After you apply

On this page:

• Keep your information up to date
• Get your fingerprints and photo taken
• Book your medical exam
• Processing your application
• Check your application status
• While you wait for a decision (if you’re currently in Canada)
• Decision on your application

Get your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) taken

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics). This is true even if you gave your biometrics in the past and they’re still valid.

We’ll email you instructions after you’ve paid your biometrics fee and submitted a complete application. This can take up to several weeks.

• You have 30 days from the date on the letter to get your biometrics done.
• All appointments are in-person at collection sites.

Book your medical exam

You and your family (partner and children) must have a medical exam before you come to Canada. We’ll email you instructions on how to get your medical exam done.

We won’t accept your application if your health:

• is a danger to Canada’s public health or safety or
• would cause too great a demand on health or social services in Canada

Learn more about medical exams

Processing your application

Once you submit your application in the portal, you’ll receive an automatic email confirming that we have received it.

An immigration officer will make sure that you:

• filled out and signed your application forms correctly
• paid your fees
• included all the required documents in your document checklist

If your application is complete, we’ll send you an acknowledgement of receipt with your file number. An officer will then review your application and determine whether you meet the eligibility and admissibility requirements.

If your application is incomplete, we won’t process it and will send it back to you.

How long it will take to process your application

Various factors can affect how long it takes to process an application:

• the type of application submitted
• if the application is complete
• if there are criminal or security problems, or we need to do more background checks
• if your family situation is unclear (for example, an incomplete divorce or adoption, or child custody issues)
• how easily we can verify your information, and if the processing office has to contact other IRCC offices in Canada or abroad
• if we need to interview you
• if you communicate with us by mail instead of using an online account
• how long you take to respond to any request or concerns
• how quickly we process applications we’ve already received
• other factors

The immigration levels plan sets the number of newcomers that Canada plans to welcome each year. If there are more people applying than available spaces, processing times may increase.

We appreciate your patience and we’ll contact you if you need to send more documents. You don’t need to do anything else.

Check your application status

Use the application status tracker to get the most up-to-date and detailed information about the status of your application.

Check your application status(opens in a new tab) 

While you wait for a decision (if you’re currently in Canada)

You can stay in Canada while you wait for permanent residence as long as you maintain your temporary resident status. Your temporary resident status is valid for a specific period of time, so make sure to keep it up to date while you’re waiting.

Decision on your application

When we make a decision on your application, we’ll let you know.

If we approve your application

Once your application is approved, here’s what you need to do next:

1. Make sure to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven’t already done so. We can’t finalize your application until you’ve paid all fees.
2. Find out what happens when you arrive at the border and how to prepare for your life in Canada.

If we refuse your application

We’ll send you a letter that tells you why. To be re-considered, you have to:

• submit a new application
• meet the eligibility criteria
• be found admissible

If you want to withdraw your application

You can submit a webform to withdraw or cancel your application. You might get some of the fees you paid refunded, depending on whether we’ve starting processing it or not.