Applying to immigrate, study, work, or visit Canada can be an exciting yet stressful process. One of the most common concerns applicants face is not knowing if their application actually reached Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
This guide will walk you through all the ways you can confirm receipt of your application, whether you applied online, through a Visa Application Centre (VAC), or via paper mail. We’ll delve into tracking options, account linking, and what to do if you encounter issues, helping you gain peace of mind during your immigration journey.
Understanding IRCC’s Application Receipt Process
Before exploring the different submission channels and their tracking nuances, it’s important to understand how IRCC processes applications. When IRCC receives your application—via any channel—they first log it, which marks the official “receipt date.” However, this is not always the same as the date you sent or submitted your application.
Key Milestones:
- Initial Submission Confirmation: Immediate acknowledgment that your application reached IRCC.
- Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR): An official document or email confirming that IRCC has opened and begun processing your application.
- Application Number: A unique identifier assigned to your case, allowing ongoing tracking.
Different submission methods provide varied ways of knowing when each milestone is reached. Let’s analyze them one by one.
If You Applied Online
Immediate Confirmation
Online applications are increasingly the norm for many IRCC programs. After completing your application and clicking ‘submit’, you should see an on-screen confirmation page. This page usually states that your application has been submitted successfully. It is a strong indicator that IRCC’s electronic system has received your file.
Email Notification
Shortly after submission (typically within a few minutes to a few hours), IRCC will send an automatic email to the address you provided in your application. This message will:
- Thank you for your submission.
- Advise you to check for a confirmation message and application number in your IRCC online account.
- Serve as a record that your file was successfully transmitted.
Accessing Your IRCC Online Account
To check your application’s status, log in to your IRCC MyAccount. Once your submission is processed, you will usually see your application with an assigned number in the portal.
Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR)
It’s important to distinguish between immediate submission confirmation and the official AOR. The AOR is an email or letter formally stating that IRCC has opened your application and found it complete for further processing. This can take several days or even up to a few months, depending on the program and the current IRCC workload.
TIP: Save your submission confirmation, email notifications, and the AOR for your records—they may be needed if you need to prove submission date or address future concerns with IRCC.
If You Submitted via a Visa Application Centre (VAC)
Application Tracking Options
VACs are third-party service providers authorized by IRCC to collect applications in various countries. If you applied through a VAC, you generally receive a unique tracking number and receipt immediately upon submission. You can track your application by:
- VAC Website Tool: Enter your reference and tracking number on the local VAC’s tracking web page.
- Email Updates: Sign up for email notifications when you submit your application.
- Web Chat or Helpline: Many VACs offer live chat or phone support to check the real-time status of your file.
- SMS Alerts: Some centers provide SMS updates for a fee, notifying you of major status changes such as receipt, forwarding to IRCC, or request for biometrics.
What Is Confirmed?
When tracking with your VAC tools, you can usually see:
- Submission Date: When VAC received your file.
- Dispatch to IRCC: When the application was forwarded to the IRCC office.
- Receipt at IRCC: When IRCC logs your application as received.
Documents to Keep
Always retain the following:
- VAC submission receipt
- Tracking number/ID
- Any emails or SMS received regarding your case
If You Sent a Paper Application
Delivery Confirmation
Paper applications still exist for certain immigration categories and for applicants unable to apply online. Here’s how you track such submissions:
- Courier Service Tracking: Always use a mailing method that offers tracking and requires a signature upon delivery (like Canada Post Xpresspost, FedEx, UPS, DHL). This way, you can confirm on the courier’s website exactly when IRCC signed for your package.
- Mail Delivery Record: Save the digital or paper proof of delivery as evidence for the future.
Wait Time for AOR
Unlike online applications, there’s no instant notification. You must wait until IRCC opens your package and enters your details into their system. Only then will you receive the Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR)—this can take weeks to months, especially during high volume periods.
Linking Your Paper Application to Your IRCC Account
Why Link Applications?
Linking allows you to receive digital updates and check your status online, just like direct online applicants. It also reduces the chance of missing communications sent via physical mail, which can be delayed or lost.
Step-by-Step Process
- Set Up an IRCC Account: If you don’t already have one, register at IRCC Secure Account.
- Navigate to Application Section: Log in, scroll to the “View the applications you submitted” area.
- Choose to Link: Select “Link your paper application” and follow the prompts.
- Input Details Carefully: You have five attempts per 24-hour period. Make sure the information (name, date of birth, location, etc.) matches exactly what you put in your paper application.
- Check for Confirmation: After successful linking, your application should appear in your online account within five days.
- Monitor for Updates: All further communications related to your application will now appear in your account (instead of paper mail).
What if Linking Fails?
Occasionally, applicants get locked out after five failed attempts. If that happens:
- Wait 24 hours to try again.
- If unsuccessful, submit an IRCC Web Form (choose “Report a technical problem”) explaining your issue.
Which Applications Can You Link?
Not all paper applications are eligible for linking. As of 2024, here are major supported categories:
Permanent Residence (PR)
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Caregivers (all pathways, including Home Child Care Provider, Home Support Worker, and In-Canada live-in caregivers)
- Express Entry (CEC, FSTP, FSWP, and Express Entry profiles)
- Family sponsorships
- Protected persons and convention refugees (in-Canada)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Quebec immigration programs (skilled worker, entrepreneurs, investors)
- Self-employed persons
- Start-up visa
- Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway
Temporary Residence
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Study permits and extensions
- Visitor visas and records
- Work permits and extensions
Other Applications
- Interim Federal Health Program
- Permanent resident cards
IRCC consistently updates this list, so check IRCC’s official page for the latest supported categories.
What If You Haven’t Received Any Confirmation?
General Timelines
- Online: Confirmation page—immediate; AOR—up to several weeks
- VAC: Submission and IRCC receipt—visible in tracking, often within days; AOR—weeks/months
- Paper: Courier delivery—immediate proof; AOR—weeks/months
Troubleshooting Steps
- Check Your Spam/Junk Folders: Important emails sometimes end up here.
- Verify Application Details: Log into your IRCC account and check status.
- Follow Up with VAC (if applicable): Ensure the application was actually forwarded.
- Use Web Form: If no AOR or response has arrived after a reasonable time, or if you suspect issues, fill out the IRCC Web Form. Provide:
- Details of your application (type, submission date)
- Proof of submission (screenshots, courier receipt, VAC tracking ID)
When Should You Worry?
- Online: If there is no confirmation email or account update within 48 hours.
- Paper/VAC: If there’s no AOR within IRCC’s published processing start timelines (usually posted on their website by program).
If you encounter system outages or widespread delays (often announced on IRCC’s Processing Times or Twitter), be patient but follow up if delays become excessive.
How to Track and Prove Submission for Legal or Official Purposes
For many immigration paths (such as post-graduation work permits or bridging open work permits), proof of application submission is key to maintaining legal status in Canada. If you have confirmed IRCC receipt—even before getting your AOR—it typically counts as evidence.
Accepted Evidence Includes:
- Online submission confirmation page (screenshots or downloads)
- IRCC confirmation email
- Courier signed delivery slip
- VAC submission receipt/tracking logs