After you apply

How we process your application

We’ll check your application to make sure you have all the necessary documents.

If it’s incomplete, we may contact you for more information.

If your application is approved

We’ll mail you your work permit, study permit or visitor record, depending on what you applied for.

The document(s) will be mailed to the mailing address you provided when you applied.

How we process your application

We’ll check your application to make sure you have all the necessary documents.

If it’s incomplete, we may contact you for more information.

If your application is approved

You’ll get an approval letter that says you’re allowed to work or study in Canada. This letter is called the port of entry letter of introduction. This letter is not your work permit or study permit. You’ll get those documents when you arrive at the Canadian border.

If your family member is accompanying you or travelling separately

They may need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa) to travel to Canada. What they need depends on their citizenship and how they will travel to Canada.

Find out what they need.

If your family member needs an eTA

If they need an eTA, we’ll automatically issue it when we approve their work or study permit. Their eTA will be electronically linked to their passport and will be valid for 5 years or until their passport expires, whichever comes first. Their letter of introduction will also include information about their eTA.

Make sure they travel with the passport they used to apply under these temporary measures.

If your family member needs a visitor visa

If they’re from a country where they need a visitor visa, we’ll ask them to send us their valid passport or travel document so we can put the visa counterfoil in their passport.

What to bring when you travel to Canada

When you travel to Canada, be prepared to bring the following:

• your passport or any official document used to travel (required for everyone travelling)
• your port of entry (POE) letter (required for anyone who applied for a work or study permit)
• a copy of the document you used to prove you’re a member of a federally recognized tribe in the United States, or a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation
• a copy of the proof you used to establish your relationship to the anchor member of your family in Canada
• a signed letter of authorization for unaccompanied minors (optional)
• a signed Custodian Declaration Form (IMM 5646) (opens in a new tab) for minors studying alone (optional)