How to check Canada visa status with passport number

In the past, after submitting your Canada visa application, you had to wait for postal updates.

Or, make endless phone calls to the visa application centre before you get updates about your application.

Now, that’s no longer necessary. Checking your application status has become much easier and seamless.

Read also: Should you keep your passport on you when travelling?

The last time I applied for a visa to Canada, I tracked my application and received real-time updates using just my account and passport number.

You can do the same, whether you applied for a work visa, student visa, or visitor visa – any visa category.

How to check Canada visa status with passport number

To check your Canadian visa application status with your passport number, use your IRCC secure account, the IRCC portal or the IRCC application status tracker tool.

If you applied for your visa on paper, your application must be linked to an IRCC account before you check its status with your passport number.

But, if applied through an IRCC secure account, you only need your passport number and access to the account, to check your application status.

The same applies if you apply through the IRCC portal, the portal details and your passport number are all you need to check your application status.

For the IRCC application status tracker tool, anyone with an IRCC account can use it, no matter how you submit your application.

How to check Canada visa status with passport number if you applied through an IRCC secure account

If you submit your application through an IRCC secure account, you’ll check your application status through the same account.

To do it:

• Sign in to your IRCC secure account here.
• Click “Check status and messages” under View my submitted applications or profiles.
• Click on the particular application you want to check its status.

The system will display the status of your application upon clicking the application.

How to check your Canada visa status with your passport number if you applied through the IRCC portal

To check your application status through the IRCC portal:

• Sign in to your account here.
• In your dashboard
• Locate the application you wish to verify its status
• Click on “check status” to see its “current” status.

How to check Canada visa status with passport number via if you applied on Paper

If you applied on paper, link your application to an IRCC account before you check its status.

Here’s how to link your application:

• Log into your account or create a new one if you don’t have one.
• In the account, find “view your submitted applications”, then select “Add or link your application” to check your status.
• Put the same details you used when you first applied.
• If you’ve made any changes to your information, use the most recent one.
• You have up to 5 attempts to link your application.
• After 5 unsuccessful tries, you’ll be locked out for 24 hours.

Once linked, all updates and messages from IRCC will be sent through your online account instead of by mail.

Also, if you’re using an agent or representative, they will lose access once you link the application to your account.

How to check your Canada visa status through the application status tracker

You can also check your application using the” application status tracker” tool.

In this case, you need to create another account.

Read also: What happens when you report someone to immigration in Australia?

The application status tracker will give you more detailed information about your application than what you’ll see in your main account.

You can use the tracker if you’re applying for:

• Sponsorship of a spouse, partner, or dependent child (or if you’re being sponsored).
• Express Entry.
• A study permit.
• A work permit.
• A visitor visa (temporary resident visa).

How to use the application status tracker

To check your visa application status with the tracker, you need your:

• Unique client identifier (UCI)
• Application number
• Passport number
• Plus a new tracking account

If you haven’t created a tracking account, create one only if:

• It’s your first time checking your application status, or
• You’ve only used the Client Application Status tool before.

In addition, you can only create a tracking account after you’ve received your acknowledgement of receipt letter by mail or email.

The tracking account is for:

• Principal applicant (including those being sponsored)
• A sponsor
• A representative or designated individual

Click here to create the tracking account

The account creation stage involves three steps only.

If you already have an account, click here to sign in and track your application status.

Heads up: Your login details from the Client Application Status tool won’t work here.

You need to create a new account.”

If you need help checking your application status, contact the help centre here.

In addition, you can also check the processing times to know how quickly your application is expected to be ready.

What you will see when you check the status of your Canada visa application status

You’ll get any of the following when you check your application status:

1. Application received: It means the immigration office has received your application, but they haven’t started reviewing it yet.

2. In progress: This means that your application is being reviewed by immigration officials. They are checking your documents and information.

3. Approved: Great news! Your visa has been approved, and you can now come and pick up your passport with the visa on it.

4. Rejected/Refused: Unfortunately, your visa application was not successful. In this case, the Immigration authorities will explain why, and you have options to appeal or reapply.

5. Closed: Your application has been closed, either because you withdrew it, didn’t respond to a request, or the process is complete.

If there is a request for additional documents, you’ll also see it when you check the status of your application.

Where can I see my passport number?

After you submit your application, IRCC will send you your passport number either by mail or email once they have reviewed your application and confirmed that it is complete, or when they begin processing your application.

When can I check my Canada visa application status?

Final words

I can’t stress enough how much easier these online systems make the whole process.

With them, we can all say goodbye to the stress of travelling to the visa office, waiting for mail or calling the office just to get an update.

If you want to check your, just follow the steps above and you’ll get the status of your visa right there on your device.

If you encounter any issues or you wish to ask a question, you can send a mail to the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship department.

Best of luck with your Canada visa application!