Immigration Announcement
IRCC Launches App Tracker for Express Entry & PNP
The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that they will be expanding their online application status trackers to include four new categories of applications. By using these status trackers, clients will be able to keep a track of their application and receive updates on any actions that may be needed to keep it moving as fast as possible.
As part of the new status trackers, candidates in the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) will be able to see their status. The new trackers also apply to candidates who are part of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). There are two very important economic immigration pathways for newcomers in Canada. Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs are two of the most popular routes. In the year 2025, Canada is expected to welcome over 230,000 immigrants via both pathways combined. This number is expected to rise to nearly 190,000 immigrants in 2025.
Canadian Immigration Eligibility
There are 47,868 applicants waiting in the queue for Express Entry programs as of January 31 according to the most recent data from the IRCC, and 66,214 applicants waiting for PNP programs.
In order to increase transparency, status trackers are intended to provide clients with direct access to information more efficiently than if they contacted IRCC through another channel.
There is another effort by IRCC to reduce wait times and improve the accessibility of information by introducing new online status trackers. As part of the ministry’s commitment to increase transparency, the department says that application status tracking will be available for a wider range of applications in the coming months.
The latest event in IRCC’s digital strategy will make it easier for applicants to access their information through this event. A year ago, IRCC created a status tracker that would allow family class applicants, sponsors, and their representatives to easily monitor the status of their application online.
Digitization Efforts Being Made by the IRCC
IRCC announced in September that it would begin accepting only digital applications for most permanent residence programs. Between September and October 2022, the department allowed online applications for:
- Provincial nominee program (non-Express Entry)
- Quebec-selected skilled workers
- Sponsoring a spouse or partner
- Sponsoring a dependent child
- Sponsoring an eligible relative
- Sponsoring an orphaned sibling, niece or nephew, or grandchild
- Adopting a child through the immigration process
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Among other economic immigration programs are temporary resident permit holders applying for permanent residence, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and several Quebec immigration programs.
- Quebec-selected investors
- Quebec-selected entrepreneurs
- Self-employed people (Quebec)
IRCC has already made much of the citizenship application process digital. Permanent residents over 18 can apply online as a couple or a family. Children under 18 must still apply on paper, and if a family applies with children under 18, the entire family must apply.
