- How you check status depends on how you applied.
- Sign in to the same IRCC secure account you used to submit the application.
- If you didn't apply online, your status tracking works differently.
Waiting on a decision is often the hardest part of applying for a visitor visa. If you want to check your Canadian visitor visa application status, the good news is that IRCC gives applicants direct tools to do this — the trick is knowing where to look and what the status terms actually mean once you find them.
This article walks through how to track an application step by step, what the common status updates signal, and when it's actually worth reaching out to IRCC directly.
Where Your Application Status Lives
How you check status depends on how you applied. Most applications submitted online are tracked through the same IRCC secure account used to submit them. Applications submitted on paper or through a Visa Application Centre are tracked using a different reference number, tied to how the application was physically submitted.
Once your file is created, IRCC assigns you a Unique Client Identifier (UCI) — a reference number that stays with you across current and future immigration applications. It's worth saving as soon as you receive it.
Step-by-Step: Checking an Online Application
- Sign in to the same IRCC secure account you used to submit the application.
- Open your application details page, which shows your submission date and current stage.
- Look for status updates such as confirmation of receipt, requests for additional documents, biometrics instructions, or a final decision.
- Check the account's message centre regularly — IRCC generally communicates through it rather than by phone or email.
- If your application shows no change for a long stretch, resist the urge to submit a duplicate application. Duplicate submissions can complicate your file rather than speed anything up.
If You Applied on Paper or Through a Visa Application Centre
If you didn't apply online, your status tracking works differently. You'll generally need the specific reference or receipt number issued when your application was submitted, and you'll check the status tool that corresponds to how you applied rather than an online account tied to a login. If you're not sure which tool applies to your file, that's worth confirming directly with IRCC before assuming your application is missing.
What the Status Terms Generally Mean
| Status shown | What it generally means |
|---|---|
| Application received | IRCC has your file, but a detailed review hasn't started yet |
| In process | Your file is under active review, which can involve several internal steps |
| Additional documents requested | IRCC needs something further from you — check your message centre and respond by any deadline given |
| Biometrics required | You need to complete fingerprints and a photo (with an associated fee, currently $85 CAD per person and capped at $170 CAD for a family, as of mid-2026 — verify before paying) before processing continues |
| Decision made | A final outcome has been reached — check for further instructions, such as passport submission |
When to Actually Follow Up With IRCC
- If a genuine error appears in your file — wrong personal information, or a document you're certain was submitted but doesn't appear to have been received.
- If you've missed a communication and need to understand what's expected of you.
- If IRCC's own published processing-time estimate for your type of application has clearly been exceeded. IRCC updates that tool regularly, so check it directly rather than relying on a figure you remember from elsewhere.
- Avoid contacting IRCC repeatedly for routine updates on a file that's simply still processing — it doesn't speed up your application and can clutter your own file's communication record.
Frequently asked questions
How often does the status page actually update?
There's no fixed schedule. Checking multiple times a day generally won't reveal new information. A more practical approach is checking periodically and paying close attention to your message centre for anything that requires a response from you.
What's a UCI and why does it matter?
A Unique Client Identifier is the reference number IRCC assigns to your immigration file. Save it as soon as you receive it, since you'll use it in any future communication with IRCC about the same application, and potentially future ones.
Can a lawyer or representative check my status for me?
Yes, if you've formally named a representative on your application, they can generally access your file's status information alongside you. Only a licensed lawyer, licensed paralegal, Quebec notary, or a College-licensed immigration consultant can be authorized this way for a fee.
My status hasn't changed in months. Does that mean something is wrong?
Not necessarily. Processing involves multiple internal steps that don't always produce a visible status change, and timelines vary by application type and volume. Compare your wait against IRCC's current published processing-time estimate for your specific application type before assuming there's a problem.
This is an immigration question
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