Confirmation of receipt

If you submit your application through GCOS, you will receive an acknowledgment immediately and a tracking number. This confirmation is considered the acknowledgement of receipt of your application. You will also receive a confirmation of receipt sent by email. If you do not receive a confirmation number acknowledging the application has been received, your application has not been submitted. Please ensure to click "submit" before you exit your application. For more information on the GCOS application confirmation number, or if you experience any technical issues, please consult the Grants and Contributions Online Services: User Guides.

Other ways to apply

While we recommend using GCOS, you can also apply using one of the following options:

• Online fillable form

  To apply online, you will use the Online fillable form. The application will be completed using your browser and submitted to Service Canada when you click the “Submit to Service Canada” button at the end of the application.

  Important notes if you apply using the Online fillable form:

  • Sessions expire after 20 minutes. Your draft application in the online fillable form will become unavailable if left inactive for 20 minutes.
  • Your application can be saved and continued at a later date. To save a draft application, you must provide your email address and create a password. Once saved, an email will be sent to you with a one-time link to resume completion of the application. However, you must complete and submit the application within 72 hours following the start of the application. Otherwise, the saved copy of your application will expire and all inputted information will be lost. If the password created is forgotten, it cannot be reset and the application will be lost.
  • Print a copy of your application before submitting your application. You can print a copy of your online application for your records. However, to do this, you must print a copy before submitting your application online. Once submitted, you will not be able to print it.
  • Click “submit to Service Canada” to complete your application. After you print a copy of your online application, you must still click “submit to Service Canada” to complete your application. If you do not click “submit to Service Canada”, your application will not be received and processed.
  • A confirmation number is immediately generated by the system once an online fillable application has been successfully submitted. This confirmation is considered the acknowledgement of receipt of your application. You will also receive a confirmation of receipt sent by email. If you do not receive a confirmation number acknowledging the application has been received, you have not completed the submission properly.

• By mail or in-person

  Please note that the ability to submit an application in person or by mail could be impacted by office closures.

  To apply by mail or in-person, download and complete the application form. Applications received by fax or by email will not be considered.

  How to submit your application

  By mail

  Your application must be postmarked by a postal service on or before January 10, 2024. Consult the CSJ website for the address where to send your application. Note additional administrative delays might apply.

  It is recommended that you submit your application electronically using the online fillable application or GCOS as the ability to submit an application by mail could be impacted by office closures.

  An acknowledgment confirming receipt will be emailed to you within 14 calendar days. The acknowledgment will be sent to the email address provided in your application. Retain this confirmation, as you will need it for future communication with Service Canada.

  In-person

  Your application must be received before the close of business of the Service Canada Office on January 10, 2024. Consult the Service Canada website for the hours of service of the Service Canada Offices. Note additional administrative delays might apply.

  It is recommended that you submit your application electronically using the online fillable application or GCOS as the ability to submit an application by mail could be impacted by office closures.

  An acknowledgment confirming receipt will be emailed to you within 14 calendar days. The acknowledgment will be sent to the email address provided in your application. Retain this confirmation, as you will need it for future communication with Service Canada.

  About PDFs

  Our application form uses PDF form technology. You must have a PDF reader installed to use the form correctly. There are several readers available on the Internet for free that support our form:

  • Adobe Reader (you must use a version of Adobe Reader 8 or higher, for example Adobe Acrobat DC Reader)
  • Foxit Reader

  Alert: Warning

  If you do not use the recommended readers (Adobe Acrobat 8 or higher or Foxit Reader), ESDC may receive a blank application from you.

  Downloading the application form

  1. Make sure that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader 8 or higher or Foxit Reader installed on your system.
  2. Select the Application form
  3. When prompted to open or save the form, select the down arrow on the "Save" button, and select ”Save as”.
  4. Select your folder location and save (file type must be PDF).
  5. Reopen the form from your computer:
     1. select the “Open with” option
     2. choose option to open with either Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit
  6. Make sure that the form opens in one of the Reader Softwares (Adobe or Foxit), by looking at the top of your screen. For example, you should see:
     1. ESDC-EMP 5396A.pdf (SECURED) – Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
     2. ESDC-EMP 5396A.pdf (SECURED) – Foxit PhantomPDF
  7. Begin inputting and save your information.
  8. Before submitting your application make sure that the Application form is completed, and all information has saved properly.

  Moving within a form

  To move from one field to the next on the form, hit “Tab”. This ensures that you do not accidently skip over any fields.

  Forms that perform calculations

  Submit only one copy of your application to Service Canada. Submitting multiple copies of the same application or submitting the same application by using various methods will cause longer processing times for your application.

Submit one application only

Submit only one copy of your application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Submitting multiple copies of the same application or submitting the same application by using various methods will cause longer processing times for your application.