When can I expect to receive my application back?

If your application is incomplete, missing fees, or received after a program is paused, closed, or a cap is reached, the IRCC will return it to you without processing. You will receive a letter from the IRCC with details on why your application was returned, either via email or to your physical address.

How can I track my application?

You can track your application by opting for a courier service that requires a signature upon delivery. This will let you know when your application has been received by the IRCC so you can start tracking its progress. Alternatively, you can link your application to an online account, which allows you to check its status and receive messages from the IRCC. If you submitted your application to a Visa Application Center, you can receive tracking services to know whether the IRCC has received your application. For online applications, you will receive a confirmation message after submitting your application, which includes a confirmation number. The IRCC will also send an email asking you to check your online account for the confirmation message. Please note that it may take several hours for the email to arrive.

What happens after I submit my application?

The IRCC will open your application to ensure that it is complete, all required fees have been paid, and the immigration program you applied for is ongoing. The immigration officer will check for any missing forms, documents, or other information that needs to be attached before sending an acknowledgment of receipt letter to you. Once your application is received, opened, and checked, the IRCC will begin processing it. Processing times may vary depending on the volume of applications and the time it takes for you to fulfill any requests made by the IRCC during processing.

How can I check if my application has been received?

When to expect the application to be returned
How to track your application
What happens after I send my application?

When IRCC begins processing your application, they will send an acknowledgment of receipt letter to your mail or an email with the application number to your online account. The acknowledgement of receipt letter is only sent to the applicant when they have opened the application and ensured that it is completed. This means that the day on which the IRCC receives the application and the day it is opened may vary.

When to expect the application to be returned

If you send your application and it is incomplete, the IRCC will return it to you without any processing. Applications are also returned due to missing fees or if it has been received after a program is paused, closed or a cap is reached. The IRCC will send a letter to the applicant with details on why the applications were returned either via email or to their physical address.

How to track your application

There are a few tips that you can take advantage of to track your application.

If you use mail to submit your application, opt for a courier service that requires a signature when the package is delivered. This will let you know when the applications have been received by the IRCC so you can start keeping track of its progress.
The best way to track your application is using an online account. IRCC allows you to link your application to an online account depending on the immigration program and if you applied online. Using the online account, you can check application status and get messages from the IRCC which helps you to act fast.
For applications that were sent to the Visa Application Center, applicants can receive their tracking services which allow them to know whether the IRCC has received their applications.
For applications that were done online, you will get to a confirmation page after submitting your application which helps you to know that it has been received. The IRCC will also send an email asking you to check your online account for a confirmation message. Each confirmation message has a confirmation number that you need to keep for your records. The messages may not be sent immediately after you submit your application. It may take several hours for IRCC to send the email after submitting your application.

What happens after I send my application?

The IRCC will start by opening the application to ensure that they are complete, all required fees have been paid and the immigration program that you applied for is ongoing. The immigration officer will look out for any missing forms, documents or any other information that needs to be attached before they send the acknowledgment of receipt letter to the applicant.
Once the application is received, opened and checked to ensure it is complete, the IRCC begins processing. Processing times may vary depending on the volumes of applications and the amount of time the applicant takes to fulfill any requests made by the IRCC during processing.