- Track a Canada visa with the IRCC application status tracker or your secure online account using your application number and date of birth
- The Student Direct Stream closed on November 8, 2024, so all study permits now use one regular stream
- The IRCC processing fee is CAD 150 for a study permit and CAD 100 for a visitor visa.
After you submit a Canada visa or study permit application, the wait can feel uncertain, but you do not need to guess. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) lets you follow your file online from acknowledgement of receipt to the final decision, and the Visa Application Centre partner VFS Global lets you follow your passport. This guide explains exactly how to track a Canada visa in 2026.
How Can You Track a Canada Visa Application Online?
You can track a Canada visa application online in two official ways: the IRCC application status tracker and your secure IRCC online account. Both are free, updated daily, and show your application number, current stage, and next steps once your acknowledgement of receipt has been issued by IRCC.
The application status tracker is the quickest option for most temporary residence applicants, while a full online account is useful if you applied through the portal or need to upload documents. Both tools pull from the same IRCC system, so the status you see is the official one.
- Application status tracker: enter your application number and date of birth to see your stage and next steps.
- IRCC secure online account: sign in, then select Check status and messages under your submitted applications.
- Both tools are free and refreshed daily by IRCC.
What Information Do You Need to Track Your Status?
To check your status you generally need your application number, also called the IRCC or UCI number, and your date of birth. For VFS Global tracking, use the tracking ID printed on your Visa Application Centre receipt plus your date of birth. Keep these details safe and never share them publicly online.
Your application number appears on the acknowledgement of receipt that IRCC sends after it confirms your application is complete. Until that letter arrives, the tracker will not display your file, so it is normal to see nothing for the first few days after submitting.
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VFS Global handles document collection and passport return for many Canada visa applicants. After biometrics, you receive a receipt with a tracking ID. Enter that ID and your date of birth on the VFS Global tracking page to see whether your passport has been received, processed, or dispatched back to you.
VFS Global tracking shows the physical movement of your passport and documents, not the immigration decision itself. For the actual approval or refusal, always rely on the IRCC application status tracker, which is the authoritative government source.
What Do the IRCC Application Status Stages Mean?
In the tracker your overall status reads Received, In Progress, or Closed. Received means IRCC is verifying completeness; In Progress means it is under review; Closed means approved, refused, or withdrawn. Four sections, eligibility, medical exam, background verification, and biometrics, each show their own status and any next steps required.
- Received: your application has arrived and IRCC is checking it is complete.
- In Progress: your application is under active review.
- Closed: a decision was made, approved, refused, withdrawn, or abandoned.
- Section statuses include Not started, Waiting on you, In progress, Completed, and Exempted.
What Is the Difference Between the Status Tracker and Your Online Account?
The Client Application Status tool is free, needs no online account, and updates daily using your UCI or application number from your acknowledgement of receipt. Your IRCC online account shows each processing step in real time and holds your messages, which is why IRCC says the account gives the most up-to-date status of your application.
If the two tools show different information, trust your online account first. It lists the status of eligibility, medical exam, background verification and biometrics separately, and your next steps and IRCC messages appear there, such as a request for police certificates, extra documents or biometrics.
If you applied on paper, you can link the application to an online account using the link-your-paper-application option on the IRCC website, then view its status and messages there. If you cannot see your application at all, check that you have received your acknowledgement of receipt first, because an incomplete application can be returned before processing starts.
How Long Does a Canada Study Permit Take to Process?
Processing time depends on your country of residence and application volume, so IRCC does not fix a single figure. It publishes updated estimates in its online processing-times tool, refreshed regularly. Status only appears in your tracker after IRCC issues your acknowledgement of receipt, so check the official tool for your current wait.
Because the Student Direct Stream closed on November 8, 2024, every study permit now follows the single regular stream, and there is no separate fast-track timeline. Submitting a complete application with biometrics done promptly is the best way to avoid added delays.
What Are the Canada Visa Application Fees in 2026?
As of 2026 the IRCC processing fee is CAD 150 for a study permit, including extensions, and CAD 100 for a visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa. Biometrics cost an additional CAD 85 per person. Always confirm the current amounts on the official IRCC fee list before you pay.
| Application Type (2026) | IRCC Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Study permit (including extensions), per person | $150 |
| Visitor visa / temporary resident visa, per person | $100 |
| Work permit (including extensions), per person | $155 |
| Biometrics, per person | $85 |
| Biometrics, per family of 2 or more | $170 (max) |
Fees are paid online when you apply and are separate from any VFS Global service charges, such as optional SMS updates or premium lounge handling. Track your payment receipt alongside your application number so you can reconcile both if you contact IRCC or the Visa Application Centre.