How to Confirm IRCC Has Received Your Canadian Immigration Application
How to Check If IRCC Received Your Canada Immigration Application
When you’ve taken the big step of applying to immigrate to Canada, it’s natural to want reassurance that your application has been safely received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Timely confirmation not only gives peace of mind but also helps you monitor the progress of your case. However, how and when you receive confirmation largely depends on how the application was submitted—online, through a visa application centre (VAC), or by paper.
This blog will walk you through the various ways to confirm receipt of your application, what different types of confirmations mean, and how to link your application to your IRCC online account if applicable.
1. Understanding the Importance of Application Confirmation
Immigration applications are often time-sensitive and involve significant documentation, effort, and emotional investment. Confirming that IRCC has received your application ensures:
- Your documents have been delivered to the correct place.
- Your application is being queued for processing.
- You can track the progress or resolve any technical issues if they arise.
2. Submitting Your Application Online: What to Expect
Immediate Confirmation Page
Once you submit your immigration application through the IRCC online portal, you’ll be directed to a confirmation screen. This page typically states that your application was successfully submitted.
Confirmation Email from IRCC
Shortly after submission, IRCC will send an automated email to the email address associated with your account. This message confirms receipt of your application and prompts you to log into your IRCC account for further details.
Important: This confirmation is not an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR). The AOR is sent only after IRCC begins processing your application and confirms that all required documents are included.
Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR)
The AOR is a formal notice from IRCC indicating that your application has passed the preliminary check and is now in the processing stage. Depending on the volume of applications and the stream you applied under, receiving an AOR can take days or even several months.
3. Tracking Applications Submitted Through Visa Application Centres (VACs)
If you applied through a VAC, tracking is available via the reference number or tracking ID provided at the time of submission.
Methods of Tracking Through VACs:
- Website tracking tools: Most VACs have online tracking systems.
- Email notifications: Updates may be sent directly to your inbox.
- SMS alerts: Some centres offer text updates, although additional charges may apply.
- Customer helplines and web chat: You can speak with agents for real-time information.
Note that the services offered vary by country and VAC provider. For specific instructions, refer to the IRCC webpage associated with your VAC.
4. Paper-Based Applications: How to Confirm Delivery
Tips for Paper Submissions:
- Use a trackable postal or courier service: Always opt for a service that provides delivery tracking and requires a signature upon receipt
- Retain proof of delivery: Save your tracking receipt and screenshot the delivery confirmation for your records.
- No AOR by default: AORs for paper applications may not be sent until much later, if at all, unless you link your paper application to your IRCC online account (more on this below).
5. Linking Your Paper Application to an IRCC Online Account
In certain cases, you can connect your paper-based application to an online IRCC account to check updates, receive messages, and track status.
Step-by-Step Guide to Linking:
- Create a Secure IRCC Account (if you don’t already have one).
- Log in and select “Link your application” under the “View my submitted applications” section.
- Input application details carefully, ensuring they match your original submission or reflect any changes since applying.
Note: You have only five attempts to link your application correctly. After five failed tries, your account will be temporarily locked for 24 hours.
6. Which Applications Can Be Linked Online?
Not all immigration applications can be linked to an online account. Below are the categories that are currently eligible:
Permanent Residence Applications:
- Express Entry (CEC, FSWP, FSTP)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Family Sponsorship (except sponsor applications)
- Caregiver pathways (Home Child Care Provider, Home Support Worker)
- Quebec-selected workers and investors
- Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons Program
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Protected persons and convention refugees
Temporary Residence Applications:
- Study and work permits (and their extensions)
- Visitor visas and visitor records
- International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Other Programs:
- Interim Federal Health Program
- Permanent Resident Cards (PR cards)
7. What If You Can’t Link Your Application?
- Use IRCC’s “Check Application Status” tool: This tool provides status updates for certain types of applications.
- Check processing times: Knowing the average time IRCC takes for your application type can help manage expectations.
- Contact IRCC via web form: If it's been more than five days since submission and your application hasn’t appeared online, use the IRCC web form and select “Report a technical problem.”
7. You Qualify Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
CUSMA Work Permit Categories
| Category | Who is eligible? |
|---|---|
| Professionals | Citizens with a Canadian job offer in one of 63 designated professions and the necessary qualifications. |
| Intra-company transferees | Employees transferred within a multinational company to a Canadian branch, with specialized experience. |
| Traders | Individuals involved in substantial trade of goods/services between their home country and Canada. |
| Investors | Those actively investing in a Canadian business owned by U.S. or Mexican nationals. |
8. You Are Seeking Refugee Protection
Foreign nationals who have submitted a claim for asylum in Canada may be eligible for a work permit while waiting for a decision.
To qualify, you must:
- Have submitted a claim to IRCC.
- Demonstrate a credible fear of persecution, torture, or inhumane treatment in your home country.
This applies to individuals fleeing danger based on race, religion, nationality, or political/social group membership.
9. You Are Recognized as a Convention Refugee or Protected Person
If the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) has determined you are a convention refugee or protected person, or IRCC approved your Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA), you can apply for a work permit from within Canada.
Final Thoughts
