Canada Application Status Tracker has been relaunched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), giving eligible applicants a way to check the progress of their work permits, study permits, visitor visas and certain permanent residence applications online.
The updated tool became available on October 14, 2026, after the earlier version was taken offline.
The relaunch is important for Indian students, foreign workers and people planning to settle in Canada who are waiting for decisions on their immigration applications.
The tracker provides a clearer view of different stages of processing, helping applicants understand which checks are complete and whether any further action may be required from them.
Canada Application Status Tracker: What Has Changed?
The relaunched Application Status Tracker allows eligible applicants to check four key components of their applications: eligibility, medical examination, background verification and biometrics.
Instead of relying only on an overall application status, users can see the progress of individual assessment stages.
Each component can display one of five statuses: “Not started”, “Waiting on you”, “In progress”, “Completed” or “Exempted”.
These labels help applicants understand whether IRCC has started reviewing a section, requires additional information, has finished its assessment or considers the requirement inapplicable.
The tracker also displays an overall status for the application, which may appear as “Received”, “In progress” or “Closed”. According to the information available about the relaunched service, the account details are updated daily.
Which Canada Visa Applications Are Covered?
The updated tracker supports applications for Canadian study permits, work permits and visitor visas. It also covers certain permanent residence applications, including those submitted through Express Entry and eligible family sponsorship categories.
Under family sponsorship, the eligible categories include sponsorship applications involving a spouse or dependent child.
Express Entry coverage includes eligible applications under programmes such as the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, along with the enhanced Provincial Nominee Program.
However, the facility does not cover every immigration application handled by IRCC. Applicants should check whether their specific application type is supported before attempting to register or access their details.
For Indian applicants, the service can be particularly useful when planning overseas education, employment or a move to Canada. However, the tracker provides information about application progress and should not be treated as a guarantee of approval or a confirmed decision date.
How to Check Your Application Status Online
Eligible applicants can access the tracker through the Canadian government’s immigration website. They can sign in using their GCKey credentials or a supported Sign-In Partner, such as an eligible bank login.
Before accessing the service, applicants should keep their application number and Unique Client Identifier (UCI) available. These details help identify the application and are required to check its status.
The tool becomes available only after IRCC issues an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR).
This acknowledgement confirms that the department has received the application and that it has passed the relevant completeness checks.
Applicants who have not yet received their AOR may not be able to use the tracker.
They will need to wait until the acknowledgement is issued and their application becomes available in the system.
Access is also restricted to authorised individuals. These include the principal applicant, an eligible sponsor, an authorised representative or a designated person who has written permission to access the application.
Why This Matters for Indian Applicants
For students waiting for study permits and professionals seeking work permits, knowing which stage of processing an application has reached can make it easier to plan the next steps.
It can also help applicants identify situations where IRCC is waiting for additional documents or information.
The “Waiting on you” status deserves particular attention because it indicates that the applicant may need to respond or provide further information.
Users should review their application account and official communications carefully before deciding what action is required.
The relaunched Canada Application Status Tracker follows the withdrawal of the previous version on May 14, 2026.
Concerns about outdated information and potential security vulnerabilities were cited in reporting about the earlier shutdown, making the return of the service a significant development for applicants seeking clearer updates.
Applicants should remember that an online status update does not replace official correspondence from IRCC.
They should continue checking their accounts and following instructions issued by the department throughout the application process.
