After you apply
On this page
- Get your biometrics taken
- Processing your application
- Check your application status
- If your work permit expires after you apply
- Decision on your application
Get your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) taken
If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for every permanent residence application you submit. You need to do this even if you gave your biometrics in the past and they’re still valid.
- In most cases, you must pay the biometric fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may have delays.
- If your application is complete, we’ll send you a letter confirming you need to give your biometrics.
- If you haven’t already paid your biometrics fee, pay it as soon as you get the letter from us.
- You have 30 days from the date on the letter to give your biometrics.
Find out who needs to give biometrics, how to give them, and where to give them.
Processing your application
Once we receive your application, we make sure you have:
- filled out your application for permanent residence completely and correctly
- paid your processing fee
- met all the requirements
- included all the documents
We’ll contact you through your IRCC secure account to:
- confirm that we have reviewed your application
- tell you to give your biometrics
- send you updates on the status of your application
- ask you for more documents, if needed
- set up an interview, if needed
- tell you what you need to do and what will happen next
If your personal information changes
To avoid processing delays, use the web form to tell us about changes to your personal information as soon as possible.
You must let us know if:
- you want to withdraw your application
- your family composition changes, such as:
- birth or adoption of a child
- marriage or divorce
- you change your immigration representative
- your contact information (mailing address, email address, telephone number) changes
- a province or territory withdraws your nomination
- you don’t plan to live in the province or territory nominating you
- your job or job offer changes
- you get a new educational credential
- you get updated language test results
Verifying your information
If you are not truthful in your Express Entry profile or permanent residence application, we may:
- refuse your application
- find you inadmissible
- bar you from applying to come to Canada for 5 years
If your application is not complete, we’ll reject it and refund your processing fees.
Check your application status
Learn how to check your application status(opens in a new tab)If your work permit expires after you apply
If your existing work permit is about to expire, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit.
This permit can let you keep working while you wait for a final decision on your permanent residence application.
Decision on your application
The decision we make on your application will be based on if you:
- are eligible for the program
- are admissible to Canada, based on the results of your:
- medical exam
- police certificates
- background checks
When we make a decision on your application, we’ll let you know through your IRCC secure account.
If we approve your application
- Make sure to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven’t already done so. We can’t approve your application until you’ve paid all fees.
- Find out what to do next.
If we reject or refuse your application
To be considered in future rounds of invitations, you have to:
- fill out and submit a new Express Entry profile
- meet the eligibility criteria
- be accepted into the pool again