Wait for a decision
Not inside Canada?
Find the right info if you applied from outside Canada or at a port of entry (POE).
How to check your application status, how we process your application and what happens if we approve.
On this page
Check the status of your application
Use the application status tracker to get updates about your application. To create an account, you need your:
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 refuse your application.
An officer will also check:
- the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions to make sure that the employer can hire you, and
- that you qualify for a work permit
We may also ask you to:
- attend an interview with our officials
- get a medical exam depending on the type of work you'll be doing
- get a police certificate, or
- send more information or documents
If we approve your application
Get a decision letter in your account
We’ll send you a decision letter in your IRCC secure account letting you know your work permit has been approved.
Sign in to your IRCC secure account
If we refuse your application
Your work permit application could have been refused for reasons such as:
- you didn’t meet the eligibility requirements for the type of work permit you applied for
- you or your family members are inadmissible to Canada
- your application was incomplete
- you had insufficient funds to support yourself and your accompanying family members (if applicable)
- your job offer was not genuine
- you didn’t include enough proof that you have the right skills or education for the job you applied for
- the work permit stream you applied for is no longer offered or the temporary public policy was revoked
- you answered untruthfully to any of the statutory questions in the application
- you haven’t complied with one or more conditions listed in any previous permit(s)
- you’ve remained in Canada beyond the period of authorized stay
You can apply again, unless your decision letter says you can’t. You should only apply again if you can include information that you didn’t include before.
If you followed the instructions to apply from outside Canada
In this case, you filled out the form called Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada (IMM 1295).
If your application is approved, you’ll get an approval letter that says you’re allowed to work in Canada. This letter is called the port of entry (POE) letter of introduction (LOI). It is not a work permit. You cannot start working until you have your work permit.
If you’re in Canada when you get your POE letter of introduction, you must leave the country to activate your work permit. You can’t activate your work permit if you re-enter from the U.S. or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
Start working
You can start working as soon as you receive this note. You don’t have to wait until you get your work permit in the mail to start working.
We’ll mail your work permit
We’ll mail the work permit to the Canadian address you gave us. If your mailing address changes before we send you our decision, you must let us know.
If you don’t receive your work permit
You should get your work permit in the mail within 6 weeks of getting your decision letter. If you don’t receive it, contact us.