Some applications to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) require you to submit a paper application and cannot be submitted online.
If you are submitting a paper application, you may be able to link your paper application to your online IRCC account. Click here to see if your application can be linked.
By linking your application to your online account, you will receive more up-to-date information on the status of your application.
Find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada
How to link your paper application to your online IRCC account
To link an application:
- Log in to your online account or create a new one if you haven’t already done so (this can be done with a GC key or with the secure login details of a banking partner).
- In your account, go to the “View your submitted applications” section (at the bottom of the webpage) and select “Add your application to your account (link it to check your status).”
- Enter the information exactly as it appears on your original paper application. If you have updated your information since submitting the application, use the most current information. You can also select the combinations of personal information you provided to link your application (passport number, Unique Client Identifier (UCI), Social Security Number (SIN), etc.).
- You have 5 attempts to link your application. If this does not work after 5 attempts, your account will be temporarily blocked for 24 hours.
Once your application is linked, you will no longer receive paper letters regarding your application. All communication will be sent to your online account.
In addition, if you have a representative (immigration attorney, consultant, or trusted friend/family member) representing you, they will lose access to your application once it is linked to your account.
Once your application is linked, it will appear in the “View my submitted applications or profiles” section of your main account page. To view the status of your application and any related messages, click “Check status and messages.” If you receive a “Linking in progress” message, IRCC recommends that you check the status of your application at a later time.
What to do if you receive a message saying there are no matches for your application
If IRCC’s system does not recognize an active application with the personal credentials you provided, the system will return a “No Matches” message. There are three possible reasons for this:
- Your application is not yet in the system. If you applied by mail or in person, it may take some time for IRCC to enter your information into its system. Once it is entered, you can link your application. To confirm if IRCC has your paper application, new arrivals are advised to choose a courier with tracking and drop-off confirmation. In addition, new arrivals may be able to get more details about their application by calling IRCC directly.
- You have selected the wrong application category. Some programs have different categories under which you may be invited to apply. If you have been invited to apply under a specific category, make sure you select the correct one. For example, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants should select Canadian Experience Class as a subcategory, not Express Entry. Similarly, Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) applicants should avoid choosing the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) (and vice versa). In addition, applicants should select the International Experience Canada subcategory for any work permit through International Experience Canada (including open work permits).
- The information you provided does not match what is in the IRCC system. The IRCC system will not link an application unless the information you entered exactly matches the information in your application. Make sure there are no formatting errors, such as extra spaces before or after what you enter in each field.
The most common problems when linking an application include:
- Enter a different name than the one on your passport if you applied on paper. Be sure to enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport – this information is entered into the system by IRCC.
- Inaccurate counting of family members on family sponsorship applications. When applying for family sponsorship, indicate the sponsor and co-signer (if applicable) in the last question (“Number of family members, including the lead applicant, who are part of this application”). The minimum number entered here should be at least 2; and
- Enter a different place of birth than that shown in your passport. If you selected “Place of birth” in the “Applicant’s personal details” section, be sure to enter the “City/Town of Birth” as it appears in your passport (if applicable) or on Form IMM 0008 if no passport information was provided.
Find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada
