep your passport beside the application while entering your details.
Preserve the passport spelling. IRCC’s visitor visa instructions say to use the name as shown, even if it is misspelled. If your passport needs correction, seek guidance from its issuing authority rather than silently entering a different name.
Use complete names. Avoid shortening your name to initials.
Answer previous-name questions separately. Where the form asks about other names you have used, provide those details in the appropriate section.
Review before submitting. Compare the completed name fields with your passport and the instructions for your specific application. Canada.ca
Should you enter FNU, LNU, or repeat your name?
Do not invent a placeholder or repeat your name in both fields simply to make the application continue. For a missing surname, IRCC’s published instruction calls for an empty given-name field.
Advice about an airline booking or another country’s visa system should not replace Canadian application instructions. If the portal appears to require something different, check its help text or ask IRCC before submitting a workaround. ircc.canada.ca
What if the online form rejects an empty field?
First, read the help instructions on the exact page where the error occurs. Confirm that you are using the correct form and application route.
If you still cannot continue, report the issue through the official IRCC web form, using the technical-problem option. This route is also available before you have submitted an application. Canada.ca
To make your report clear, include:
- The form number or portal name.
- The field that prevents you from continuing.
- The exact error message and a screenshot.
- An explanation that your passport has no surname and you are following IRCC’s name-entry instructions.
Keep a copy of your report and any response.
Already submitted your name incorrectly?
For a visa application in progress, IRCC’s update process covers application errors and missing information.
Explain what you entered, what your passport shows, and which fields need correction. Include relevant supporting evidence through the official channel and follow any further instructions you receive. Canada.ca
Receiving a web-form acknowledgement confirms that your request arrived; it does not by itself confirm that the requested correction is complete. Canada.ca
Also Read: Canada Visa in Old Passport: Can You Still Travel?
Do study and work permit applications follow similar instructions?
Yes. The official instructions for study permit form IMM 1294 and work permit form IMM 1295 also address passports without a family name.
Read the guide for the particular form you are completing, because the layout and other requirements may differ.