Privacy Policy

Docere Immigration ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") operates the website docere.ca and provides a technology platform that helps users fill out immigration-related forms and provides general educational guidance about Canadian immigration processes. We are not a law firm and not a licensed immigration consultant.

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information we collect through our website, platform, forms, email communications, and any other interactions you have with us. By using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

Due to the nature of immigration form-filling services, we collect various categories of personal information. We only collect information that is necessary to provide the services you request.

Information You Provide Directly

• Full name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth
• Citizenship and immigration status
• Passport and travel document details (passport number, country of issue, issue and expiry dates)
• Contact information (email address, phone number, mailing and residential addresses)
• Marital status and spouse/partner information
• Employment history and occupation details
• Educational background and qualifications
• Language proficiency (English and French)
• Financial information (tuition costs, funding sources, available funds)
• Travel history (countries visited, dates, purposes)
• Account credentials (email and password for platform access)

Sensitive Personal Information

Our platform may collect information that is considered sensitive under Quebec Law 25, including:

• Health information (e.g., tuberculosis history, physical or mental health conditions)
• Criminal history and background information (arrests, charges, convictions)
• Immigration enforcement history (visa refusals, deportation orders, status violations)
• Military and government service history
• Political affiliations and organizational memberships
• Information about experiences of torture or ill-treatment

Information Collected Automatically

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type, operating system, and device information
• Pages visited, time spent, and navigation patterns on our website
• Referring website or source
• Cookies and similar tracking identifiers (see Section 9)

We collect personal information through the following means:

• Directly from you when you create an account, use our form-filling wizard, submit an assessment, or contact us
• Automatically through cookies, analytics tools, and server logs when you visit our website
• From third-party services you authorize us to interact with (e.g., payment processors)

We collect and use your personal information for the following specific purposes:

• To provide our form-filling guidance services and help you prepare immigration application forms
• To pre-fill form fields based on information you have provided
• To create and manage your account on our platform
• To communicate with you about your use of our services, including sending service-related notifications
• To process payments for our services
• To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• To improve our website, platform, and services through usage analytics
• To send you marketing communications (only with your express opt-in consent)
• To detect and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, and other security threats
• To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• To enforce our Terms of Service

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party. We may disclose your personal information only in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We use the following categories of third-party service providers who process data on our behalf under written agreements as required by Law 25:

• Supabase — Cloud database hosting and user authentication (data may be stored on servers located in the United States)
• Resend — Transactional email delivery service (data may be processed in the United States)
• Google Analytics (GA4) — Website analytics and usage tracking (data may be processed outside Canada)

Each service provider is contractually obligated to protect your personal information and to use it only for the purposes for which it was disclosed.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your personal information if required or permitted by law, including to:

• Comply with a court order, subpoena, or other legal process
• Respond to a lawful request by a government authority or regulatory body
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Docere Immigration, our users, or the public

With Your Consent

We may share your personal information with other third parties when we have your explicit consent to do so.

Some of our third-party service providers (including Supabase and Resend) operate servers located outside of Canada, primarily in the United States. As a result, your personal information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries outside of Canada.

When your personal information is transferred outside of Quebec or Canada, it may be subject to the laws of the country where it is stored, including laws that may permit government authorities to access data. We take reasonable steps to ensure that our service providers maintain adequate safeguards to protect your information, but we cannot guarantee that the laws of other jurisdictions will provide the same level of protection as Canadian or Quebec law.

By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your personal information outside of Canada as described in this section. You have the right to request information about our policies and practices regarding service providers outside Quebec by contacting our Privacy Officer.

We use cookies and similar technologies on our website. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us provide and improve our services.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Strictly Necessary Cookies — Required for the website to function properly (e.g., session management, authentication). These cannot be disabled.
• Functional Cookies — Remember your preferences and settings (e.g., language preference).
• Analytics Cookies — Google Analytics (GA4) uses cookies to collect information about how visitors use our website, including pages visited, time spent, and traffic sources. This data is aggregated and anonymous.

Managing Cookies

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies, delete existing cookies, or be notified when a cookie is set. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

To opt out of Google Analytics tracking, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Our retention practices are as follows:

• Active account data — Retained for the duration of your account and for a reasonable period after account closure to allow for reactivation
• Immigration form data — Retained for the duration of your account. You may request deletion at any time.
• Payment records — Retained for the period required by Canadian tax and accounting laws (generally 7 years)
• Communication records — Retained for a reasonable period to resolve disputes and provide customer support
• Analytics data — Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained indefinitely
• Server logs — Retained for up to 12 months for security and diagnostic purposes

When personal information is no longer needed, we will securely destroy, erase, or anonymize it using methods appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit using TLS/SSL protocols
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Secure user authentication with hashed passwords
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only
• Regular security reviews of our platform and third-party service providers
• Secure deletion procedures for data that is no longer needed

Despite our efforts, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your personal information. If you have reason to believe that your account or data has been compromised, please contact us immediately at info@docere.ca.

Our platform may use automated processes to pre-fill form fields based on information you provide. These automated processes do not make decisions about your immigration eligibility or the outcome of any application.

In compliance with Law 25, if we use any technology that involves automated decision-making that could significantly affect you, we will inform you at the time of the decision, allow you to submit observations, and request a review of the decision by a person within our organization.

Our services are not directed to children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

Under Quebec Law 25, the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information of a minor under the age of 14 requires the consent of a person with parental authority or a tutor.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without appropriate consent, we will take immediate steps to delete that information. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer immediately at info@docere.ca.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources that are not operated by us. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites. We strongly encourage you to review the privacy policy of every website you visit.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will notify you by posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date.

For significant changes that affect how we handle your sensitive personal information, we will seek your renewed consent as required by Quebec Law 25. Your continued use of our services after the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Province of Quebec and the applicable federal laws of Canada, including Quebec's Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (as amended by Law 25) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).