IRCC has brought back its online Application Status Tracker for work permit, study permit, visitor visa, Express Entry and spousal sponsorship applicants. Here is what it covers, what you need first, and what it cannot tell you.
IRCC has relaunched its online Application Status Tracker. According to IRCC's own page (last modified October 14, 2026), you can use it to follow an application for a work permit, a study permit, a visitor visa, Express Entry, or the sponsorship of a spouse, partner or dependent child. You can only use it once you have received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) for your application, and IRCC says the information in your account is updated daily.
Which applications does the tracker cover?
IRCC's page lists these application types:
If your application type is not on that list, do not assume the tracker will show it. Check the IRCC page directly, since the list can change.
- Work permits
- Study permits
- Visitor visas (temporary resident visas)
- Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Provincial Nominee Program applications made through Express Entry
- Sponsorship of a spouse, partner or dependent child
What do you need before you can sign in?
IRCC's page sets out four requirements:
- An acknowledgement of receipt (AOR). The tracker cannot be used until IRCC has confirmed it received your application.
- A sign-in method. IRCC says you can sign in through a trusted partner, such as your bank, or with a GCKey username and password.
- Two-factor authentication. You will be asked to choose a second verification method in addition to your password.
- The right to view the file. Access is for the person applying, a sponsor, a representative, or someone designated to act for the applicant with written consent.
What does the tracker show?
IRCC's page confirms the tracker gives you an overview of your application and that it refreshes daily. CIC News, which reported the relaunch, describes the detail this way: an overall status of received, in progress or closed, plus progress on four parts of the file — eligibility, medical exam, background verification and biometrics — each marked as not started, waiting on you, in progress, completed or exempted. The same report says IRCC switched off the previous version of the tracker on May 14, 2026. We have only seen those two details in the CIC News report, so treat them as reported, not as confirmed on IRCC's page.
What the tracker cannot tell you
The tracker shows where the steps of your file stand. It is not a decision, and it does not predict one. A step marked completed means that step is done; it does not mean your application has been approved, and it does not tell you when a decision will come. Processing times are estimates published separately by IRCC, and they vary by application type and by case.
Practical tips
A few habits that make the tracker more useful:
- Use the canada.ca address only. Go to the IRCC page directly rather than through a search ad or a link in a message. Lookalike sites exist, and you should never enter your GCKey details anywhere you are not certain is the official site.
- If a step says it is waiting on you, act through the channel IRCC used. Check your IRCC account messages and the email address on your application. Do not rely on the tracker alone to tell you that IRCC has asked for something.
- Check the tracker against your own records. Keep your AOR and any IRCC letters. If something on the tracker looks wrong or does not match your documents, raise it with IRCC through its official contact channels rather than guessing.
- If someone else manages your file, make sure they are properly authorized and that you have given consent in writing. If you have an authorized representative, they may be able to view the same information.
If your tracker shows something you do not understand — a step that has not moved, an exemption you did not expect, or a status that seems to contradict a letter from IRCC — it is worth getting a second opinion before you act. A short conversation can be cheaper than a wrong reply to IRCC.
Frequently asked questions
Verified against IRCC's Application Status Tracker page and CIC News reporting on October 16, 2026. Tracker coverage and features can change; the IRCC page is the authority.
- Can I use the tracker right after I submit my application? No. IRCC says you must first receive an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR).
- How often does it update? IRCC says the information in your account is updated daily.
- Does a completed step mean I am approved? No. It reflects the progress of that part of the file only.
- Can my representative or sponsor see it? IRCC says a sponsor, a representative, or a person designated with written consent can access it.
