Express Entry

After you apply

Get your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) taken

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

for every permanent residence application you submit. You need to do this even if you gave

your biometrics in the past and they’re still valid.

In most cases, you must pay the biometric fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may have delays.

If your application is complete, we’ll send you a letter confirming you need to give your biometrics.

If you haven’t already paid your biometrics fee, pay it as soon as you get the letter from us.

You have30 days from the date on the letter to give your biometrics.

Find out who needs to give biometrics how to give them, and where to give them.

Processing your application

Once we receive your application, we make sure you have:

filled out your application for permanent residence completely and correctly
paid your processing fee
met all the requirements
included all the documents

We’ll contact you through your IRCC secure account to:

confirm that we have reviewed your application
tell you to give your biometrics
send you updates on the status of your application
ask you for more documents, if needed
set up an interview, if needed
tell you what you need to do and what will happen next

If your personal information changes

To avoid processing delays, use the web form to tell us about changes to your personal information as soon as possible.

Go to web form

You must let us know if:

you want to withdraw your application
your family composition changes, such as:
- birth or adoption of a child
- marriage or divorce
you change your immigration representative
your contact information (mailing address, email address, telephone number) changes
a province or territory withdraws your nomination
you don’t plan to live in the province or territory nominating you
your job or job offer changes
you get a new educational credential
you get updated language test results

Verifying your information

If you are not truthful in your Express Entry profile or permanent residence application, we may:

refuse your application
find you inadmissible
ban you from applying to come to Canada for 5 years

If your application is not complete, we’ll reject it and refund your processing fees.

Check your application status

Use the application status tracker to get the most up-to-date and detailed information about the status of your application.

If your work permit expires after you apply

If your existing work permit is about to expire, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit. This permit can let you keep working while you wait for a final decision on your permanent residence application.

Decision on your application

The decision we make on your application will be based on if you:

are eligible for the program
are admissible to Canada, based on the results of your:
- medical exam
- police certificates
- background checks

When we make a decision on your application, we’ll let you know through your IRCC secure account.

If we approve your application

Make sure to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven’t already done so. We can’t approve your application until you’ve paid all fees.
Find out what to do next.