ircc travel document phone number

• Skip to main content
• Skip to site information

Language selection

Help us to improve our website. Take our survey !

Travel documents

Know which documents you need and where to get them to make your travel quick and easy.

Identification documents

Canadian passports.

A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel identification document and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada 

Canadian Travel Number

Avoid delays at the airport because your name is the same as, or similar to, that of someone on the No Fly List ( Secure Air Travel Act list)

NEXUS                                                  

If you travel between Canada and the United States often, a NEXUS card will save you time at the border

Permanent resident card

Permanent residents of Canada need a permanent resident card to re-enter Canada

Pre-boarding identification requirements

Information on the identification documents you need to bring to the airport

Travel documents for non-Canadians

Travel documents for convention refugees, protected persons or stateless persons living in Canada

Permits and certificates

Find out whether you need a visa for your destination and get it well in advance of your trip

Certificate of Canadian citizenship

A Canadian citizenship certificate is not a valid travel document

CITES permits

Information on permits to transport, import or export a listed wildlife species or items made from listed wildlife species

International Driving Permit

Your Canadian driver's licence may not be valid in your destination country

Travelling outside Canada with your vehicle

You may need a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) to travel outside Canada with your vehicle.

International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis

Some countries may require you to show proof of vaccination  

Your pets need travel documents to enter another country

CANPASS - Private aircraft

CANPASS cards allow private aircraft to clear customs and immigration quickly and securely

More information

Consent letter for children travelling abroad.

A consent letter helps children travelling without both parents to enter foreign countries and re-enter Canada

Marriage outside Canada

Information on the legal issues involved in getting married abroad 

Notarial services

Information about getting notarial services while you are outside Canada

Travelling as a dual citizen

Information for Canadian dual citizens who are travelling to another country where they have citizenship

Travel insurance

Buy travel insurance before you travel outside Canada. Bring your insurance information with you. You may need to prove you have travel insurance to enter some countries

Mobile Passport Control app

Travellers can shorten the entry process to the U.S. by submitting their passport and customs declaration information through this app

What we are doing

Policies, acts and regulations.

• Canadian Passport Order
• Citizenship Act
• Identity Screening Regulations

Publications

• Bon voyage, but... Essential information for Canadian travellers
• Travelling with children

All related publications

• Apply online for a visa, study or work permit
• Steps to complete a passport application
• Nexus application
• CANPASS application
• CITES permit application forms

Find helpful information on health and safety, travel documents, baggage, airport security, country advice and more.

Information on a recommended consent letter for Canadian children travelling abroad.

You need a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to Canada.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to "About this site"

Language selection

• Search and menus
• General Info
• Spokespersons

Your questions and comments are important to us. We will address your concerns as quickly as possible.

I would like information o​n immigrating​ to Canada, family sponsorships, Canadian citizenship, Canadian passports, visa requests, Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and landing applications .

• Please contact the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

If you require information on customs issues enforcement or detention matters

• Please contact the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

I would like information about specific refugee claim or appeal at the IRB .

• Due to privacy concerns, we do not send or receive information about a specific case before the IRB by email. Please contact the regional office where the case is being processed, by regular mail or by telephone.

I would like to report a potential security risk in relation to an upcoming IRB proceeding

• Please submit the Identification of Potential Security Risk in IRB Proceedings form.

I wish to make an access to information or privacy (ATIP) request.

I wish to make a complaint to the IRB .

I wish to seek an employment opportunity at the IRB .

If you cannot find the answer to your question above, please fill in

Contact Form

This form is to be used only to report technical issues or errors encountered on our website. As submissions are anonymous , the IRB will not respond.

Thank you for your help!

You will not receive a reply. For enquiries,  contact us .

• Meet our partners
• Advertise with us

How can I contact IRCC directly about delays or new information in my application?

As they move through the Canadian immigration process, many applicants may find delays in the processing of their immigration applications. While Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made headway in trying to reduce these delays, long waiting periods are often a common experience.

However, there are official routes that applicants can take to voice concerns or update IRCC about their applications, many of which have proven effective for applicants in the past.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

The current situation

IRCC’s client support centre currently handles a massive number of correspondences through various channels. Between April and October of 2022 (the latest data available) the department fielded a collective 8.3 million inquiries including both phone (6.6 million) and email (1.5 million) correspondence. This number is only expected to increase in subsequent years.

The Webform

The IRCC Webform is an online form that the immigration department uses to answer any questions that applicants may have regarding their specific application.

This route is specifically for those who want to enquire about a submitted application that has exceeded processing times, as well as those who want to update important details of their application. In addition, the form can be used by those who:

• Wish to add/change/update their use of a representative in an application, and are ready to submit supporting documents to do so;
• Require urgent processing or replacement of their PR card (provided they meet certain criteria); and
• Wish to report a technical issue with IRCC online services.

On average, it takes roughly 30 days to receive a response from IRCC through this channel (though this can depend on the complexity of the request, and if further information is needed). IRCC will not respond to your webform request if your application is still within official processing time limits. Also, note that it may take up to five business days for the department to update your application via information submitted through the webform.

For more information on specific use cases, and to access the webform itself, click here .

IRCC can also be contacted (to a limited degree) by email. This method is for those who have general or technical questions that they would like to ask the department.

IRCC usually recommends checking their popular questions webpage prior to contacting the department by email. However, if the answer to an applicant’s query cannot be found through this webpage, they can email:

• [email protected] for general queries; and
• [email protected] for technical questions.

Importantly, this mode of communication can be a common target for scammers, who look to trick newcomers into giving personal information (including bank details) by posing as IRCC. Newcomers should remember that there are certain things IRCC will never ask for via email .

It usually takes 2-5 business days to get a response from IRCC by email, though it should be noted that their ability to answer specific questions regarding your case is limited through this channel.

The final method of reaching IRCC is via phone—however this option is only available to those within Canada. IRCC has both an automated and human-operated phone line, which have different availabilities and conditions.

Client support center agent (IRCC’s human-operated phone line) can be accessed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. This line—available in both English and French—allows applicants to get help with general and case specific enquiries. Newcomers should keep in mind that client support agents cannot make decisions on your applications, nor can they help process applications faster if you are not eligible for urgent processing.

The automated telephone service, on the other hand, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and allows applicants to check the status of their application and listen to pre-recorded information about IRCC’s programs.

Newcomers can use the following phone number (for both lines), to contact IRCC (from within Canada only): 1-888-242-2100.

For the most information on your application

Applicants can also order documents called Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes. GCMS is IRCC’s universal software system for storing and processing applications that the department receives.

GCMS notes are the information that is saved on this software, both automatically by the software itself, but also by immigration officers who are processing an application. GCMS notes can therefore give applicants detailed information about:

• A specific application (including when the application was received, when it was opened, the code of the immigration officer who is assigned to the application, application status, and reason for status, etc.);
• Any information IRCC has gathered about the applicant; and
• Any information submitted by a third-party representative to IRCC.

GCMS notes are a form of Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request. ATIPs are the Canadian government’s vehicle for Canadians or those in Canada to access information collected about them by the government.

All ATIP requests to the Canadian government must receive a response within 30 days. However, the response may be that the department needs additional time to process the request.

If individuals outside of Canada want to apply for GCMS notes, they must have a representative apply on their behalf, who is either:

• A Canadian citizen;
• A Canadian permanent resident; and/or
• An individual or corporation currently in Canada.

To learn more about how to make an ATIP request click here .

• immigrate to Canada
• immigration refugees and citizenship canada
• IRCC Webform
• Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
• Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at [email protected]
• Express Entry

• Family Sponsorship
• Citizenship
• Life in Canada

Language selection

Update or ask about your application: check your application status, tell us about yourself (as the representative).

• Spouses or common-law partners must also use this form.
• Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM5475) form

Tell us about yourself (as the person helping the principal applicant)

Tell us about the principal applicant.

Fill in only 1 of these 3 fields – application number, Unique Client Identifier (UCI), or passport number

What’s your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) number?

Your Client ID Number, also known as a Unique Client Identifier (UCI), can be found on any official document we sent to you.

If you’ve never dealt with us before, you won’t have a UCI. If you don’t have a UCI, leave the field blank.

If this request is about a dependent child, use the principal applicant’s (the parent’s) UCI.

What is your application number?

You can find your application number on any official document or correspondence we sent you. This number is not the same thing as your client ID number (unique client identifier [UCI]).

If your request is about a dependent child, please use the principal applicant's (that is, the parent's) "Application ID number".

Make sure the application number you entered matches the format for the program you applied to.

• Temporary residence (visitors, students and workers): The number must be 10 characters long and begin with a letter.
• Economic, Non-economic and non-provincial nominee programs: The number must be 10 characters long and begin with a letter.
• Provincial nominee programs: The number must be 10 characters long and begin with "EP".
• Refugees: The number must be 10 characters long and begin with a letter.
• If it is 10 characters it will be 1 or 2 letters followed by 8 or 9 numbers respectively; for a total of 10 characters. For example, for a Grant application, C000000000 or 0000000; an Adoption C000000000 or 0000000; a Proof application, PR00000000 or 0000000; a Search SR00000000 or 0000000; or a Renunciation application RN00000000 or 000000.
• Verification of status: The number must be 10 characters long and begin with "SV".
• Certificate of identity: The number must be 10 characters long and contain only numerals (no letters).

Tell us about your request

Upload your document(s) (required).

The maximum file size for each file is 2 MB. If a file is bigger than 2 MB, you need to reduce the size of your file . If you upload more than 1 file, the total maximum file size is 3.5 MB.

We accept these file formats:

• PDF (portable document)
• JPG, TIFF or PNG (image)
• DOC or DOCX (Microsoft Word document)

Upload document – Document isn’t an accepted format.

Upload document – Document size can’t be larger than 2 MB.

Upload document – Size of total documents can’t be larger than 3.5 MB.

By providing your email address, you’re consenting to IRCC's use of the contact information provided above, for the sole purpose of responding to your feedback. By supplying your email address to IRCC, you also understand that this channel may not be secure.

IRCC is not liable for the electronic disclosure of personal information to a third party where IRCC has taken reasonable means to ensure the identity of the party. IRCC is also not liable for the misuse of this information by a third party.

Review your request before you submit it

• Skip to main content
• Skip to footer

Language Selection

• Français

Client Application Status

This on-line service allows Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) clients to view securely the status of their immigration and/or citizenship application(s) on-line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; anytime, anywhere.

Applicants for permanent residence can receive instant email updates and more detailed, up-to-date case status by creating an online account. Find out how .

You may use this service if you have:

• sponsored a member of the family class;
• applied for permanent residence from within or outside Canada;
• applied for a permanent resident card;
• applied for Canadian citizenship (grant of citizenship);
• applied for Canadian citizenship for a person adopted by a Canadian citizen;
• applied for a citizenship certificate (proof of Canadian citizenship);
• applied to renounce Canadian citizenship; or
• applied to resume Canadian citizenship.

Before using this service, please be sure to have a copy of all the documents you have received regarding your application(s):

These may include one or more of the following:

• a copy of your application;
• your financial receipts (IMM 5401); or
• any letter or official document issued to you by IRCC.

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for answers to frequently asked questions.

Please consult Application Processing Times for information about how long it may take to process your application.

The Client Application Status site is updated daily.

If you are inactive on this application for 30 minutes or more, you will be 'Timed-Out'. It is a security feature to ensure your identity and to protect your information.

Thank you for your help!

You will not receive a reply. For enquiries, please contact us .

PRD Version 6.11.0_b1 Date: 2023-10-18 10:03

Language selection

• Français fr

Pay your fees for a Canadian passport, a travel document or other services

Answer the questions below to get payment instructions.

You can’t pay online for many in-Canada passport services. Confirm your payment options before you pay online.

How to pay your fees

What are you applying for?

Where will your passport be mailed or picked-up?

Do you require urgent services like a temporary passport or an emergency travel document?

• Other passport administrative services outside of Canada

A travel document (refugee travel document or certificate of identity)

Travel documents for non-Canadians (certificates of identity and refugee travel documents) are only issued from within Canada.

Where is it mailed or picked-up?

• Other passport administrative services outside of Canada (observation or stamp)
• Travel document (refugee travel document or certificate of identity)

Page details

Language selection

• Français fr

How can I change my address or contact information for my immigration or citizenship application?

To change your address:

You can change your address online or through our Web form .

To change your contact information (email or phone number):

Use this Web form to update your email or phone number.

Don’t miss important information!

We may have tried to contact you using your old phone number, email or mailing address. Keep checking your old contact information until we update your application.

Did you find what you were looking for?

If not, tell us why:

You will not receive a reply. Telephone numbers and email addresses will be removed. Maximum 300 characters

Thank you for your feedback

Answers others found useful

• If you return my application, will I get a refund?
• How do I fill out and validate IRCC application forms with 2D barcodes?
• Why won’t my application form let me save my information or digitally sign it?
• How can I check if my application has been received?
• What happens after I send in my application?
• What is a UCI?
• What is an application number?
• How can I find a doctor to provide my medical exam?
• How can I get my citizenship application processed urgently?
• How can I get help with my application?

Glossary term

• Immigration document