How can I check if my application has been received?
If we start processing your application, we’ll send you an acknowledgement of receipt letter or email with an application number.
We don’t send an acknowledgement of receipt until we have opened your application and checked that it’s complete. There may be a delay between the date we receive your application and the date we open it.
Your application will be returned to you if
- it’s incomplete
- fees are missing or
- it’s received after a program is paused, closed or a cap is reached
Tips to track your application
If you mail your application
We recommend that you use a postal or courier service with a tracking number to ensure you get proof that your application was delivered to the IRCC office.
For some paper applications, you can get detailed application status and your messages online. You can do this by linking an application to an online account.
If you apply at a visa application centre (VAC)
VACs offer tracking services that tell you when your application has been received at our offices.
If you apply online
You’ll see a confirmation page after you submit your application. You’ll also receive an email:
- telling you to check your account for a confirmation message and number, or
- confirming you submitted your application
Keep your confirmation information for your records. It can take a few hours for you to receive an email from IRCC after you submit your application.
For more information
- Checking your case status online
- What happens after I send in my application?
- How can I update or ask about an IRCC application in progress?
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