After you apply

On this page

• How we process your application
• Checking your application status
• If we approve your application
• Getting your permanent resident status

How we process your application

Once we get your application, we’ll check that

• your application is complete (you included all forms and supporting documents)
• you’re eligible to apply

We’ll invite you and your family members to

• complete medical exams
• provide your biometrics
• pass our criminal and security checks

While your application is being processed, you must tell us if you change your address or contact information.

Stage 1: We check that you included all forms

We’ll review your application to make sure you signed and included all the forms.

If all the needed forms were signed and included

• We’ll email you (or your representative) an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) with your application number.
• If you receive an AOR, this confirms we added your application to our system.

If any forms are not signed or are missing

• We’ll return your application as incomplete without processing it.
• We’ll ask you for the missing or incomplete forms in the portal and you can reapply if the program is still open.
• We won’t add your application to our system and you won’t get an AOR.

Stage 2: We review if you’re eligible and admissible to Canada

If your application is complete, we’ll start processing it.

Interviews

You may need to go to an interview to give us more information. Any family members on your application may also need to do this.

If we ask you to come for an interview, we’ll tell you the date, time, where it is, and what documents to bring with you. You and your family members must give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) at this interview.

Checking your admissibility to Canada

Once we confirm you’re eligible, we’ll review your application to make sure you’re admissible to Canada. This means we’ll check to make sure you pass

• security checks
• criminality checks
• medical checks

Medical check

As part of the medical check, you and any family members coming with you to Canada must undergo immigration medical exams.

You should only do your medical exams when we ask you to. When we ask you to undergo your exams, we’ll send you

• medical forms for you and any family members in your application
• instructions to find a doctor in your area who is authorized to do your medical exam

You must pay for the medical exam. The cost can differ from one doctor to another. At your medical exam, you can also talk to your doctor about other medical services that will help support your travel to Canada. This can include routine, voluntary vaccinations and some other medical services.

Checking your application status

You can check your status once we’ve started processing your application and sent you the application number. To do so

1. create an IRCC secure online account and link your application to it
   • This includes an application submitted online through the Permanent Residence Portal or an alternate format, if you’re eligible.
2. use the online status tool, which is updated daily

Reasons your application could be delayed

Your application could be delayed if

• your contact information is missing or out of date
• your application is not complete
• the documents you send us
  • are unclear or don’t meet requirements
  • don’t have a certified English or French translation
• there are any criminal or security problems, or we need to do more background checks
• your family situation isn’t clear, or has changed and you didn’t let us know, which could include
  • a divorce
  • an adoption that isn’t complete
  • child custody issues that haven’t been resolved
• the processing office has to contact other IRCC offices in or outside Canada to confirm details you gave us
• you don’t include your application number when you contact us
• there are any issues getting an exit permit for the country you’re living in

If we approve your application

If we approve your application, you must pay the costs of your travel to Canada.

Getting your permanent resident status

If we approve your application, we’ll issue you (and any of your family members that are coming with you)

• a visa for travel to Canada or a single journey travel document that will let you travel to Canada (if you don’t have a valid passport) if you are not in Canada already
• a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR)

If the country you live in requires you to get an exit permit, you must apply for it before you can leave for Canada.