Check your application status
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, we’re experiencing processing delays. We’re prioritizing applications from people who are exempt from travel restrictions.
Select your application type to get information about
- how to check your application status
- where we’re at with processing during the pandemic New
What did you apply for?
- Immigration
- Family sponsorship
- Citizenship
Which citizenship application?
- Becoming a Canadian citizen (grant of citizenship)
- Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
- Search of citizenship records
- Resuming Canadian citizenship
- Giving up Canadian citizenship (renunciation)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Visitor visa
- Work permit
- Study permit
- Permanent resident card (PR Card)
- Refugees
- Verification of status (VOS) or request to amend
Immigration
This includes applications for the following:
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot
- Canadian experience class
- caregivers
- federal skilled workers
- federal skilled trades
- humanitarian and compassionate cases
- protected persons
- provincial nominees
- Quebec-selected skilled workers
- Quebec investors
- Quebec entrepreneurs
- self-employed people
- start-up visas
- temporary resident permits
Where we’re at with processing
Last updated: 2021-01-18
Express Entry applications
Canadian Experience Class applications in process
- We’re working at full capacity to process applications.
- You may experience delays in processing because we have a backlog of applications due to COVID-19.
- We have started processing applications received the week of August 12, 2020
All other Express Entry applications in process
- We have limited capacity to process applications and you may experience a delay.
- We’ll update this when timelines become available.
Find more information about how COVID-19 affects your immigration application
Check your application status
Online applications
If you applied online, get the latest updates in your account:
- Sign in to your online account.
- Go to View my submitted applications or profiles.
- Click on Check status and messages.
Paper applications
There are 2 ways to check your application status online.
Option 1: Use the Client Application Status tool
This online tool is updated daily
Check application statusOption 2: Check your application status in your online account
You can create a secure IRCC online account and link your paper application.
See which applications you can link to an online account.
In your online account, you get
- status updates
- messages about your application online instead of by mail
We can’t provide processing times.
You can check processing times to see how long it usually took us to process your type of application before COVID-19.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19
- we can’t provide processing times or tell you how much longer it will take us to process your application
- we can’t give you more information than what is available in your account
- our Client Support Centre agents don’t have additional information on processing times
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress
Family sponsorship
This includes:
- spouse
- partner
- common-law partner
- dependent child
- parents
- grandparents
- adopted children
- children to be adopted
- orphans
- other family classes
Paper applications
There are two ways to check your application status online.
If you are the person being sponsored, you can:
- create an online account and link your paper application to it. You’ll get:
- detailed application status in real-time and
- email alerts and messages online about your application instead of by mail, or
- use the online tool, which is updated daily.
Both you and the person sponsoring you can check the status of your application by using our online tool.
Processing times
If you cannot use the check application status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
Becoming a Canadian citizen (grant of citizenship)
Last updated: January 14, 2021
We’re still accepting new applications for citizenship.
Due to COVID-19:
- we’re prioritizing Canadians who are trying to return Canada
- we can’t provide processing times or tell you how much longer it will take us to process your application
- You can check processing times to see how long it usually took us to process your application before COVID-19.
- If you call us, our Client Support Centre agents do not have additional information on processing times.
- we can’t give you more information than what is already available in the Client Application Status tool
Step 1: You need your AOR to check your status
You’ll get an AOR (acknowledgement of receipt) letter or email after we receive your application and check that it’s complete.
You cannot check your application status (online or through the Client Support Centre) until you have received your AOR letter or email.
Due to COVID-19, it’s taking us longer to
- check that your application is complete
- send you an AOR letter or email with your application number
Step 2: Check your application status
When you have your AOR and application number, you can check your application status securely online.
The Client Application Status tool is updated daily.
Before checking your application status, you’ll need to
- gather all the documents you have received regarding your application
- have your identification numbers from these documents to log in
If you can’t check your status online
- find out why you can’t see your status
- we’ll let you know as soon as there are updates to your application
Step 3: Final steps to become a Canadian citizen
We’re now doing tests and interviews for applicants who qualify for urgent processing.
Citizenship test
Since December 1, 2020, we’re inviting some applicants to take the citizenship test online.
- Wait for us to invite you.
- If you can’t or don’t want to do the online test, you may wait until in-person tests resume (date to be determined).
Retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings)
We cancelled most retests, interviews and hearings (including videoconference hearings).
- Wait for us to contact you.
- If you need to change your appointment, contact the office that sent the invitation.
- The contact information is in the letter we sent.
- We use Microsoft Teams to schedule urgent tests and interviews (if you qualify and apply for urgent processing).
Video oath ceremony (virtual citizenship ceremony)
Since April 1, 2020, we started inviting applicants to take the Oath of Citizenship through video calls.
Wait for us to invite you.
Contact us through the Web form if you
- had a ceremony scheduled on or before March 15, 2020, and
- haven’t received an invitation for a video oath ceremony.
Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
Client application status Updated daily
The Client Application Status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online.
Before checking your application status, you will need to
- gather all the documents you have received regarding your application
- have your identification numbers from these documents to log in
Processing times
If you cannot use the Client Application Status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.
Resuming Canadian citizenship
Client application status Updated daily
The Client Application Status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online.
Before checking your application status, you will need to
- gather all the documents you have received regarding your application
- have your identification numbers from these documents to log in
Processing times
If you cannot use the Client Application Status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.
Giving up Canadian citizenship (renunciation)
Client application status Updated daily
The Client Application Status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online.
Before checking your application status, you will need to
- gather all the documents you have received regarding your application
- have your identification numbers from these documents to log in
Processing times
If you cannot use the Client Application Status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.
Search of citizenship records
If it’s been longer than the normal processing time (opens in a new tab) or you need more information
- contact the Client Support Centre if you’re inside Canada
- use the Web form to contact us if you’re outside Canada
Visitor visa
This includes:
- tourist visa
- super visa
- transit visa
- business visa
Online application
If you applied for your visa online, sign in to your account to check your application status. Click “check status and messages” under the “View my submitted applications or profiles” section.
Paper Application
If you applied for your visa on paper, you can link your application to an online account. In your account, you can see the status of your application and receive messages about your application.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
Work permit
This includes:
- work permit
- work permit extension
Online application
If you applied for your visa online, sign in to your account to check your application status. Click “check status and messages” under the “View my submitted applications or profiles” section.
Paper Application
If you applied for your visa on paper, you can link your application to an online account. In your account, you can see the status of your application and receive messages about your application.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
Study permit
This includes:
- study permit
- study permit extension
- work permit for student
Online application
If you applied for your visa online, sign in to your account to check your application status. Click “check status and messages” under the “View my submitted applications or profiles” section.
Paper Application
If you applied for your visa on paper, you can link your application to an online account. In your account, you can see the status of your application and receive messages about your application.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
Permanent resident card (PR card)
This includes:
- initial PR card
- renewal
- replacement
Client application status Updated daily
The check application status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online.
Before checking your application status you will need to:
- gather all the documents you have received regarding your application and
- have your identification numbers from these documents to log in.
Processing times
If you cannot use the check application status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
Refugees
This includes:
- convention refugees
- humanitarian protected persons
- group of five
- sponsorship by agreement holders and constituent groups
- joint assistance program
- sponsorship agreement
- community sponsors
Client application status Updated daily
The check application status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online.
Before checking your application status you will need to:
- gather all the documents you have received regarding your application and
- have your identification numbers from these documents to log in.
Processing times
If you cannot use the check application status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
Verification of status (VOS) or request to amend
This includes:
- confirmation of permanent residence
- replacement of visitor record
- amendment of visitor record
- study permit
- work permit
Processing times
If you cannot use the check application status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
You can get online updates on pending applications and the expiration date or status of existing eTAs.
Find out more about how you can update or ask about an application in progress.
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