How to Use Canada’s Relaunched Immigration Status Tracker

The tracker lets eligible applicants check four parts of an application, but it does not cover every immigration program.

Home & LifeOctober 18, 20263 min readHow Sureno writes this

The short version

Eligible applicants with an acknowledgement of receipt can use the IRCC Application Status Tracker to check their application online. ¹
The tracker shows eligibility, medical exam completion, background verification and biometrics, plus an overall status. ¹
It currently covers visitor visas, study permits, work permits, certain Express Entry applications and some family sponsorship cases. ¹²
IRCC says tracker information is updated daily; the tool is separate from a decision on the application. ¹

How do I use the IRCC application status tracker?

First, check that your application type is included and that you have received an acknowledgement of receipt, often shortened to AOR. The AOR confirms that IRCC has received an application; the sources say applicants need one to access the tracker. ¹

Go to the tracker through the IRCC government website. Sign in using a supported bank sign-in option or a GCKey username and password. The available sources do not provide the full sequence of screens or explain every detail applicants need to enter, so follow the instructions shown on the official service. ¹

Which parts of my application can I see?

The tracker breaks the application into four areas: eligibility, medical exam completion, background verification and biometrics. It also shows an overall status for the submission. ¹

The overall status may say “received,” “in progress” or “closed.” Each of the four sections can have a more specific label, including “not started,” “waiting on you,” “in progress,” “completed” or “exempted.” ¹²

What does “waiting on you” or “exempted” mean?

“Waiting on you” means IRCC needs more information or documents from the applicant before that part can move forward. Check the account and any IRCC communication for what is requested. ²

“Exempted” means that a particular check does not apply to your case. It is not the same as a missing update. ² The tracker reports the status shown for a section; the sources do not say that any particular label predicts when a final decision will be made.

Which applications are supported?

The tracker covers work permits, study permits and visitor visas. For permanent residence, the listed categories include Express Entry and spouse or dependent-child family sponsorship. ¹

The more detailed list includes Express Entry applications under the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Workers Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the enhanced Provincial Nominee Program. Family sponsorship coverage includes a spouse, partner or dependent child. ² These categories are specific: the tracker is not described as covering every IRCC application.

How often does the tracker update, and what if my application is missing?

IRCC’s tracker page says account information is updated daily. ¹ That means the tool is intended to refresh regularly, but a daily update does not promise that a file will change every day.

If your application type is not listed, or you cannot access the tracker, the available sources do not explain a universal workaround. Check IRCC’s official tracker and help pages for current eligibility and sign-in instructions. The supplied sources also do not establish that the tracker replaces other IRCC account or communication channels.

What we don't know yet

The sources do not provide the complete sign-in and application-number instructions for every applicant.
The sources do not say whether additional application categories will be added or when that might happen.
The tracker’s status labels do not establish a processing-time estimate or predict the date of a decision.

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Questions people ask

Who can use the IRCC application status tracker?

Applicants with an acknowledgement of receipt can use it if their application type is supported. Covered cases include work permits, study permits, visitor visas, certain Express Entry applications and some family sponsorship applications. ¹²

How do I sign in to the Canada immigration tracker?

The tracker allows sign-in with a supported bank option or a GCKey username and password. Check the official IRCC page for the current sign-in steps. ¹

What does “in progress” mean on the IRCC tracker?

The overall status can read “in progress,” while individual sections have their own labels. The supplied sources list the labels but do not define “in progress” in more detail or give a decision date based on it. ¹²

Does the IRCC tracker include permanent residence applications?

Yes, but the coverage is limited to certain permanent residence cases. The listed types include Express Entry applications and family sponsorship for a spouse, partner or dependent child. ¹²

How often does the IRCC status tracker update?

IRCC says information in an applicant’s tracker account is updated daily. That does not mean every application section will change each day. ¹

Sources

IRCC relaunches Application Status Tracker for work permit, study permit, and permanent residence applicants — CIC News, 2026-10-15
IRCC relaunches Application Status Tracker tool — IRCC.com, 2026-10-16

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