What documents do I need to apply?
It depends which product and which application flow you're using.
Quick summary
- Padder Guarantor (or Padder Guarantor + Padder Deposit bundle): Government-issued photo ID, plus proof of enrollment if you indicated you're a full-time or part-time student.
- Standalone Padder Deposit (you've already been approved for the lease by your landlord): some basic lease details, and optionally your SIN for a soft credit check. No ID upload or income documents required in this flow.
In either flow, our underwriting team may request additional documents on a case-by-case basis after they review your application. If anything else is needed, we'll email you directly with exactly what's missing.
Padder Guarantor (and Padder Guarantor + Padder Deposit bundle)
Required at submission
1. Government-issued photo ID
Used to verify your identity and match your application to the correct credit profile (where applicable). Acceptable forms include:
- Passport
- Driver's licence
- Provincial or territorial photo ID card
- Permanent Resident Card (if applicable)
2. Proof of enrollment, if you indicated you're a full-time or part-time student
A letter of acceptance, enrollment confirmation, or current student ID with your name and school clearly visible.
Optional at submission
SIN (Social Insurance Number)
Providing your SIN allows us to run a soft credit check, which does not impact your credit score. It helps us match your file accurately and process your application faster. This step is optional — your application will still be reviewed if you choose not to provide it.
Additional documents (only if requested)
After our underwriting team reviews your initial application, they may ask for additional documents depending on your specific profile. You don't need to gather these in advance — we'll only ask for what's actually needed for your file.
If requested, this could include:
- Proof of employment: a job or employment letter (on company letterhead where possible) showing your role, employment status, and income — or a contract or offer letter for new roles or fixed-term employment
- Proof of income: recent pay stubs or income statements, typically from the last 2–3 pay periods
- Proof of savings: recent savings or chequing account statements showing available funds
- Visa or immigration documents: if you're a newcomer, international student, or temporary resident — for example, study permit, work permit, visitor record, or Permanent Resident Card. This helps us understand your status and expected length of stay in Canada relative to your lease term.
If anything additional is needed, we'll email you directly so you know exactly what to send.
Standalone Padder Deposit: what's different
If you're using the standalone Padder Deposit application (you already qualified for the lease on your own and your landlord is offering Padder Deposit instead of requiring a traditional last month's rent deposit upfront):
- You'll typically be asked for some basic lease details, and you can optionally provide your SIN for a soft credit check (which doesn't impact your score).
- You will not be asked to upload photo ID, income documents, or bank statements in this flow
- The primary applicant is the person who completes the Deposit application and signs the Indemnity Agreement — making them responsible for reimbursing Padder if a valid claim is ever paid to the landlord
For full step-by-step instructions, please see "How to apply for Padder Deposit" in the Help Centre.
If we need more information
If we ever need additional information to complete your application — whether for Padder Guarantor, Padder Guarantor + Padder Deposit, or standalone Padder Deposit — we'll email you with exactly what's missing and how to upload it. You can submit additional documents securely from your phone or computer.