After you apply

Find out what you should do after you apply to come to Canada as a provincial nominee.

On this page

• How we process your application
• Check your application status
• If you’re currently working in Canada
• Decision on your application

How we process your application

After you apply, we’ll check that you have

• filled out your application correctly
• paid your processing fee
• met all the requirements
• included all documents

We’ll contact you to

• confirm your application is complete
• tell you what you need to do and what will happen next

If your application isn’t complete, we’ll reject it and refund your processing fees. You’ll have to fix any errors and then re-submit it.

We’ll send you an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) that includes your application number.

During processing, we’ll ask you to submit your

• biometrics
• medical exams
• police certificates

Get your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) taken

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for every application for permanent residence you submit to us, even if you gave your biometrics in the past and they’re still valid.

• You must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may experience delays.
• If your application is complete, we’ll send you a letter confirming you need to give your biometrics.
• If you haven’t already paid your biometrics fee, pay it as soon as you get the letter from us.
• You have 30 days from the date on the letter to give your biometrics.

Find out if you need to give, how to give, and where to give your biometrics.

Medical exams

You must have a medical exam before you come to Canada. Your family members must also have one, even if they’re not coming with you.

We won’t accept your application if your health

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

Police certificate

If you have a criminal record, you may not be allowed to enter Canada. You can’t enter Canada if you pose a risk to Canada’s security.

You must provide a police certificate from any country (except Canada) in which you spent 6 months in a row or more since the age of 18.

In some countries, it can take a long time to get a police certificate. Therefore, you may want to get it early.

What may delay the processing of your application

How long it takes us to process your application depends on which visa office is processing your application.

To avoid delays

• let us know if there are changes to your personal information
• avoid contacting us more than once about the same issue

There may be delays with your application if

• there are criminal or security problems
• we need to do more background checks
• your family situation is not clear, for example
  • there is a divorce or an adoption that is not yet complete
  • there are child custody issues that have not been resolved
• a visa office has to contact our other offices in Canada or abroad to check your information

Keep your information up to date

To avoid processing delays, use the web form to tell us about changes both to your application and to your personal information as soon as possible.

You must let us know if

• you want to withdraw your application
• your family composition changes, for example
  • a child is born or adopted
  • there is a marriage or divorce
• you change your immigration representative
• your mailing address or email address changes
• a province or territory withdraws your nomination
• you don’t plan to live in the province or territory nominating you

If you’re currently working in Canada

If your existing work permit is about to expire, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit. If you’re eligible, this permit can let you keep working while you wait for a final decision on your permanent residence application.

Find out how to apply for a bridging open work permit.

Check your application status

Once you get your AOR letter, you can check the status of your application using your application number.

You can check your application status by using the online tool, which is updated daily.

If you can’t view the status of your application, contact us to report a technical problem.

Decision on your application

We’ll make a decision on your application based on whether you

• meet the eligibility criteria for the program
• have the funds to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada
• are admissible to Canada, based on
  • your medical exam
  • your police certificate
  • any other background information

If we need more information from you, we’ll let you know. We may also invite you to an interview.

If you aren’t truthful in your application for permanent residence we may

• refuse your application
• find you inadmissible
• bar you from applying for permanent resident status for up to 5 years