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How can I get help with my immigration or citizenship application?

There are several ways to get help with your application, depending on what you need help with. The fastest and most affordable way to get help with your application is to use our online resources.

Instruction guides

Most programs you can apply for have an application package with an instruction guide. The guide provides tips and information on

• how to fill out your forms
• pay your fees
• submit your application

Find the instruction guide for your program.

There are also some online applications that allow you to apply without a guide. The online application will take you through all the forms you need to fill out, as well as paying your fees and submitting your application. If you need help with a question or document, click on the help icon (a question mark).

Before you apply, you should still visit the website to understand eligibility requirements, the application process and what to expect after you apply:

• Express Entry (permanent residence for skilled workers)
• International Experience Canada (work and travel program for youth)

Frequently asked questions and how-to videos

Our online Help Centre has answers to over 800 questions to help you with your application. Type a topic or keyword into the search field to find questions about it.

• List of all topics
• Top questions about technical problems
• Definitions of common words we use

You can also find how-to videos in our video centre. Type the topic you’re interested in into the search bar to find videos about it.

In-person help

For help in person, you can use a representative. If you’re outside Canada, you can also go to a visa application centre (VAC).

Use a representative

A representative is anyone (family, friend or paid advisor) who helps you with your application and who has your consent to get information about your file.

You don’t need to hire anyone to help you with your application. You can get all the forms and information you need to apply for free. Hiring someone doesn’t guarantee that we’ll approve your application or process it faster.

• Learn about using a representative
• How to fill out the “Use of representative” form to appoint a representative

Go to a visa application centre (if you’re outside Canada)

Visa application centres (VAC) are private businesses that accept applications and make sure they get to the right visa office. There is a fee to use a VAC.

A VAC can

• serve you in your local language
• make sure your application is complete
• collect your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

VAC don’t have services for every application. They can help you with

• study or work permits
• visitor visas (temporary resident visas)
• travel documents for permanent residents

Find your closest VAC.

If you’re currently in the United States, you can also give your biometrics at an Application Support Center.

If we haven’t answered your question

If you already have an application in progress, learn how to update it or check its status.

If you have general questions about a program or service, contact us through our Web form.

How can I change my address or contact information for my immigration or citizenship application?

To change your address:

You can change your address online or through our Web form.

To change your contact information (email or phone number):

Use this Web form to update your email or phone number.

How do I submit my application?

How you submit an application depends on what you apply for.

Review the program you’re interested in to get instructions on how to apply:

• Visit Canada
• Immigrate to Canada
• Work in Canada
• Study in Canada
• Canadian citizenship
• Refugees and asylum
• Permanent resident cards and travel documents
• Canadian passports and travel documents
• Adoption

How can I update or ask about an IRCC application in progress?

Follow these tips to track, update or change information about an application in progress.

Check the status of your application

Find out how to check if we received your application.

We’ll send you your application number by mail or email when

• we made sure your application is complete
• we begin processing your application

Once you have your application number, you can check the status of your application. There are a few ways you can do that, depending on if you applied online or on paper.

Update your application

If we need more information to process your application, we’ll contact you by mail, email or through your account.

If you have a question about our request, you can

• send us your question through our web form, or
• ask your question through your online account (if you have one). Upload a document with your question in place of the document we asked for

Make sure you keep your contact information updated. That way, we can contact you if we need to.

Change your mailing address

There are different ways of changing your address depending on your type of application and where you applied from.

Find out how to change your address.

Change other information

You must use our web form to tell us about changes to your situation, even if you applied online.

Examples of changes include

• marriage or divorce
• birth or adoption of a child
• death of an applicant or dependant
• getting a new passport
  • You must submit a scanned copy of your new passport.
• changes that could affect your eligibility for the program you’re applying for, including changes in your
  • job situation
  • education
  • language skills
• contact information updates, including
  • email
  • phone number

If you change your contact information, make sure you check your old contact information until we update your application.

Don’t send us changes for your contact or application information by mail. If you do, we won’t acknowledge your request or update your application. This could lead to a delay in processing your application.

How can I check the status of my application?

It depends on what kind of application you submitted and how you applied. You may have more than 1 option.

Find out how to check your application status.

If you haven’t heard from us since you applied, find out

• when you can check your application status
• how to check if we received your application

How long will it take to process my application?

We can’t tell you exactly how long it will take us to process your application. Each application is different and takes a different amount of time to process.

You can check the processing times to find out how long it takes us to process most applications.

Learn how to check your application status.

What if I cannot attend my citizenship appointment with IRCC? Can I reschedule it?

Yes. If you are not available on the date and time of your appointment, write us a letter of explanation. Send this letter to the IRCC office that scheduled your original appointment. You can send this letter by mail, or online, using this Web form. We will reschedule your appointment on a different date.

If you do not attend your appointment, you must contact us within a certain amount of time. The notice we sent you inviting you to the appointment will tell you when you must contact us. Use this Web form and tell us why you missed your appointment. If you do not contact us in time, we will close your application. You will have to apply again and pay the required fees.