After you apply
On this page:
Keep your information up to date
Update your contact information or tell us about changes to your family situation, for example, marriage, birth, divorce or death.
Update your personal informationGet your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) taken
If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics). This is true even if you gave your biometrics in the past and they’re still valid.
We’ll email you instructions after you’ve paid your biometrics fee and submitted a complete application. This can take up to several weeks.
- You have 30 days from the date on the letter to get your biometrics done.
- All appointments are in-person at collection sites.
Book your medical exam
You and your family (partner and children) must have a medical exam before you come to Canada. We’ll email you instructions on how to get your medical exam done.
We won’t accept your application if your health:
- is a danger to Canada’s public health or safety or
- would cause too great a demand on health or social services in Canada
Learn more about medical exams
Processing your application
Once you submit your application in the portal, you’ll receive an automatic email confirming that we have received it.
An immigration officer will make sure that you:
- filled out and signed your application forms correctly
- paid your fees
- included all the required documents in your document checklist
If your application is complete, we’ll send you an acknowledgement of receipt with your file number. An officer will then review your application and determine whether you meet the eligibility and admissibility requirements.
If your application is incomplete, we won’t process it and will send it back to you.
How long it will take to get an acknowledgement of receipt
Updated June 23, 2026
Acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letters have not yet been issued for all applications submitted in 2025 under the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots.
We’ll keep processing applications in line with our priorities. We’ll contact you as your file moves forward.
If you haven’t received an AOR by now, it’s normal. We’ve received your application and it’s in our system if you
- got your auto-receipt from the portal that confirms you submitted your application (if you applied online) or
- got a confirmation letter with your temporary application number (if you applied by mail)
Check processing times
You can check our processing times to get an idea of how long it’ll take us to process your application.
How long it will take to process your application
Various factors can affect how long it takes to process an application:
- the type of application submitted
- if the application is complete
- if there are criminal or security problems, or we need to do more background checks
- if your family situation is unclear (for example, an incomplete divorce or adoption, or child custody issues)
- how easily we can verify your information, and if the processing office has to contact other IRCC offices in Canada or abroad
- if we need to interview you
- if you communicate with us by mail instead of using an online account
- how long you take to respond to any request or concerns
- how quickly we process applications we’ve already received
- other factors
The immigration levels plan sets the number of newcomers that Canada plans to welcome each year. If there are more people applying than available spaces, processing times may increase.
We appreciate your patience and we’ll contact you if you need to send more documents. You don’t need to do anything else.
Check your application status
You can check the status of your application online after we’ve started processing your application.
While you wait for a decision (if you’re currently in Canada)
You can stay in Canada while you wait for permanent residence as long as you maintain your temporary resident status. Your temporary resident status is valid for a specific period of time, so make sure to keep it up to date if you want to stay in Canada while you’re waiting.
If you applied under the out-of-status and unauthorized workers public policy of the Workers in Canada stream
We have a temporary public policy to help you
- restore your status
- get an open work permit
- get a visitor record
- get a study permit (for family members only)
If you change employers after you apply
You don’t need to stay with the same employer who gave you your original job offer while you wait for a decision on your permanent residence application. However, you must still have
- a valid job offer until you become a permanent resident
- work authorization (for example, a valid work permit) for your new position
If you receive a new job offer after you’ve applied, send this information through our web form:
- a new employment information form
- Use the correct form based on your employer:
- proof of your new job offer
We may also ask your new employer to send us supporting documents.
Working in Canada
You may be eligible to apply for an employer-specific work permit if you
- are already in Canada and
- can get a positive labour market impact assessment (LMIA)
In a number of situations, your employer doesn’ t need to pay the LMIA application processing fee. Your employer can find this information on the processing fee exemption section of the Employment and Social Development Canada website.
Learn more about who can and can’t apply for a work permit as a home child care provider or home support worker.
You’re not eligible for a bridging open work permit
The bridging open work permit is for people who applied to immigrate under certain programs. You can’t currently apply for one.
If you need to leave Canada
If you have to leave Canada after you apply, this won’t make you ineligible or cause us to reject or refuse your application. The officer processing your application must still be satisfied that you have a valid job offer and that you’ll accept it.
Decision on your application
When we make a decision on your application, we’ll let you know.
If we approve your application
Once your application is approved, here’s what you need to do next:
- Make sure to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven’t already done so. We can’t finalize your application until you’ve paid all fees.
- Find out what happens when you arrive at the border and how to prepare for your life in Canada.
If we refuse your application
We’ll send you a letter that tells you why. To be re-considered, you have to:
- submit a new application
- meet the eligibility criteria
- be found admissible
If you want to withdraw your application
You can submit a webform to withdraw or cancel your application. You might get some of the fees you paid refunded, depending on whether we’ve starting processing it or not.