What documents do I need to apply for a loan in Canada?

Standard documents — every personal loan

• Government-issued photo ID (driver's licence or passport)
• Proof of income (recent pay stubs, T4, or Notice of Assessment)
• Bank statements (last 2–3 months)
• Proof of address (utility bill, lease, or bank statement)
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) — required for credit pulls

Additional — self-employed borrowers

• 2 years of Notice of Assessments (NOAs)
• Business financial statements
• T1 General tax returns
• GST/HST returns (if applicable)
• 6–12 months of business bank statements

Additional — mortgages

• Employment letter (position, salary, tenure)
• Property listing or signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale
• Down payment proof (90-day account history)
• Gift letter if down payment includes a gift
• MLS listing for the subject property

Additional — business loans

• Business registration / articles of incorporation
• Business plan (for startups under 2 years)
• Financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow)
• 6–12 months of business bank statements
• AR/AP aging reports
• Personal financial statement of owners (always)

Document tips

• Have digital PDFs ready before applying — image quality on phone scans is often rejected
• Bank statements must show full account number, name, and address visible
• Pay stubs older than 30 days are usually rejected
• Self-employed: ensure your last NOA is filed and assessed (not just submitted)

Having everything ready before you apply can cut processing time by 50% or more.