How to check your eTA status
The status of a Canadian eTA can be checked with the passport number and email used in the application; if you cannot confirm it, send us a status check request. Enter the passport details and email exactly as they were given in the application, and rather than relying on email alone, it is safer to confirm the status as well.
Checking an eTA application in progress
If your eTA is not decided immediately after you apply, the Government of Canada may email you about further steps or request documents. Because an email address can be mistyped or the message can be filtered as spam, check the inbox you used when applying and, if you cannot confirm the status, send us a status check request.
Checking an existing eTA and its expiry
It is a good idea to confirm before you travel whether your existing eTA is still valid and when it expires. An eTA is linked to the passport used in the application, so always check at the same time whether you have been issued a new passport.
How to check Visitor Visa progress
The progress of a Visitor Visa application can be checked with the passport number and email used in the application; if you cannot confirm it, send us a status check request.
Checking progress and messages
Requests for further documents and the decision itself are notified by IRCC by email during processing. Check the inbox you gave in the application, including the spam folder.
Status check routes at a glance
| Category | Key points | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| eTA status check | Check a pending eTA or an existing approval with your passport number and email | Status check request |
| Visitor Visa status check | Check with the passport number and email used in the application | Status check request |
| Processing times | Processing times vary by application type and country | See the FAQ |
| Receiving a refusal notice | Read the reasons for refusal and do not simply reapply with the same material | See what to do after a refusal |
What to check when the status will not load
- Check whether your application still needs time to reach IRCC and appear in the processing system
- Check whether you have not yet received an AOR or an application number
- Check for typing errors in identifying details such as name, date of birth, UCI or application number
- Check whether IRCC systems are under maintenance or experiencing a temporary error
The difference between processing times and application status
Processing time is an estimate showing how long similar applications take, while application status shows the stage your own application has reached. Passing the processing time does not mean an application is automatically approved or refused, and the timeline can change depending on requests for further documents or on security and eligibility checks.
FAQ
I lost my eTA approval email. Can I check it again?
You can check the status of an existing eTA with the passport number and email used in the application; if you cannot confirm it, send us a status check request.
My Visitor Visa status has not changed at all. Is something wrong?
The status display may not reflect every detail of the work being done in real time. Check the processing times together with your IRCC messages, and make sure there is no outstanding request for further documents.
Can I check my status without an application number?
Some status checks require identifying details such as an application number or AOR. IRCC advises that an AOR or application number may be provided after an application has been received, checked for completeness and started processing.
What should I do if the status shows a refusal?
Read the IRCC decision notice and the reasons for refusal, then decide whether to reapply or seek any legal review you may need. See the refusal guidance menu.
Related pages
- How to apply for a Canadian eTA or Visitor Visa — when you want to follow the process from the start
- What to do after a Canadian visa or eTA refusal — when you have received a refusal notice
- Types of Canadian visa and how the eTA differs — when you want to fill in the basics
- See all FAQs — for other frequently asked questions
Check your application status · Apply for a Canadian visa or eTA