IRCC Relaunches Application Tracker for Canada Visa Applicants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has brought back its Application Status Tracker, giving immigration applicants a clearer way to follow the progress of their applications.

The updated online service became available on October 14, 2026, after being offline for five months. Applicants can now review different stages of their applications instead of relying only on general status updates.

The tracker covers work permits, study permits, visitor visas and certain permanent residence applications.

Which Applicants Can Use the Tracker?

The restored system supports several immigration categories, including Express Entry and enhanced Provincial Nominee Program applications.

People applying for permanent residence through spousal, partner or dependent child sponsorship can also use the service.

However, applicants must first receive an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) from IRCC.

This document confirms that the department has received their complete application. Anyone still waiting for an AOR cannot access their application details through the tracker.

What Information Does the Tracker Show?

The updated system allows applicants to monitor four important parts of the immigration process:

• Eligibility: Whether the applicant meets the program's requirements.
• Medical examination: Whether the required medical assessment has been completed.
• Background verification: The progress of security and background checks.
• Biometrics: The status of fingerprint and photograph requirements.

Each section displays one of five updates: "Not started," "Waiting on you," "In progress," "Completed," or "Exempted."

A "Waiting on you" message means IRCC needs additional information or documents from the applicant.

The tracker also provides an overall application status, which may appear as "Received," "In progress," or "Closed."

According to IRCC, account information is updated daily.

How Applicants Can Access the Service

Applicants can access the tracker through the official Government of Canada website.

They must sign in using their GCKey username and password or a supported banking sign-in service.

Users also need their application number and Unique Client Identifier (UCI) to connect their application.

Access is limited to principal applicants, sponsors, authorized representatives and designated individuals who have written permission to view someone else's application.

The system is not available for every immigration program. Applicants in unsupported categories must use other IRCC services to check their status.

Why Was the Tracker Taken Offline?

IRCC shut down the previous Application Status Tracker on May 14, 2026, after identifying concerns about outdated application information and possible security weaknesses.

A government briefing document published in September explained that the department temporarily disabled the service to address these problems and protect applicant information.

Officials also outlined plans to improve the system's reliability and introduce stronger safeguards.

The October relaunch restores access to detailed application updates for eligible users.

What This Means for Immigration Applicants

The restored tracker gives applicants a more convenient way to follow their immigration files and identify requests for additional documents.

Although the service does not guarantee faster processing or approval, its daily updates can help applicants better understand where their applications stand.