3 Simple Steps

• Due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, all passports will only be returned using the courier services offered by the Visa Application Centers.

  The Visa Application Center is offering courier services at a discount of 10% on the courier prices listed in the pricing table on this website. This discounted rate will only be available from March 2020 until further notice

IMPORTANT

Following Ministerial Instructions issued by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration of Canada on 9 April, 29 April, 19 May, 9 June and 1 July 2020 applicants can no longer submit an application for temporary residence in paper at the VAC. New Ministerial Instructions issued on 1 October 2020 have extended this measure until 31 January 2021 with some exemptions. Please check the IRCC website to find out more about these exemptions.

Most applications for temporary residence must continue to be submitted online via IRCC’s website: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html

If you submitted an application for temporary residence in paper to the VAC and are not eligible under one of these exemptions, your application will be returned to you.

Please note that as of 1 July 2020, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration of Canada lifted the suspension on the processing of temporary resident visa (visitor visa) applications. Although processing of applications has resumed, travel restrictions to Canada remain in place. For more details, visit the IRCC website.

For important updates regarding validity of you Biometric Instruction Letters, please visit:https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/biometrics.html

Please note that VFS does not have information about the status of an application that has been submitted online or being processed at the Visa Office. If you require information about the status of your application, please contact IRCC directly by completing the Web Form

Additional information can be found on IRCCs Covid-19 page https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19.html

Please note that appointments are mandatory in order to enroll biometrics at the Visa Application Centre. A planned visit with a preferred time slot at the Visa Application Centre guarantees prompt service thus eliminating longer waiting time resulting in inconvenience.

• Applicants requesting emergency appointments for the purpose of biometric collection may do so provided suitable proof of the emergency is presented at the time of the appointment. Suitable proof may include a note or other documentation from an official. Please note that this proof only needs to be presented and will not be collected by the VAC, and that this will provide an emergency biometric appointment but not affect IRCC’s processing time for the application. For any further information or questions, the Contact Centre is able to assist with any inquiries.

The decision to issue or refuse a visa is made solely by immigration officers of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC.

All applications will be assessed in accordance with Canada’s immigration visa rules and guidelines. Canada Visa Application Centre has no role or influence over the outcome of an application and will not offer any evaluative advice.